Thailand History

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Celebrate the Founding of the Current Thai Monarchy on Chakri Memorial Day

Mar 2nd, 2010 by Exotissimo | Comments: 0

The Chakri Dynasty is the current ruling royal house of Thailand. It was founded by Rama I in 1782 after the capital of Thailand, then known as Siam moved to Bangkok. All successive heirs to the throne including the country’s present King are descendants of King Rama I. To commemorate the founder of the dynasty, a holiday called Chakri Memorial Day is celebrated on April 6th.

To fully appreciate the holiday, it is best to understand the history behind the Chakri Dynasty. Prior to the establishment of the current lineage, Siam (ruled by King Taksin) was in a state of turmoil. The Burmo-Siamese War was in full swing and the Burmese army had just invaded and captured the northern Kingdom of Lana as well as Phitsanulok and was quickly approaching the capital of Ayutthaya. The city’s resistance forces, led by a young man named Thong Duang (Rama I) fought valiantly, but Ayutthaya eventually fell on April 8th 1767. This prompted the people to flee and move the capital down the Chao Phraya River into Thonburi. Rama I continued to be involved militarily in campaigns to fight back lost territories and expand Siam’s influence further. He eventually became a highly respected general and emerged as Siam’s most powerful military leader.

In the meantime King Taksin, weary from war, failed to address the people’s concerns, which caused rebellions to break out. The rebels called for Thong Duang to ascend to the throne, and on April 6th 1782, became the King of Siam. Knowing that Thonburi could be easily attacked by the Burmese from the west, King Rama I moved the capital across the Chao Phraya River into what is now Bangkok.

On April 6th Thais perform rituals to honor the past kings of the ruling dynasty, led by the current monarch of the Chakri, King Rama IX. He also pays his respects by leading religious ceremonies at the royal chapel and donning the statue of King Rama I at the Memorial Bridge with a garland.

Falling in the month of April, Chakri Memorial Day also offers Thais a day to relax before the start of the New Year (known as Songkran or Water Festival), which is only a week away. You can fully experience the April holidays in the country with our Thailand Overland tour. Discover its many wonders while you uncover traditional Thai culture, visit ancient temples and experience its natural beauty. You can also see Exotissimo’s Thailand tours page for other unforgettable trips in this marvelous country or contact us if you have any questions.

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Filed under: Events & Festivals, Thailand History, Thailand Travel

The House of Bhrama in Bangkok, Thailand

Feb 2nd, 2010 by Exotissimo | Comments: 0

The Erawan Shrine (known as San Phra Phom Erawan in Thai) is a large memorial used to honor the four-faced Hindu god Brahma (called Than Tao Mahaprom in Thai). It is located on the busy junction of Ploenchit and Rajadamri Roads, near the shopping complexes of Siam, Central World and Gaysorn Plaza in downtown Bangkok.

The Erawan Shrine was built in 1956 during the construction of the luxury Erawan Hotel. The construction of the hotel was pulled back by a series of unfortunate mishaps such as cost overruns, the loss of a marble shipment intended for the hotel, and not least worker injuries and even death. The laborers, now overwhelmed with superstition and fear, blamed the unfavorable construction start date and refused to continue working unless the land spirits were appeased. In desperation, the contractor contacted an astrologer who confirmed the laborers’ concerns. So, on November 9th, 1956 (a date carefully chosen by the astrologer) the shrine was inaugurated. After the shrine has been built, there were no more worker injuries and construction of the hotel went by smoothly. The effectiveness of the shrine made the spot one of the revered in Thailand.

The Erawan Hotel opened to much fanfare and worldwide fame and fared well for three decades. However, Bangkok started to develop at a rapid pace and more hotels with modern facilities were springing up. The hotel could not compete and was eventually shut down and replaced in 1991 by the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok.

The shrine may look Buddhist in design, but in actuality, it isn’t. The god Bhrama originated from Hinduism. Many Hindu gods, spirits and beliefs carried over into Buddhism, thus making Bhrama a widely accepted figure amongst Thais.

Thais and foreigners visit the shrine and offer prayers, incense and flowers to Brahma, wishing for luck and prosperity. In return for seeing their prayers at the shrine answered, people will offer a teak elephant to Bhrama, which is on sale nearby while others will hire Thai dance troupes and a musical orchestra to perform for the deity.

