| Phra Mahakan Fortress (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Phra Mahakan Fortress
Photographer Description of Phra Mahakan Fortress
Virtual tour panorama showing Phra Mahakan Fortress in Bangkok. This is one of the ancient octagonal fortresses that surrounded the old city.Phra Mahakan Fortress - Further Information
Phra Mahakan Fortress is one of 14 octagonal fortresses that were built by Rama I around 1783 to defend the royal palaces situated in Ratanakosin when Bangkok became the official capital of Thailand. Until then Ayutthaya had been the capital city, but this was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. The royal court moved for a short time to Thonburi on the other side of the Chao Phraya River before finally residing in Ratanakosin.Phra Mahakan Fortress had three levels and originally contained some 38 rooms for the storage of ammunition and weapons. There is only one other surviving fortress from this era, Phra Sumen Fortress on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, and next to Santichaiprakarn Park. The fortress had fallen into disrepair and were restored in the 1980's by the Department of Fine Art, around the same time as the Lak Muang was restored to mark the bicentenary of the founding of Bangkok.
Phra Mahakan Fortress is near to the Golden Mount just over the road from the King Prajadhipok Musuem and Wat Rajnadda.
Travel information about the sights and attractions in Bangkok from PanoramicEarth.com. Panoramic images and pictures linked to an interactive Bangkok map showing where the attractions in Bangkok may be found as you plan your holiday.
