Reun Phae Khao

Reun Phae Khao — “White Raft House” — is a wooden colonial-era building on the Chao Phraya riverbank in Pathum Thani town, not a hilltop viewpoint. The name describes its style (a raft-house form set on the bank, painted white) rather than a floating structure, and it dates to around 1917, when the province’s administrative offices relocated to the river’s west bank.

Built as the provincial governor’s official residence and guesthouse, Reun Phae Khao is a rectangular timber building with an open, breeze-catching veranda facing the Chao Phraya — a design meant for receiving official guests in the river heat before air conditioning. Its main historical claim is royal: on 8 May 1946, King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and his younger brother, then Prince and future King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), visited to watch a boat race on the river from the building’s veranda. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn returned in 1998 to view the same stretch of river. One room inside is kept as a small shrine with a royal portrait for public veneration.

The building now functions as a heritage landmark under Pathum Thani’s provincial administration rather than a fully staffed museum, so opening access is inconsistent — some visitors find it open for a look at the exterior and veranda, others find it closed between events. It’s worth confirming access with the provincial office or a local guide rather than making a dedicated special trip based on assumed hours.

Insider Tip: Combine it with a walk through Pathum Thani’s riverside old town rather than treating it as a standalone destination — the building’s setting on the Chao Phraya, not an interior collection, is the main draw.

Watch out: Don’t confuse this with a “raft house” restaurant or floating accommodation — it’s a fixed timber building on dry land, despite the name.

The 1946 royal visit gives the building its lasting significance: the young King Ananda Mahidol had acceded to the throne the year before and would die just months after this visit, in June 1946, making Reun Phae Khao one of relatively few sites connected to his short reign that’s still standing and publicly accessible. For Thai visitors this history matters more than the building’s modest architecture — it’s a low-key stop compared to Bangkok’s grander royal sites, but a genuine one.

The site sits in Bang Prok subdistrict, central Mueang Pathum Thani, a short taxi or songthaew ride from central Bangkok via Rangsit or the river route. There’s no admission fee, and the exterior and veranda alone are worth the short detour if the interior happens to be closed.