Sanam Chandra Palace
Sanam Chandra Palace is a tiny castle-like structure built in
a combination of French and English
styles, but with adaptions for the tropical climate
The palace grounds is located on a site
Nakhon Pathom, Thailandand consists of five buildings and
a Ganesh shrine. The palace was built from 1907 to 1911 by
King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), and has a view of Phra Pathom Chedi.
Part of the site is presently a campus of Silpakorn University. On December 5, 2003 the
university returned the palace and surrounding satellite buildings to the Bureau of the Royal
Household following the wishes of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadi who is
the daughter of the former king. Sanam Chandra Palace celebrated its 100-year anniversary from November 23, 2007 to
December 2, 2007.
Statue of Yalae
“Yalae” was a black-and-white hybrid dog with a bushy tail and
falling ears. It was born in the Nakorn Pathom jailhouse, belonging
to the chief prison warden, Luang Chai-arya (Pho Kheha-nant, later
Phra Phuttha Kasetra-nurak). Once during his visit to the jailhouse,
H. M. King Rama VI saw the puppy and commented on its cute. The
chief warden later presented the puppy to the king. Yalae became
the king's dog and he named it “Yalae” after a leading character in
one of his favorite plays. Yalae was very clever and knowing. In no time, it became the king's
favorite and never left his side. One night, Yalae escaped from its place to wander and had a fight
with other dogs in the Royal
Guards Command (currently the National Reserve Training Command). He was shot to death.
The investigation revealed that an officer heard the dogfight and shot at it, not knowing that the
stray bullet had hit Yalae.
