Ananta Samakorn Throne Hall

The Ananta Samakorn Throne Hall at the root of Bangkok's Royal Plaza.

 
This huge ornate Italinate building dominates the royal plaza at the end of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, as it was meant to. The building was built in 1912, and for a time after the 1932 coup which ended the absolute monarchy, it housed the Thai parliament. The building has a spectacular interior, but it's generally only open to the public once a year, on Children's Day (the second Saturday in January). The decoration inside is as fine as any European palace, and in very much the same style, although there are small Thai touches throughout.

The large paved plaza in front of the building is where the annual Trooping of the Color is held every December. In late March, the plaza is also the scene of the annual Red Cross fair, which spills into the adjacent Amporn Gardens exhibition center.

Note that the building is often mis-labeled on tourist maps as the Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall. That comparatively tiny building is located behind the Ananta Samakorn Throne Hall in the Dusit Palace complex, which also includes the Vimanmek Mansion.