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Vimanmek Mansion
Upon his return from Europe in 1897,King Rama V (1868-1910) used his personal money to purchase orchards and paddy fields between Padung Krugkasem asem Canal for the construction of a royal garden which he named “the Dusit Garden”. The first permanence in Dusit Garden was Vimanmek Manmek Mansion, built in 1900 by the royal command of King Rama V. The mansion was in fact his former Summer Palace,the Munthaturaltanaroj Residence of the Chthauthujrachathan at Kon Sri Chang , Chonburi, that was dismantled and rebuilt the supervision of HRH Prince
Narissaranuwaddhiwongse. The celebration for the completion of Vimanmek Mansion was held on March 27,1931. King Rama V moved from the Grand Palace to reside in Vimanmek mansion for 5 years until the completion of the Amporn Satarn Mansion in 1906 where he lived until his untimely death in 1910.
(2.) Vimanmek mansion is the largest residence in Dusit Garden . It’s elaborate architectural style reflects a western influence . The building has two right-angled wings. Each wing is 60 metres long and 20 metres high.It is a three-storey building except for the part where the King resided, which is octagonal and has four-storeys. The ground floor is brick and cement while the upper floors are built of golden teak wood planks. There are altogether 31 exhibition rooms, some of which maintain the atmosphere of the past, especially the bedrooms, the Audience Chamber and the bathrooms. Some rooms house exhibitions of art works, for example, there is a silverware display room, a ceramic display room, a glassware display room and an ivory display room. Now these residences, which are on longer used by the Royal Family and located north of Vimanmek Mansion, have been turned into museum buildings and a hall for royal coaches to be shown to the general public.