Grand Palace and Angkor Wat
What’s the connection between these two places from different eras and different countries?
Before we get into it, where ever you live, remember that empires and kingdoms have risen and fallen throughout history, and borders changed frequently as a consequence, and are still doing it in modern times.
So what’s the link between these two famous places, and what has this photo got to do with it?
The picture shows a scaled down model of Angkor Wat, an incredibly important historical temple complex which between 1794–1907 lay inside Siamese territory.
The model has been on display at the north side of Wat Phra Kaew’s main pavilion, within the Grand Palace complex, since it was carved during the reign of King Rama IV circa 1866-7.
What’s It’s Significance?
It was created as a representation of an important Siamese monument inside Siam’s most important Royal Palace, and was a kind of show of strength.
It could inspire citizens to take the long and tough journey to see the night and grandeur Angkor Wat, even though much of it was still overgrown.
After French Indochina took control of the area from Siam, any one from Siam (now Thailand) who wanted to visit Angkor Wat would have had their arduous journey seriously complicated by crossing a mountainous and unfriendly border.
The beautifully hand crafted replica meant that the people could now take a short journey to Wat Phra Kaew, and still marvel at the details of such a magnificent monument, despite the actual place being sadly lost to them.
It is an intricately crafted replica of the Angkor Wat temple with five spires, standing on a square base measuring 12.70 meters wide and 14.25 meters long, and remains there for all to view.
So, next time you plan to visit Bangkok’s beautiful Grand Palace complex, make sure you check out this historical gem.