Varadis Palace Museum and Damrong Rajanuphab Library

History & Significance

Varadis Palace was originally the residence of Prince Damrong Rajanuphab, a pivotal figure in Thai history who was recognized by UNESCO in 1962 as one of the world's most prominent personalities. The palace was designed by Dr. Karl Siegfried Döhring, the renowned German architect who also designed Bang Khun Phrom Palace and Phra Ram Ratchaniwet Palace. After his retirement, Major General Mom Ratchawong Sangkhadis Diskul, the Prince's grandson, dedicated over 20 years to preserving the palace. Rejecting numerous lucrative offers to sell or rent the land, he established it as a museum to honor the Chakri Dynasty and his grandfather, following a royal suggestion from Princess Srinagarindra (the Princess Mother). Today, the legacy is continued by his descendants, preserving this invaluable historical site for future generations.

Highlights & What to See

The palace is a stunning three-story L-shaped building featuring a high steep gabled roof with clipped corners, tiled with Koh Yo clay tiles from Songkhla. The exterior showcases European-style arched and rectangular windows with small dormer windows for ventilation. Inside, the palace is beautifully decorated with wood carvings and plaster moldings in the Art Nouveau style. Visitors can explore various rooms preserved exactly as they were during the Prince's lifetime, including the Dining Room, Chinese Room, Bedroom, Writing Room, and the Royal Relics Room, which houses the relics of King Rama I, Rama II, Rama IV, Rama V, and Prince Damrong himself.

The adjacent Damrong Rajanuphab Library spans three floors:

• First Floor: Houses the Prince's personal bookcases.
• Second Floor: Displays his personal items and daily utensils.
• Third Floor: Features a collection of royal portraits.

The library also serves as a research center containing over 7,000 of the Prince's personal books, academic journals, and newspapers focusing on history and archaeology.

Visitor Information

The museum and library are open to the public by appointment only. Visitors must contact the staff in advance at 0 2282 9110 to schedule a visit. Admission is free of charge.

How to Get There

Located at 182 Lan Luang Road, Khlong Maha Nak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok. Visitors traveling by private car can drive from Yommarat Intersection onto Lan Luang Road, cross Saphan Khao, and proceed straight. Public buses passing by include lines 2, 8, 39, 44, 59, 60, 79, 511, 537, and 538.