Unfortunately, the shrine was headlined for the wrong reasons in the early hours of March 21st, 2006. A mentally ill man vandalized the statue with a hammer. For a short time, the shrine was closed to the public but officials re-opened it with photographs of Bhrama so worshippers can continue to pay their respects. The new statue was placed in the shrine on May 21st 2006. It is made of plaster, mixed with a mixture of gold, bronze and other precious metals, along with pieces of the old statue. Another statue, fully made of metal and from the same mold is kept at the National Museum as stand-by.

A procession of lion dancers and musicians accompanied the new image from the Fine Arts Department to the shrine at 11am where over 1000 people were waiting. The new statue was placed in the shrine at 11.39am when the sun was shining directly above the shrine.

If you are walking along the intersection of Ploenchit and Rajadamri Roads, you will surely notice the Erawan Shrine. The area is filled with people paying their respects and of dances and Thai orchestral music. It is surely worth a visit before heading off to one of the mega malls in the area while taking our Bangkok City Safari tour. Thailand is an intriguing country and its wonders can be explored with our Thailand Special Package tour. Take an extended tour of Bangkok before heading up north to Chiang Mai before unwinding on the sands and beaches of Phuket Island. You can also see our Thailand tours page for other suggested trips into the country.

Filed under: Sightseeing, Thailand History, Thailand Travel

Dawn of Happiness: Experience its Glory at Sukhothai Historical Park

Jan 20th, 2010 by Exotissimo | Comments: 0

Sukhothai Historical Park is one of the main attractions in Sukhothai (which means Dawn of Happiness). It is about 12 kilometers from the new city and features over 190 ruins spread across 70 square kilometers of land. The walls fortifying the park forms a rectangle, measuring 2 kilometers east by west and about 1.6 kilometers north by south with a gate in the center of each wall. On December 12th, 1991, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Each year, thousands of people visit the park and marvel at the location’s many historical relics such as ancient Buddha statues, palaces and temple ruins. The good thing about the park is that it is easily explored by foot or bike. A tram service also runs from site to site.

A good starting point to a tour of Sukhothai Historical Park is the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. The museum is named after King Ramkhamhaeng, known as the founder of the current Thai alphabet. A comprehensive collection of Sukhothai artifacts are kept here, as well as several Buddha images. Antique art and documents choreographing the development of Sukhothai are also housed at the museum.

The main design characteristic of Sukhothai temples are the lotus-bud shaped stupas. The historical park also features monuments with designs from Sri Lanka. Inside are the remains of the royal palace and twenty-six temples, the largest being Wat Mahathat one of the oldest and most important temple monuments in Thailand, believed to have been built in the early 13th century. Its structures include a monastery surrounded by 10 smaller monk living quarters, an ordination hall and 200 stupas.

Not too far south from Wat Mahathat is Wat Si Sawai, a temple that was built with Lopburi inspired designs. Discoveries of lintels, Hindu images and a linga (a symbol used for the worship of the Hindu deity Shiva) indicate that the temple was initially a Hindu sanctuary which was later converted into a Buddhist temple.

About a kilometer and a half away from Wat Mahathat is Wat Si Chum and its distinctive large sitting Buddha. The stucco Buddha is seated inside a square building with an opening at the top. There is a passageway in the inner left wall that leads to a set of stairs to the roof. It is believed that the ritual of stair climbing was a symbolic ascent to Buddha-hood.

Outside of the historical park walls and near the northern gate is Wat Phra Phai Luang. It was originally a Khmer Mahayana Buddhist temple that predates the Sukhothai era and eventually converted into a Theravada Buddhist temple. A lot of the stucco art found at the temple has been moved to Ramkhamhaeng National Museum for security reasons. The temple, however still boasts a fine collection of decorative art.

A visit to the city of Sukhothai and its historical park will offer you a glimpse of ancient Thai culture. It itself exudes an enchanting feel with its monuments and temples dotting the city. Experience the city with Exotissimo’s Sukhothai in Depth tour. Witness the many temples and ruins in Sukhothai and its surrounding area. You can also experience northern Thai life with a rickshaw ride to a local market and an option to don the traditional farmers’ costume and plant rice in a field. See Exotisimo’s recommended Thailand tours page for other memorable tours into this wonderful country or contact us if you have any questions.

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Filed under: Sightseeing, Thailand History, Thailand Travel

An Exciting Adventure in Kanchanaburi

Nov 13th, 2009 by Exotissimo | Comments: 0

Want to go on a nature and history themed trip not too far from the Thai capital? Kanchanaburi is the place to go and it is only about a three hour drive away from Bangkok.

Kanchanaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. It borders Myanmar to its west and is only a couple hundred kilometers away from Bangkok. The area is renowned for the Bridge over the River Kwai, otherwise known as the Death Railway which started construction in 1942 and was finished a year later. Many POWs and laborers lost their lives building the railroad, and a cemetery was built in their honor located in Kanchanaburi town. The railway is still in use today and you can traverse through the rail by train or on foot.

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The bridge inspired Pierre Boulle to write a novel called The Bridge over the River Kwai, published in French in 1952 and in English in 1954. The book is a work of fiction but has the bridge construction as its historical setting. The book was then adapted into a film of the same name in 1957, starring William Holden and Sir Alec Guinness. The film won seven Oscars and was deemed culturally, historically or aesthetically significant and selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1997.

You can complete your history lesson with a visit to the JEATH War Museum. The museum was founded in 1977 by the chief abbot of Chaichumpol temple, the Venerable Phra Theppanyasuthee. A section of the museum is built to recreate the living quarters of the POWs.

The province is also a nature haven. You can enjoy an elephant ride through the jungle or you can trek through the land and swim in the Erawan Waterfalls or in Sai Yok Noi Falls. The province is also an excellent opportunity to mountain bike the Kanchanaburi terrain or kayak in one of the lakes.

Kanchanaburi is an excellent option for you if you are a war historian enthusiast or if you like to experience nature. If you are in Bangkok, it is also a great place to visit if you need a change of pace. You can visit Exotissimo’s Kanchanaburi Tour page or Bangkok and Central Thailand tour section for information regarding Kanchanaburi and the neighboring provinces.

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Filed under: Sightseeing, Thailand History

Temples and Palaces in the City of Angels, Bangkok

Nov 4th, 2009 by Exotissimo | Comments: 0

Visitors to Bangkok will realize the blend of modernity and the traditional. Skyscrapers seem to dominate the skyline but as you explore the city in depth, temples are also abundant. One very important temple complex is the Grand Palace.

The Grand Palace is a network of temples and palaces and was the official residence of the Kings of Thailand from the 18^th century onwards. Construction of the complex commenced during the reign of King Rama 1, who moved the capital of Thailand from Thonburi across the river to Bangkok. However, the current King resides at the Chitralada Palace and has been doing so since the start of his reign. The Grand Palace is still in use for royal coronations like marriages, funerals, and banquets.

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The Grand Palace complex is located near the banks of the Chao Phraya River on an area known as the Old City. Within the complex is Wat Pra Kaew, the most sacred temple in Thailand. The sacred Emerald Buddha is housed in the temple. Not too far from the Grand Palace is Wat Pho temple where the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue resides as well as a famous massage school. Wat Arun is right across the river and is a very picturesque temple. Other temple sites include The Golden Mount, Wat Suthat and Wat Rajnadda.

You can visit The Grand Palace and the surrounding temples by checking out Exotissimo’s Chanting at Wat Po & Grand Palace - Bangkok or Grand Palace & Siamese Royal Treasure - Bangkok day trips. Proper attire must be worn to enter these sites as a sign of respect, so if you are not sure what to wear, you can always ask us for advice. You can also check out our Thailand tours collection for other travelling options in Thailand.

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Filed under: Sightseeing, Thailand History, Thailand Travel

A Day Fit For A King

Oct 6th, 2009 by Exotissimo | Comments: 0

Chulalongkorn Day is celebrated on October 23^rd to commemorate the passing of Thailand’s fifth monarch of the current Chakri Dynasty. You may have noticed framed pictures of this great man in households, offices or even in 100 Baht banknotes and may wonder to yourself who this man is and why is there a holiday his name?

To sum up one of his achievements in short, he abolished slavery.

It was common practice at the time for poor individuals to sell their service into slavery. They may however work off their debt and be freed later in life. Unfortunately, their children’s freedom was harder to pay off because their price tag would be much higher.

King Chulalongkorn witnessed the bloodshed the U.S. went through for the abolition of slavery and vowed not to have a repeat in his country. So in 1874, the King lowered the buying out price of first generation slaves born in 1867 and had them all freed by the age of 21.

His other achievements included keeping the country sovereign during the colonial era, introduced democracy to Siam and modernized the country.

King Chulalongkorn was a very important man in Thai history. A lot of how the country is shaped today can be rooted from his achievements. If you want to learn more about this great man, embark on a half day trip to the Museum Siam or contact Exotissimo for a tailored museum tour.

The Thai national flag. Each color has a meaning with red representing nation, white being religion, and blue for king.

Filed under: Events & Festivals, Thailand History

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Archive for the ‘Thailand History’ Category