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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

DESTINATION:
THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP

Along the road from the city to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park there are a plenty of tourist attractions. One of Chiang Mai's most famous landmarks, Wat Prathat Doi Suthep is one of them, which most tourists take in on their visit here. Only four kilometers from Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, is one of the King's palaces that unfortunately many tourists are unaware of. Most people would imagine the King's palace to be huge and luxuriously decorated, but Bhubing Palace is different. Each building has been built in different styles yet all are simple, harmonizing with the surrounding natural environment.

The Bhubing Palace, located on Doi Buak Ha, Muang District, Chiang Mai, is the Royal family's winter residence during seasonal visits to the people in the North of Thailand and is also used as a royal guesthouse for state visitors from abroad. As Bhubing Palace was built only in 1961, before then state visitors could reside only in Bangkok. The construction was initially made up of the royal residence building and the guesthouse; other buildings were additionally built on at later dates.

Phra Tamnak Bhubing Rajanives was the first building, built in a Northern Thai architectural style called "Reun Mu" (Group of Houses). The upper floor is the royal residential area while the ground floor is for the royal entourage. The building master plan was designed by Prince Samaichalerm Kridagara while the building was designed by Mom Rachawongse Mitrarun Kasemsri. The construction of the Palace was undertaken by the Crown Property Bureau, under the supervision of Prince Samaichalerm Kridagara, assisted by Mom Rachawongse Mitrarun Kasemsri and Mr.Pradit Yuwapukka. General Luang Kampanath Saenyakorn, the Privy Councilor was assigned to lay the foundation stones on 24th August 1961 at 10:49 am and the construction took five months to complete. The first royal visitors to stay at the Palace were King Frederick the Ninth and Queen Ingrid of Denmark on their visit to Thailand in January 1962.

The additional buildings include residences for other royal family members. For example Phra Tamnak Payak Sathit, built in 1993 with eucalyptus wood in the style of a log cabin, was for His Royal Highness Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and Phra Tamnak Phrueksa Wisuthikhun which blends Thai architectural styles of the North and Central Thailand was once the royal residence of the late HRH Princess Sri Nagarindra the Princess Mother. Other buildings were built for different purposes, such as Phra Tamnak Siri Song Bhubing, built according to the royal instruction of Her Majesty the Queen who wished to study the use of eucalyptus wood in the construction of buildings, so this building is also called "Phra Tammnak Eucalyptus".

Another highlight of the palace is the vast water reservoir that holds water for the entire palace's use, and where the musical fountain show called "The Fountain of Celestial Water of People" is held; a nice spot for sitting, relaxing, and appreciating the view of the colourful flower garden.

Bhubing Palace is well known for its roses. Suan Suwaree is a rose garden where 274 kinds of roses from around the world can be found. Due to the area having perfect temperature for planting roses, Bhubing Palace is colourful all year long, not only in the garden, but also along the walkways and everywhere else.

When you next visit Doi Suthep, don't forget to visit Bhubing Palace.

Important Information

Trolley car service fee: 300 baht for maximum of 3 persons

Text & Images: Pon