Ananda Samakhon Throne Hall

Anchoring the Royal Plaza and indeed the whole Dusit precinct is the Ananda Samakhon Throne Hall. Built in the early 1900s by Italian architect and engineer combination Mario Tamagno and Annibale Rigotti, the great neoclassical dome of the Ananda Samakhon looks out of place in Bangkok but right at home in Dusit. It was designed as a place to host – and impress – foreign dignitaries and on occasion it still serves this purpose, most notably during celebrations of King Bhumibol Aluyadej’s 60th year on the throne, when royals from around the world converged here in full regalia. You’ll almost certainly see a photo of this during your visit. The elaborate facade of Carrara marble is certainly impressive, but it’s the interior that really turns heads.