When King Rama I, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, came to the throne, he decided to relocate the capital from Thonburi to the Eastern side of the Chao Phraya River. He considered there were benefits both in terms of avoiding land erosion and for defence of this peninsula-like section ofland. If attacked, it could be more easily defended. Therefore he ordered the building of Bangkok on the east bank and thus started the Rattanakosin Period, also known as the "Bangkok Period".Rattanakosin Island is the section of the capital surrounded by canals (Khlongs), and houses the Grand Palace and other old palaces, long since converted into government offices.

In former times, this area was the southern part of the Corwn Prince's palace and after this appointment was abolished, the land was given to a military department and later transferred to become Thammasat Law and Political Science University, established in 1934.

This was the second modern university in Thailand. At the outset, the university only offered courses in law and political economics, ,Later the university developed mto mon fields of study and the name was changed to become Thammasat University.

Today's lively area of Tha Phra Chan used to be the palace of Prince Prachack Silpakhom who ceded the land to the Privy Purse. Tha Phra Chan is busy and crowded during the daytime because of a ferry operated by a private company mainly to servestudents and staff from Siriraj Medical School on the West
Bank of the river, and Thummasat and Silpakorn Umversity students on the east
From the Tha Phra Chan area to t e Royal Field (SanamLuang), there is a small
road is one "Phra Chan Road". This road is one of the oldest in Bangkok.
On the Northern side there is the wall of the Crown Prince's Palace, and on the
other side is the area of Mahathat Temple which is another significant monastery in the Rattanakosin area.

Tha Chang Wang Luang ( literally means elephant pier the Grand Palace)
was built in the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809). In the past, elephants
from the Grand Palace were brought to this area to take a bath. Tha Chang Wang Luang has a number of retail shops and a market and is served by a ferry jetty.

At the corner of the Tha Chang area, there are 33 units of beautifully decorated shophouses. These shophouses were built during King Rama V's reign (1868-1910 wi th beautiful plaster pediments, pilasters and stucco The shophouses are owned by the Royal Crown Property Bureau, which leases them to private tenants.

Old shophouses on Na Phra Lan Road are located in front of Silpakorn University
(University of Fine Arts). In King Rama I's reign the area of Silpakorn University
was the Site of three palaces former residences of the king's relatives until the
fifth reign (1868-1910). Afterwards, the land was transferred to the government
and eventually fell under the responsibility of Silpakorn University and Fine Arts
Department.

During the fifth reign the walls of the palaces were demolished and
shophouses were built instead. These shophuses were constructed with bnck and plaster columns details of which look siminar to those found in Tha Chang Wang Luang shophouses located nearby.

The wall and gates on the west of the Grand Palace are protective structures of both the Grand Palace and the city. The wall was originally built in 1782, the first year of the glorious period of Rattanakosin.

Ratchakit Winitchai Throne Pavilion is a Thai-style pavilior located in the area of the Ratchaworadit Royal Pier. The pavilic was built in the fourth reign of the Chakri Dynasty (1851-1868) and is the only remaining structure of the four pavilions built
during that time.

Before the four pavilions were built, the area was the site a floating pavilion.

Nowadays, the Ratchakit Winitchai Throne Pavilion and Ratchaworadit pier are exclusively used for royal ceremonies.

Earlier, this area was the site of a stone-crushing plant (called Rong Mo Hin in Thai). Later, a wooden pier was built and was then replaced by a concrete structure, Today this pier is used as a ferry jetty to the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun).

In the past, the Tha Tian area was one of the most significant communities in Rattanakosin. A palace fill' a prince was constructed in this area in the first reign (1782-1809) but it was razed to the ground during the fourth reign (1851-1868), It then became a foreign court and accommoda¬tion for foreigners, replaced later with shophouses.

In the past, the Tha Tian area was one of the most significant communities in Rattanakosin. A palace fill' a prince was constructed in this area in the first reign (1782-1809) but it was razed to the ground during the fourth reign (1851-1868), It then became a foreign court and accommodation for foreigners, replaced later with shophouses.

Shophouses in Tha Tian were believed to be built in the fifth reign (1865-1910) since some of the features and decorative work are similar to those found in Tha Chang and Na Phra Lan areas, Tha Tian shophouses are a good example of the early market development in Rattanakosin where a fresh food market is surrounded by rows of shophouses.

This private house was built in the fifth reign (1868-1910) by Prince Pitsanulok Prachanart, the father of Prince Chulchakrabongse. The House was built while Prince Chulchakrabongse was studying in England. When the Prince returned to Thailand in 1938, he staved at this house until the last days of his life. The main building had a three-storey timber tower which offered a very nice view of the Chao Phraya River and its.

Phra Ratchawang Municipal Police Station is situated in the area of a palace which existed in the third, fourth and fifth reigns. The station was moved into this palace in 1914, in the sixth reign, after the palace was no longer being used.

The old shophouses on Atsadang Road, that run parallel to the inner city moat, were built in the fifth reign (1868-1910), in a European style ascan be seen by the treatment of the pediments on facades and
end units.
From the mid 19th to early 20th centuries, this area was
one of the famous business plaices where motor car showrooms and boat engine shops were located because the area was near a major wholesale market called Pak Khlong Talat. Today the old shophouses are in poor condition and are mostly used by transport and rehouse companies.

In the past this area was a part of Saranrom Palace. In 1887 a wooden building was built for the Military Academy and in 1892, a two-storey concrete building was built to substitute for the wooden structure. After the Military Academy and other military departments were relocated,1931, as the office of the Royal Survey Department. Although the overall features of the building suggest that it derives influence from European architecture, some stucco and other details were created in Thai style.

This huge building construction was started in 1882 and completed in 1884 on the land of three former palaces in the first reign (1782-1809).
It was used as a barracks and storehouse at first, becoming the head office of Ministry of Defence later. The Roman pediment and six columns supporting the front balcony are outstanding, being decorated in the ancient style symbolising power.