Phra Thi Nang Vimanmek and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall

Bangkok Dolphins' Guide
ATTRACTIONS IN & AROUND BANGKOK

Phra Thi Nang Vimanmek and Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall
(Tel. 2818166, 2811569, 2805928-9)

Vimanmek Palace is located behind Bangkok's National Assembly and is the world's largest building made entirely of goldenteak. The threestorey wooden palace has 81 rooms, halls and ante-rooms, excluding terraces and verandahs. Near the entrance to Vimanmek Palace is the Royal Carriage Museum where 13 royal horse-drawn carriages once used during the reign of King Rama V are collected. The collection is so splendid and regarded to be of great historical value.

Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall (The Support Museum), a one storey teak building built in the reign of King Rama V. is situated on the east wing of Vimanmek Throne Hall. Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall is now Thailand's first handicraft museum where Her Majesty The Queen collects handicraft masterpieces created by members of Support Foundation. In the museum, visitors find such handicrafts as niellowares, Thai silk with various unique designs, ''Lipao" basketry like beautiful trays, handbags studded with jewels in different designs such as green beetle.

The compound is open daily from 9.00 am.4.00 pm. Admission fee is 50 baht per person. Free guide available.

A source for further information in Bangkok is the Tourism Authority of Thailand, phone 226-0060. If you are calling from outside the country, that number will need to be prefaced by country code 66, city code 2. In the U.S. the Tourism Authority can be contacted at (312) 819-3990, fax (312) 565-0359; in Canada at (604) 733-4540, fax (604) 733-4599; in Sydney at 9247-7540, fax 9251-2465; and in London at (171) 499-7679, fax 629-5519.