-- Wat Benchamabophit or the Marble Temple
Winding eastward at the end of Klang (outer) Ratchadamnoen Avenue onto the Sri Ayutthaya Road, the Wat Benchamabophit, also known as the Marble Temple, stands in front of your sight.
Inside Buddhist temple, the main building -- the Ubosot Hall, built of white marble from Italy, was constructed during the reign of King Rama V, and designed by Prince Narisranuvattivongse, half-brother to the King.
The architecture and decoration of the marble building shows European influence and exquisite Thai craftsmanship and attracts large numbers of tourists all around the world to come to visit each year.
-- Chitralada Palace
Opposite the Marble Temple is the Chitralada Palace, the Bangkok residence of the present King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit, who moved out of Grand Palace in late 1930s.
Built in 1913 and covering about one square kilometers, the Chitralada Palace is a combination of relatively humble-styled houses and a serene green view with artificial lakes and trees.
King Bhumibol was the first king in the Chakri dynasty (or Rama dynasty) to live in the Chitralada Palace. His keen interest and practice in advancing agricultural production, the backbone of the country's economy, has made the palace more like an agricultural research and development base rather than a typical royal residence.
It includes experimental farms for growing paddy rice and raising cows, rice mills and dairy plants, among other institutions, with an aim to increase income of farmers and improve agricultural technologies in the country.
-- Anantasamakhom Throne Hall and National Assembly (Parliament)
Before the torch relay finishes at the Rama V Monument, it will pass this European neoclassic-styled, domed white marble building of Anantasamakhom Throne Hall, about two hundred meters behind the Monument.
The Throne Hall was constructed to house the Throne of the Chakri Dynasty, which is still there, but it has been used for state ceremonies and meetings with foreign dignitaries.
This is the venue for the King Rama VII to sign the country's first ever Constitution in 1932 to bring the country to constitutional monarchy. It later housed the Thai Parliament, with the first parliament meeting convened in this hall. So it is also referred to as "the old parliament".
The present office building for the two Houses of Parliament (or National Assembly) is situated near the Throne Hall. It was constructed by permission of the present King Bhumibol.
-- King Rama V Monument (Royal Plaza)
The bronze statue of King Rama V, or King Chulalongkorn, mounted on a horse was cast by French sculptor and then shipped to Bangkok in 1908. It is six meters tall from the marble platform.
The Monument stands in the center of the Royal Plaza, a venue for grand ceremonies like an annual dress parade when King Bhumibol celebrates his birthday on December 5, and in front of the Anantasamakhom Throne Hall.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2008)