Dusit Maha Prasat Palace ( The Grand Palace ) : Ancient City Bangkok

Dusit Maha Prasat Palace (The Grand Palace) In the early Rattanakosin era, the Dusit Maha Prasat Palace was an audience hall, where affairs of the state were con duct ed and royal ceremonies performed. The palace was built by King Rama I in 1806 A.D. The struc ture is a cruciform build ing with large high roofs. In the beginning, the palace was intended to be as large as the Suriyat Amarin Palace of Ayutthaya.The Dusit Maha Prasat Palace in the Grand Palace is now the only remaining example of the traditional Thai palace. Unfortunately, renovated in the reign of King Rama III, the building left no trace of the original workmanship initiated in the first reign. The Grand Palace at Muang Boran, however, is not intended to model after the same palace as it stands today. By pains tak ing research and study of old photos and contemporary documents, Muang Boran has succeeded in recreating the original appearance of the palace.As for the structural form, the Dusit Maha Prasat Palace at Muang Boran has a number of significant chang es from the present-day appearance of the hall. For example, a free stand ing pillar which was removed from the original palace during the reign to King Rama VI were re con struct ed in the middle of the throne room. The post helps to support the large and high roof of the build ing. The design and color scheme of the pillars are taken from the pedestal of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangkararam (or Wat Pho) in Bangkok. The style and or na men ta tion of the ceiling are taken from the design on wood carvings in private collections.The elaborately or na ment ed porch facades conform with old pictures of the ancient Thai prasat building. The gilded lacquer work between the windows is styled after the paintings at Wat Nang Nong in Thon Buri, Bangkok. They show the yearly succession of state ceremonies which were re cord ed by King Rama V. More pre cise ly, the murals depict events of a governmental, religious, military and diplomatic nature and the tra di tion al Thai way of life, Muang Boran has established these tempera murals to foster a revival of the techniques and styles used in traditional Thai mural paint ings which have steadily been dying out since the King Rama III.