In 1955, Their Majesties the King and Queen made their first visit to Thailand’s impoverished northeastern region, the first monarch of the House of Chakri to do so. The trip covered 14 provinces and 19 days, and was the beginning of a tradition of upcountry visits to remote areas that was to continue throughout most of the reign.
In December 1955, the Queen Grandmother, Queen Savang Vadhana, passed away at the age of 93, and following her cremation in the following year, King Bhumibol Adulyadej entered the monkhood according to Thai tradition. The ordination took place in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on October 22, 1956, and during his 2-week stay in the monkhood, the King, now known by his monastic nomenclature as Bhumibalo Bhikku, resided at Pan Ya Villa, Wat Bowon Niwet. Here, his spiritual guidance for dhamma studies and vipassana meditation was Phra Sobhaganabhorn, who was later to become the Supreme Patriarch. He made regular morning alms rounds walking barefoot around the community to allow the public to make merit.