The Palace has an area of
218,400 Sq. meters and is surrounded by walls, built in
1782. The length of the four walls totals 1900 meters.
Within these walls are situated government offices and
Chapel Royal of Emerald Buddha, besides the royal
residences.
When Siam restored law and order after the fall of
Ayutthaya, the monarch lived in Thonburi, on the other
side of the river. Rama I, immediately on ascending the
throne, moved the center of administration to this side of
Chao Phraya; and after erecting public monuments, such as
fortifications and monasteries, built a palace to serve
not only as his residence, but also his offices, the
various ministries, only one of which remains in the
palace walls.
This palace came to be known as "Grand Palace",
in which the earliest edifices contemporary with the
foundation of Bangkok, where the two group of residences
named "Dusit Maha Prasat" and "Phra Maha
Monthian".
|
