The King Rama I Monument

The King Rama I Monument stands at the foot of Memorial Bridge in Bangkok, a seated bronze statue of the king who founded the Chakri Dynasty and moved the capital across the river to Bangkok in 1782. It was unveiled on 6 April 1932 — Chakri Day — for the 150th anniversary of that founding, with King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) presiding over the ceremony.

The statue was sculpted by Corrado Feroci, the Italian artist who later took Thai citizenship as Silpa Bhirasri and is now credited as the founder of Thailand’s modern fine arts tradition; Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong, a son of King Mongkut (Rama IV), designed the surrounding setting. Rama I sits enthroned in royal dress on a decorated pedestal rather than standing, cast to face the river he used to found the city. The bridge behind it carries his name too — its full title is Saphan Phra Phuttayotfa, after his formal name Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok, shortened by Thais to Saphan Phut.

Insider Tip: Come at Chakri Day (6 April) if the timing works — there’s sometimes a small wreath-laying ceremony at the monument marking the anniversary it was built for.

The monument sits in a compact riverside setting rather than a large park, with the Chao Phraya and the bridge’s ironwork forming the backdrop. It’s a working corner of the city — traffic runs past constantly — so treat it as a five- to ten-minute stop rather than a destination in itself, best folded into a walk between Wat Pho and Pak Khlong Talat flower market on the Rattanakosin side of the river.