The Thai army has recently finalised the installation of seven giant statues of famed Rama kings in Ratchapakdi Park in Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Each statue is cast from bronze and were transported from a factory in Bangkok by truck.
The Kings represented are King Chulalongkorn, King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, King Naresuan the Great, King Narai the Great, King Taksin the Great, King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great, and King Mongkut.
After their installation, many artists from six casting factories in Nakhon Pathom, Lop Buri, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Bangkok decorated the 13.9-metre-tall and six-metre-wide masterpieces. The statues weigh in at 30 tonne each.
Their installation happened between July 27 and Aug 9 2015 with a ceremonial blessing which was received by an audience estimated at approximately 10,000 people.
The ceremony, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, was performed by 108 revered monks from across the country.
The park is intended to demonstrate people’s loyalty to the royal institution in Thailand which it does with overwhelming style and class.
If you are visiting, try and attend in the morning for the best photo opportunities, after lunch the sun is behind the statues making it difficult to photograph the detail from the front.
You are limited by the army presence as to where you can photograph the statues, being only allowed to stand on the concrete area immediately in front of stairs leading up to the base.
Ratchapakdi Park is free to visit.
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