The Grand Palace

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings in the center of Bangkok. The palace has been the official residence of the kings of Siam since 1782. The King, his court and the royal government were based on the palace grounds until 1925. Construction of the palace began on May 6, 1782, by order of King Phuttayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the founder of the Chakri dynasty, when he moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok. The palace complex is roughly rectangular in shape and has a total area of 218,400 square meters, surrounded by four walls. It is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Rattanakosin Island, now in Phra Nakhon district.