Ministry of Defence (Thailand)

The Ministry of Defence headquarters is a historic building in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon District. It sits opposite the Grand Palace on Sanam Chai Road, in the heart of the historic Rattanakosin Island. The building, in the neo-Palladian style of the neoclassical movement, was built as the Front Soldiers' Barracks in 1882–1884 to designs by Italian architect Joachim Grassi. It has served as the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence since the ministry's establishment in 1887.

Phaya Tani (Thai: พญาตานี; also Nang Phraya Tani, or Seri Patani in Malay) is a 17th-century siege cannon from Pattani Province in southern Thailand. It is the largest cannon ever cast in what is now Thailand, measuring 2.7 m long (9 feet) and made of brass. It is on display in front of the Ministry of Defence, opposite the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The cannon still serves as the symbol of Pattani Province and it has been on the official seal of Pattani Province since 1939.

Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 10.539 million as of 2020, 15.3 percent of the country's population. Over 14 million people (22.2 percent) lived within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region at the 2010 census, making Bangkok an extreme primate city, dwarfing Thailand's other urban centres in both size and importance to the national economy. Bangkok traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century, which eventually grew and became the site of two capital cities, Thonburi in 1768 and Rattanakosin in 1782. Bangkok was at the heart of the modernization of Siam, later renamed Thailand, during the late-19th century, as the country faced pressures from the West. The city was at the centre of Thailand's political struggles throughout the 20th century, as the country abolished absolute monarchy, adopted constitutional rule, and underwent numerous coups and several uprisings. The city, incorporated as a special administrative area under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in 1972, grew rapidly during the 1960s through the 1980s and now exerts a significant impact on Thailand's politics, economy, education, media and modern society. The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok. The city is now a regional force in finance and business. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and has emerged as a centre for the arts, fashion, and entertainment. The city is known for its street life and cultural landmarks, as well as its red-light districts. The Grand Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Arun and Wat Pho stand in contrast with other tourist attractions such as the nightlife scenes of Khaosan Road and Patpong. Bangkok is among the world's top tourist destinations, and has been named the world's most visited city consistently in several international rankings. Bangkok's rapid growth coupled with little urban planning has resulted in a haphazard cityscape and inadequate infrastructure. Despite an extensive expressway network, an inadequate road network and substantial private car usage have led to chronic and crippling traffic congestion, which caused severe air pollution in the 1990s. The city has since turned to public transport in an attempt to solve the problem, operating eight urban rail lines and building other public transit, but congestion still remains a prevalent issue. The city faces long-term environmental threats such as sea level rise due to climate change.

Kanlayana Maitri Road (Thai: ถนนกัลยาณไมตรี) is a road in Bangkok's Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang sub-district, Phra Nakhon district. It's a short road between the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense and the Royal Thai Survey Department. It connects Sanam Chai road and Saphan Chang Rongsi (Chang Rongsi bridge), at the end of the bridge is the junction of Atsadang and Bamrung Mueang roads, and is considered the beginning of Bamrung Mueang road. Its name "Kanlayana Maitri" is the name in honour of Phraya Kalyanamaitri (พระยากัลยาณไมตรี) or Francis B. Sayre Sr., an American who come to live and work in Siam (today's Thailand) during the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), he was a major contributor to foreign affairs of Siam at that time. Since Saranrom Palace (today's Saranrom Park) neighborhoods were formerly the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Kanlayana Maitri road is recognized as one of the most beautiful roads in Bangkok includes Thailand. Since building of the Ministry of Defense is on the side. It was built with Neo-classical mixed Palladian architectures. The building is beautifully decorated with yellow and hundreds of windows opened and closed alternately, so often used as a place to photograph or filming.

The Royal Thai Survey Department (Thai: กรมแผนที่ทหาร) is a Special Services Group of Headquarters, Royal Thai Armed Forces (กองบัญชาการกองทัพไทย) tasked to conduct land and aerial survey, geodesy and geophysics works in Thailand. The headquarters of the Survey Department are located on Kanlayan Maitri Road in the Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict of Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, and the current Department Director is Lieutenant General Noppadon Chotisiri.Modern map surveying in Thailand began in 1875 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) with the establishment of a Mapping Division under the direction of British expatriate Henry Alabaster to lay out the map for telegraphic activities linking Bangkok to Phra Tabong (Battambang) and also to map around the Thai Gulf.Prince Damrong (then known as Phra Ong Chao Ditsawarakuman) conceived the idea of forming a Survey Department. King Rama V granted the establishment of the Thai Survey School in 1882, with initial recruits coming from the Royal Guards. A royal decree issued September 3, 1885, separated the surveyors from the royal bodyguard and created the Royal Survey Department. The department then engaged in cadastral survey, which is the survey of specific land parcels to define ownership for land registration, and for equitable taxation. Land title deeds are issued using the Torrens title system, though it was not until the year 1901 that the first–fruits of this survey were obtained.The first Department Director, Ronald Worthy Giblin, F.R.G.S., noted when survey began in 1896, "It so happens that 40 metres or 4,000 centimetres are equal to one sen in Thai units of measurement, so all cadastral plans are plotted, drawn, and printed to a scale of 1:4,000." The department also engages in the production and sale of detailed maps, which initially were made by the process of zincography.: p.126 To alleviate a scarcity of banknotes in the country during the Greater East Asia War, the department printed a special series of banknotes in 4 denominations, 1, 10, 20 and 100, like those of the 4th series ordered from Thomas de la Rue and Co., London. The phrase “the Royal Thai Survey” at the lower center of the front and back replaced that of de le Rue starting in 1942.

Saranrom Royal Palace (Thai: พระราชวังสราญรมย์), is a former palace in Bangkok, Thailand, located between Grand Palace and Wat Ratchapradit. It served as temporary residence for some princes and as lodging for royal guests. It is now the site of the Museum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saranrom Park.

