Sanam Luang, Bangkok

Sanam Luang (28 October 2006)


Sanam Luang is a big field in the Rattanakosin district of Bangkok. It is 74 Rai 63 Wa is size, equivalent to about 30 acres. Sanam Luang is also known by its official name, Thung Phra Mane, meaning royal cremation ground, because since the reign of King Rama I, Thai kings, queens and high-ranking princes were cremated here. In 1855, King Mongkut (Rama IV) changed its name from Thung Phra Mane to Thung Sanam Luang. That is today further shortened to Sanam Luang.

As mentioned, royal funerals had been held at Sanam Luang since the reign of King Rama I. During the reign of King Rama III, it was also used for growing rice. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony and Ceremony of Calling the Rain were set up here by King Rama IV. Pavilions and towers were erected for the king to watch the ceremony. Under King Rama V, Sanam Luang was enlarged. The pavilions and towers were demolished and it was no longer necessary to grow rice within the vicinity of the Royal Palace. In 1897, the Centennial Celebration of Bangkok was held here soon after King Rama V returned from Europe.

The present king still uses Sanam Luang every 11 March for the Ploughing Ceremony and Ceremony of Calling the Rain. The last cremation to take place here was that of the Princess Mother of Thailand, Somdej Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajachondeni, in 1997.

Today, Sanam Luang is an open public park. On weekends, you can see people coming here for kite flying - some times there are also kite flying competitions held here. The Fine Arts Department has inscribed Sanam Luang as a historical site in 1977, according to a royal decree.

Getting there

Sanam Luang is bordered by Ratchadamnoen Nai Road, Na Phra Lan Road, Na Phra That Road and a part of Rachini Road. As the Skytrain and Metro do not pass anywhere near here, the best way to reach Sanam Luang is by taxi. Be sure to visit the nearby sights as well.

Nearby Sights

Sanam Luang (28 October 2006)

List of Parks in Bangkok; list of Districts of Bangkok

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

 Discover with Timothy YouTube Channel

 PG Food Channel

 Learn Penang Hokkien YouTube Channel

SojiMart Videos

 Share your travels and/or ask a travel-related question

Join the Penang Travel Tips Facebook Group to share photos, tips and anything related to your travels, or ask travel-related questions.

Map of Roads in Penang

Looking for information on Penang? Use this Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.

Discover with Timothy

Let me take you to explore and discover Penang through my series of walking tours on YouTube. You may use these videos as your virtual tour guide. At the beginning of each video, I provide the starting point coordinates which you may key into your GPS, Google Maps or Waze, to be navigated to where I start the walk, and use the video as your virtual tour guide.

Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Latest from Discover with Timothy: Gurney Bay - what to see and do there

About this website

Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

Robbie's Roadmap