Thailand has a centuries old Royal history and a great number of Royal Palaces around the country. Most Thai Palaces were built during the reign of the current Chakri dynasty, which started in 1782 with the founding of the city of Bangkok and the start of the Rattanakosin era.
A number of Palaces and Royal Mansions are open to the public, some are still in use by the Royal Family and are open to visitors only occasionally.
With Bangkok being the capital city and residence for the Chakri dynasty, many of the Palaces were built in this city.
The most famous Palace in Thailand is the Grand Palace in Bangkok, a must see for everyone interested in the history and culture of Thailand. The Grand Palace consists of a large number of buildings of different ages and of different architectural styles, some very Thai, some influenced by Chinese or European architecture. The Grand Palace was the official residence for a number of Thai Kings, today it is a museum.
Summer Palace at Bang Pa-In