Wang Derm Palace, Bangkok

Phra Racha Wang Derm (Wang Derm Palace) or Thon Buri Palace is the royal palace of King Taksin the Great. It is now located in the Royal Thai Navy, on Arun Amarin Road, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, at the mouth of Bangkok Yai Canal. This area was the location of Wichayen Fort, a fort built in the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya Kingdom as Bangkok was an important city by the sea of that era. Wang Derm Palace or Thon Buri Palace was built in the reign of King Taksin the great in 1767, during the same time that Thonburi was appointed the new capital city of Thailand. The palace was built to be the royal residence with a Throne Hall for governing. The Wichayen Fort was also renovated and renamed, Wichai Prasit Fort. The location of this palace was strategically significant as it already had a secured fort overlooking far distance. Moreover, Phra Racha Wang Derm is also a place where many of Thai Kings were born such as King Nangklao, King Mongkut and King Pinkloa. Inside Wang Derm Palace is the Throne Hall, the most important place of the palace, which was divided into two segments. The first part is “Tong Pra Rong,” the throne room, or “Winitchai” which is a Thai-style pavilion with a cement platform. The roof of the throne room segment is decorated with Cho Fah (gable apex), Bai Raga (sloping edges of the gable) and Hang Hong (two-side bottom corners of the gable) and covered with earthenware tiles. The room is used to hold council and royal ceremonies of Thonburi Kingdom. Nowadays, the Royal Thai Navy still uses this place to hold important events and ceremonies as well. The other segment is “Ratcha Montien” (royal residence) or “Pra Tee Nung Kwang. “It was floored with wood and decorated in the same style as the throne room. Nowadays, the place is used to welcome VIP and hold meetings in some occasions. Apart from the Throne Hall, there are also two small Chinese-style residences of King Pinklao. Inside the smaller residence, it displays th