Democracy Monument
The Democracy Monument is a public monument occupies a traffic circle on the wide east-west Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, at the intersection of Dinso Road.
The monument is roughly halfway between Sanam Luang, the former royal cremation ground in front of Wat Phra Kaew, and the temple of the Golden Mount (Phu Kao Thong).
The Democracy Monument is the focal point of the grand, European-style boulevard that is Th Ratchadamnoen Klang. As the name suggests, it was erected to commemorate Thailand’s momentous transformation from absolute to constitutional monarchy. It was designed by Thai architect Mew Aphaiwong and the relief sculptures were created by Italian Corrado Feroci who, as Silpa Bhirasri, gives his name to Silpakorn University. Feroci combined the square-jawed ‘heroes of socialism’ style popular at the time with Mew Aphaiwong’s art deco influences and keen sense of relevant revolutionary dates.
There are 75 cannonballs around the base, to signify the year BE (Buddhist Era) 2475 (AD 1932); the four wings of the monument stand 24m tall, representing 24 June, the day the constitution was signed; and the central plinth stands 3m high (June was then the third month in the Thai calendar) and supports a chiselled constitution. Each wing has bas-reliefs depicting soldiers, police and civilians who helped usher in the modern Thai state.
During the era of military dictatorships, demonstrators often assembled here to call for a return to democracy, most notably in 1973 and 1992.
Getting There:by Taxi or Tuktuk (on the way for go to Grand Palace)
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Address: Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, |
 click for view map |
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