The Royal Road and Democracy Monument
Figure 36 Ratchadamnoen Avenue source: Kim Dovey,2001
In the early 20th century, in the reign of King Rama V (Chulalongkorn, 1853-1910), who planned the modernisation of Siam and the governmental and social reforms, the Ratchadamnoen Avenue had been created to connect the Grand Palace to the Dusit Palace, a new western-style palace outside the city wall. Not only connecting to the Grand Palace, but it also links with the group of sacred buildings and political symbolics around the palace such as Sanam Luang (ceremonial plaza) and the City Pillar to a
new Royal Plaza and New Throne Hall. Its connection can be read as the shifting of the political power area and the link between the old monarchical traditional style and the new modernisation of Siam. The avenue was built with the western style of the boulevard on the old orchard dyke area of Baan Paanthom. Ratchadamnoen, in Thai, means “royal walk,” named as the Queen’s Walk in London. In the early period, the road had been used for cars owned by the royal family members or the elite class.
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