Narai
Ratchaniwet Palace
Narai
Ratchaniwet Palace built by King Narai of Ayuttaya took 12
years to be completed (1665-1677). It is located in the centre
of the town between Ratchadamnoen Rd. and Pratu Chai Rd. which
is not too far away from the railway station. Most of the structures
of the Palace are of King Narai's period. Now the whole compound
has been turned into the National Museum of Lop Buri.
Apart
from ancient art objects displayed in the Museum, every pavilion
in the royal palace has an interesting history.
Water
Reservoir
Water
Reservoir constructed by King Narai to store water which
came through came through terracotta pipe s from Ta-le Chupsorn,
a large fresh-water lake which supplied drinking water to the
inhabitants of Lop Buri.
Phra
Khlang Supharat
Phra
Khlang Supharat commonly called the twelve treasure houses,
built by King Narai for storing the royal treasures as well
as royal goods for selling to foreign merchants.
Elephant
and Horse Stables
Elephant
and Horse Stables located close to the wall separating the
outer section of the palace from the middle section.
Chanthon
Phisan Pavilion
Chanthon
Phisan Pavilion built as a royal residence of King Narai
in 1665, later the pavilion was used as an audience hall after
King Narai had moved his residence to Suttha Sawan pavilion.
The building was restored by King Mongkut in 1863 and is now
used as a hall for displaying archaeological and art objects.
Many stone Buddha images of the Lop Buri period are kept in
the building.
Phra
Chao Hao Building
Phra
Chao Hao Building located on the south of the outer section
of the palace was built by King Narai probably as a private
audience hall.
Phiman
Mongkut Pavilion Phiman
Mongkut Pavilion is a three-storied brick building constructed
by King Mongkut as his residence when he visited Lop Buri during
the renovation of the palace. Connected with the said pavilion
are three other two-storied buildings called Suttha Winitchai
Pavilion, Chai Sattrakon Pavilion and Akson Sattrakhom. All
of these three buildings are now used as offices of the Lop
Buri National Museum.
Dusit
Sawan Thanya Maha Prasat Hall King Narai had this building
constructed to be used as an audience hall for high-ranking
foreign visitors and ambassador. He probably received Chevalier
de Chaumont, Louis XIV's representative, in this hall. The building
was constructed in a mixed architectural style which can be
traced from the shape of the doors and windows (square shape
in Thai style, and domeshape in western style). No roof structure
can be seen at present, but it is believed that building was
covered with a multitiered roof with a tall pointed spire which
is the typical roofing style of many mondobs in Bangkok.
Suttha
Sawan Pavilion Suttha
Sawan Pavilion was built by King Narai as his residence
and it was in the building that the king died on the 11th of
July 1688, while the palace was being resigned by the revolutionists.
There still remain the ruins of the pavilion and artificial
hills and fountains. It is recorded that the pavilion stood
amidst beautiful garden in which many fountains were displayed.
Banquet
Hall Banquet
Hall built by King Narai to entertain important foreign
visitors is surrounded by ponds on the west, north and south.
In front of the Banquet Hall stands a brick platform which might
be the remaining part of a theatre in which the guests were
entertained after dinner.
