Why Angkor Wat appears at the Grand Palace

Watch Why Angkor Wat appears at the Grand Palace - The Nation Thailand on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00Ever wonder why there is an Angkor Wat replica in the Grand Palace?

00:04Here's a story.

00:05Back in 1867, during the reign of King Narodom of Cambodia,

00:09a unique project was initiated by King Rama IV of Thailand.

00:13At that time, Siem Reap and Battambang were under direct administration from Bangkok.

00:18King Rama IV planned to move Angkor Wat to Thailand.

00:21The exact reasons are unclear,

00:23but it was likely influenced by the 19th century French expansion in Indochina.

00:28Fierce Cambodian resistance forced King Rama IV to cancel the plan.

00:33Instead, a small replica of Angkor Wat was constructed

00:37and placed in Wat Phra Kaew at the Grand Palace.

00:40The replica even drew visits from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

00:44during the diplomatic talks in 1989.

00:48Revisiting the Grand Palace to see the Angkor Wat replica is definitely a must-do.