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When King Rama I, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, came to the throne, he decided to relocate the capital from Thon Buri to the Eastern side of the Chao Phraya River. He considered there were benefits both in terms of avoiding land erosion and for defence of this peninsula-like section of land. If attacked, it could be more easily defended. Therefore he ordered the building of Bangkok on the east bank and thus started the Rattanakosin Period, also known as the "Bangkok Period".

Rattanakosin Island is the section of the capital surrounded by canals (Khlongs), and houses the Grand Palace and other old palaces, long since converted into government offices.

Thammasat University
In former times, this area was the southern part of the Crown Prince's palace and after this appointment was abolished, the land was given to a military department and later transferred to become Thammasart Law and Political Science University, established in 1934. This was the second modern university in Thailand. At the outset, the university only offered courses in law and political economics. Later the university developed into more fields of study and the name was changed to become Thammasat University.

Tha Phra Chan Area and Thanon Phra Chan
Toay's lively area of Tha Phra Chan used to be the palace of Prince Prachack Silpakhom who ceded the land to the Privy Purse. Tha Phra Chan is busy and crowded during the daytime because of a ferry operated by a private company mainly to serve students and staff from Siriraj Medical School on the West Bank of the river, and Thammasart and Silpakorn University students on the east.

From the Tha Phra Chan area to the Royal Field (Sanam Luang), there is a small road called "Thanon Phra Chan". This road is one of the oldest in Bangkok. On the Northern side there is the wall of the Crown Prince's Palace, and on the other side is the area of Maha That Temple which is another significant monastery in the Rattanakosin area.

Tha Chang Wang Luang Area and Old Shophouses
Tha Chang Wang Luang (literally means elephant pier of the Grand Palace) was built in the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809). In the past, elephants from the Grand Palace were brought to this area to take a baht. Tha Chang Wang Luang has a number of retail shops and a market and is served by a ferry jetty.

At the corner of the Tha Chang area, there are 33 units of beautifully decorated shophouses. These shophouses were built during King Rama V's reign (1868-1910) with beautiful plaster pediments, pilasters and stucco. The shophouses are owned by the Royal Crown Property Bureau, which leases them to private tenants.

Shophouses on Thanon Na Phra Lan
Old shophouses on Thanon Na Phra Lan are located in front of Silpakorn University (University of Fine Arts). In King Rama I's reign the area of Silpakorn University was the site of three palaces former residences of the king's relatives until the fifth reign (1868-1910). Afterwards, the land was transferred to the government and eventually fell under the responsibility of Silpakorn University and Fine Arts Department.

During the fifth reign the walls of the palaces were demolished and shophouses were built instead. These shophouses were constructed with brick and plaster columns, details of which look similar to those found in Tha Chang Wang Luang shophouses located nearby.

Wall and Gates on the West Side of the Grand Palace
The wall and gates on the west of the Grand Palace are protective structures of both the Grand Palace and the city. The wall was originally built in 1782, the first year of the glorious period of Rattanakosin.

Ratchaworadit Royal Pier and Ratchakit Winitchai Throne Pavilion
Ratchaworadit Winitchai Throne Pavilion is a Thai-style pavilion located in the area of the Ratchaworadit Royal Pier. The pavilion was built in the fourth reign of the Chakri Dynasty (1851-1868) and is the only remaining structure of the four pavilions built during that time.

Before the four pavilions were built, the area was the site of a floating pavilion.
Nowadays, the Ratchakit Winitchai Throne Pavilion and Ratchaworadit pier are exclusively used for royal ceremonies.

Tha Rong Mo Pier
Earlier, this area was the site of a stone-crushing plant (called Rong Mo Hin in Thai). Later, a wooden pier was built and was then replaced by a concrete structure. Today this pier is used as a ferry jetty to the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun).

Tha Tian Shophouses
In the past, the Tha Tian area was one of the most significant communities in Rattanakosin. A place for a prince was constructed in this area in the first reign (1782-1809) but it was razed to the ground during the fourth reign (1851-1868). It then became a foreign court and accommodation for foreigners, replaced later with shophouses.

Shophouses in Tha Tian were believed to be built in the fifth reign (1865-1910) since some of the features and decorative work are similar to those found in Tha Chang and Na Phra Lan areas. Tha Tian shophouses are a good example of the early market development in Rattanakosin where a fresh food market is surrounded by rows of shophouses.

Chakrabongse House
This private house was built in the fifth reign (1868-1910) by Prince Pitsanulok Prachanart, the father of Prince Chulchakrabongse. The House was built while Prince Chulchakrabongse was studying in England. When the prince returned to Thailand in 1938, he stayed at this house until the last days of his life. The main building had a three-storey timber tower which offered a very nice view of the Chao Phraya River and its surroundings.

Phra Ratchawang
Municipal Police Station
Phra Ratchawang Municipal Police Station is situated in the area of a palace which existed in the third, fourth and fifth reigns. The station was moved into this palace in 1914, in the sixth reign, after the palace was no longer being used.

Main Building of Ministry of Commerce
The main building of the Ministry of Commerce is located in the area of former palaces which were built in the third reign (1824-1851). The land was transferred to the government in the sixth reign (1910-1925) and has belonged to the government since then.

The well-preserved main building has three storeys. Some details and decorative applications such as pilasters and architraves were influenced by those found in European architecture.

In front of the porch of the main building, a statue of Prince Chanthaburi Naruenart is situated. The statue was created in 1961 as a memorial to Prince Chanthaburi Naruenart who was the first Minister of Commerce.

Old Shophouses on Thanon Atsadang
The old shophouses on Thanon Atsadang, that run parallel to the inner city moat, were built in the fifth reign (1868-1910), in a European style as can be seen by the treatment of the pediments on facades and end units.

From the mid 19th to early 20th centuries, this area was one of the famous business places where motor car showrooms and boat engine shops were located because the area was near a major wholesale market called Pak Khlong Talat. Today, the old shophouses are in poor condition and are mostly used by transport and warehouse companies.

The Royal Survey Department
In the past this area was a part of Saranrom Palace. In 1887 a wooden building was built for the Military Academy and in 1892, a two-storey concrete building was built to substitute for the wooden structure.

After the Military Academy and other military departments were relocated, this building was used, from 1931, as the office of the Royal Survey Department. Although the overall features of the building suggest that it derives influence from European architecture, some stucco and other details were created in Thai style.

Ministry of Defence
This huge building construction was started in 1882 and completed in 1884 on the land of three former palaces in the first reign (1782-1809).

It was used as a barracks and storehouse at first, becoming the head office of Ministry of Defence later. The Roman pediment and six columns supporting the front balcony are outstanding, being decorated in the ancient style symbolising power.

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