Royal Clock Tower

Name of a massive clock tower in Bangkok's Rattanakosin area, located to the east of Wat Poh (fig.), on the same side as the Territorial Defence Command with its King Wachirawut Museum (fig.). The Royal Clock Tower has been renovated several times, but was originally built in the reign of King Rama IV, who asked Krom Khun Rahtsihawikrom (ราชสีหวิกรม), a son of King Rama III, to design the clock tower, then the only one in the capital and the only one ever built commissioned by a king of the Chakri dynasty. The clock tower is designed to resemble a watch tower and is 10 wah high, i.e. circa 20 meters. It has 4 floors with balconies and in the centre of the top floor is a small cube-like edifice with a pinnacle that has 4 dials, one on each side. The clock tower initially stood at the thimdahb, opposite of the terrace of the Chakri Throne Hall (fig.), but was dismantled in the reign of King Rama V and relocated to its current location, where it is hiding in plain sight, as ones attention is usually distracted by the many other historical and important places of interest in the vicinity. In Thai, the Royal Clock Tower is known as Ho Naligah Luang. See also TRAVEL PICTURE and MAP. 回