Wat Phra Kaew (Thai: วัดพระแก้ว, RTGS: Wat Phra Kaeo, pronounced [wát.pʰráʔ.kɛ̂ːw] (listen)), commonly known in English as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and officially as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. The complex consists of a number of buildings within the precincts of the Grand Palace in the historical centre of Bangkok. It houses the statue of the Emerald Buddha, which is venerated as the country's palladium. Construction of the temple began in 1783 under the orders of Rama I, the first king of the Chakri dynasty. Since then, each successive king has been personally involved in adding, restoring and embellishing the temple during their reigns as a way of making religious merit and glorifying the dynasty. Many important state and royal ceremonies are held within the temple each year, presided by the king in person and attended by government officials. This makes the temple the nation's preeminent place of worship and a national shrine for the monarchy and the state. Throughout the years, each king has donated sacred and valuable objects to the temple, making it a treasury as well. The temple complex comprises various buildings for specific religious purposes built in a variety of Thai architectural styles, while still adhering to the traditional principles of Thai religious architecture.

The Emerald Buddha (Thai: พระแก้วมรกต Phra Kaeo Morakot, or พระพุทธมหามณีรัตนปฏิมากร Phra Phuttha Maha Mani Rattana Patimakon) is an image of the meditating Gautama Buddha seated in a meditative posture, made of a semi-precious green stone (jasper rather than emerald or jade), clothed in gold. and about 66 centimetres (26 in) tall. The image is considered the sacred palladium of Thailand. It is housed in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Chang Rong Si Bridge (Thai: สะพานช้างโรงสี, Saphan Chang Rong Si) is a bridge and monument in the Rattanakosin Island area of Phra Nakhon District, the historic centre of Bangkok. The bridge spans Khlong Khu Mueang Doem, the old city moat, and is locate behind the Ministry of Defense and at the front corner of the Ministry of Interior. It signifies the beginning of Bamrung Mueang Road as it continues eastward from Kanlayana Maitri Road. Atsadang Road meets the bridge's eastern foot at the eponymous Saphan Chang Rong Si Intersection, while Rachini Road runs alongside the canal on the opposite side. The bridge was originally built for elephants that returned from war and was located near a rice mill, hence came the name "Saphan Chang Rong Si", which literally means "elephants' bridge at rice mill". It was originally a wooden bridge and there were three similar bridges which were later demolished. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the bridge was restored by Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, the chancellor of the interior, in 1910. The end pieces feature sculptures of dogs' heads that symbolise the year of the dog in the Chinese zodiac.Chang Rong Si was listed as a registered ancient monument of Bangkok in 1988.

Rachini Road (Thai: ถนนราชินี, pronounced [tʰā.nǒn rāː.t͡ɕʰī.nīː]) is a road in inner Bangkok (Rattanakosin Island), located in Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict of Phra Nakhon District. It begins at Sanam Chai Road, at the corners of the Rajini School, Charoenrat 31 Bridge, Phra Ratchawang Police Station, Wat Rajabopit School, and Sanam Chai MRT Station (exit 4) in the area of Pak Khlong Talat. It runs parallel to Khlong Lot, also known as Khlong Khu Mueang Doem and Atsadang Road as far as reaching Sanam Luang, where it cuts across Ratchadamnoen Avenue (section inner Ratchadamnoen) as far as terminating at Tha Chang Wang Na pier under the Phra Pinklao Bridge, where it meets Phra Athit Road. This road can be considered as one of the oldest roads in Bangkok and as a road around the outer walls of the Grand Palace. Originally, it was only a dirt road and has no official name. Until the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s reign, after the king returned from visiting Java and Singapore and saw the progress of roads in both countries. He ordered improvements in many roads in Bangkok, including this road too. Its name literally meaning "The Queen's Road" in honour of the Queen Saovabha Phongsri, as she was a regent when the king had visited Europe in 1897. Rachini Road runs through historic and important places such as Bangkok Land Office, Ubonrat Bridge, Chao Por Ho Klong Shrine, Territorial Defense Command, Charoen Krung Road, Saranrom Park, Saphan Mon, Saphan Hok, Pig Memorial and Pi Kun Bridge, Royal Thai Survey Department, Wat Ratchapradit, Kanlayana Maitri Road and Saphan Chang Rong Si with Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Charoen Sri 34 Bridge, Supreme Court, Phra Mae Thorani Shrine, Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge, World War I Volunteer Monument , National Theatre, Wat Bowon Sathan Sutthawat and Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, respectively. The road also serves as terminal of BMTA and affiliated bus lines: 2, 25, 33, 47, 60, 64, and 53, 59, 82, 503 on Sanam Luang side.In addition, the tip of the road is about 200 m (656 ft) long in front of the National Theatre and Wat Bowon Sathan Sutthawat is shady with many trees similar to a tunnel.

Sao Chingcha (Thai: เสาชิงช้า, pronounced [sǎw t͡ɕʰīŋ.t͡ɕʰáː] pronunciation ) is one of the twelve khwaeng (subdistricts) of Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok.

Wat Ratchapradit Sathit Mahasimaram Ratcha Wora Maha Viharn (Thai: วัดราชประดิษฐสถิตมหาสีมารามราชวรวิหาร) is a Buddhist temple in the Phra Nakhon District of Bangkok. Wat Ratchaparadit was designated a first-class royal monastery in 1915, making it one of the most significant temples in Thailand.The temple is located on Rachini Road, south of Saranrom Palace, next to the Privy Council chambers and near the Grand Palace, its main entrance is on Saranrom Road. Wat Ratchabopit is located diagonally across the Khlong Khu Mueang Derm (also Khlong Lot) on Rattanakosin Island.