Retracing the route of the royal barge procession Royal barges taking part in the recent Chao Phraya River spectacular to salute 60 years of His Majesty's accession to the throne generated tremendous public interest. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is now offering the interested public a chance to retrace the route of the boat procession held on June 12 and view the royal barges on parade on that historic occasion. The three-hour tour begins from Pin Klao Bridge. One of the places we stopped by was the National Museum of the Royal Barges in Bangkok Noi where the royal fleet is normally kept. "Centuries ago, the Chao Phraya flowed from Bangkok Noi to Bangkok Yai in a long U-curve. So Phra Chai Racha, a king of Ayutthaya had a canal dug to create a shortcut,"said Somrak Sukwatanakul, the tour guide, adding that over time the canal has greatly widen. Not far from the museum is the Royal Thai Navy Institute where the royal barges are now temporarily kept. Visitors arriving there can take pictures of the Suphannahongse, Anantanagaraj, Narai Song Suban HM King Rama IX, Anekchatbhuchongse and all the other boats. According to Thongchai Ruennava of the navy institute, the Suphannahongse, built in the form of a mythological swan, dates back to the days of King Rama I. It sustained some damage during the time of King Rama IV and was restored to its original glory by King Rama VI. The barge is 42 metres long, its hull painted black. All barges are painted in colours associated with the monarch at the throne at the time of their building. For example, the Anekchatbhuchongse is painted pink because it was built during the reign of King Rama V and pink is the colour of the day he was born. Building a royal barge is not simple, said Thongchai, explaining that only wood from two particular trees, golden teak and takhien thong, is used; the trees must be sourced from temples and the trunks erect, at least 40 metres long. Originally, the barges were built for royal ceremony to present robes to monks at the end of the Buddhist Lent. During the ceremony the Suphannahongse serves as the royal vessel, while the Anantanagaraj ferries Buddha images and monk robes. Other barges, meanwhile, are used as transportation for members of the royal family. The full complement of royal flotilla on June 12 comprised 52 barges that end to end stretched more than a kilometre and manned by 2,200 navy personnel. TAT for its part has assembled a fleet of eight long-tailed boats, each with a capacity for 40 passengers, that will operate in groups of two in four shifts: 8:45am, 9:15am, 12:45pm and 1:15pm. Tickets priced at 299 baht per head, inclusive of snacks and guide fees, can be purchased at the Tourism Information Centre next to Pin Klao pier and at TAT headquarters on Phetchaburi Road. The tour is available until July 2. |