Chulalongkorn University

Lonely Planet review

The centrepiece of the campus is the promenade ground on the east side of Th Phayathai where a seated statue of Rama V (King Chulalongkorn) is surrounded by purple bougainvillea and offerings of pink carnations. The showcase buildings display the architectural fusion the monarch favoured, a mix of Italian revival and Thai traditional. The campus has a parklike quality, with noble tropical trees considerately labelled for plant geeks.

Of the many species that shade the campus, the rain trees with their delicate leaves are considered symbolic of the school, even commemorated in a school song, and the deciduous cycle matches the beginning and ending of each school year.

The university has two art galleries, Jamjuree and the Art Centre. The latter shows Chula professors as well as major names in the Thai and international modern art scene; permanent exhibits include Thai art retrospectives.

On the west side of Th Phayathai is the teak Thai Pavilion, in which the Center of Arts and Culture performs cultural displays on the first Friday of each month.