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Places of interest in the Grand Palace are as follows:-
Sanphet Prasat Hall
King Borom Trailokanath built this hall which
was used as a reception hall for foreign visitors as a sister to the
Benjarat Maha Prasat Hall. This prasat-style hall had long porticoes
both at the front and the back, with shorter ones on the sides and a
small Mondop situated on a mini balcony on the front portico. Tin
sheets covered the roof and bralee or small spikes decorated its
ridges. In addition, there was a tall spire on top of the roof. On both
sides of this hall were stables that housed the white elephants. When
Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese the hall was burnt down and only its
brick and mortar foundations survives.
King Rama IV, desirous of honoring the Kings of
Ayutthaya, sent a team of officials from Bangkok to built a small
prasat on the foundation of Sanphet Prasat Hall and planned to install
a plaque inscribed with the names of all Ayutthaya's kings. However, he
died before the construction was completed. In 1907 King Rama V had the
unfinished prasat pulled down and built a ceremonial pavilion instead.
Chakawat Paichayon Hall
King Prasat Thong built this prasat-style hall
in 1632 on the inside wall of the palace towards the east. In this hall
the king received an envoy sent by the Burmese King to protest King
Prasat Thong's proposal to reform the calendar. During the Bangkok
period, King Rama I built a pavilion on top of the outer-wall of the
palace in the same manner and it was used to view the processions or
the military exercises.
Trimuk Hall
This building, which is believed to be the
garden house inside the inner court, is located behind Sanphet Prasat
Hall but its date of construction is unknown. The name was first
mentioned in the reign of King Borom Rachathirat II in 1427 when it was
destroyed by fire. It is believed that the original hall was a wooden
structure built on top of a plain foundation and the floor was covered
with terracotta slabs.
It was a long twin building similar to Sanphet Prasat Hall. The original foundation is still visible.
When King Rama V celebrated the 40th anniversary
of his coronation in 1907 he had wooden models of various Ayutthayan
halls built on top of the original sites and one of which was built on
top of the foundation of Trimuk Hall. In addition, when King Rama VI
and King Rama VII ascended to the throne they conducted religious rites
in honor of the former Kings in Trimuk Hall and in 1953, the Fine Arts
Department renovated the Hall.
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