Grand palaces often evoke images of sprawling estates and opulent gardens. Yet, here we stand, not before a physical palace, but amidst the bustling energy of Bangkok’s commercial heart. This is the curious case of Buraphaphirom Palace. Picture this vibrant district in the mid-1800s. King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, commissions a grand palace, Buraphaphirom Palace, meaning “Delightful East Palace”. Italian architect Joachim Grassi designs a majestic two-story colonial masterpiece. The palace, home to Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, stretches out from Maha Chai Fort to Saphan Lek. Imagine a time when young couples strolled its grounds, their laughter echoing through the halls.Sadly, time, like relentless city growth, can be unkind. After World War II, the palace stood abandoned. It served briefly as a girl’s school, a pale echo of its former grandeur. In 1951, the heirs, faced with its upkeep, made a difficult decision. They sold Buraphaphirom Palace to businessman Osot Kosin. His vision? A new era for this land, an era of entertainment and commerce. By 1954, the grand palace was gone, replaced by three grand movie theaters: Kings, Queens, and Grand. The space transformed into Wang Burapha, a magnet for Bangkok’s youth, the heart of the city’s social scene. But time, a relentless architect itself, reshaped the cityscape again. By the mid-1960s, new shopping districts emerged, eclipsing Wang Burapha’s vibrancy. Today, as we stand before the modern facade of Mega Plaza, we’re reminded that beneath the surface of Bangkok’s modern hustle lies a tapestry of vanished grandeur, a reminder that even palaces can become echoes in the ever-evolving symphony of a city.
Garuda Museum
Behold the Garuda, a four-meter sculpture spreading its wings. This is the entrance to Southeast Asia’s one and only Garuda