The Golden Jubilee Monument

This point of interest is available as audio on the tour: Visit Bangkok, City of Angels
In Bangkok, it’s perfectly normal to come across commemorative monuments, royal statues, shrines, or small altars right in the middle of major avenues, roundabouts, or traffic islands. The city often feels like an open-air museum, with a striking contrast between the heavy traffic and these little islands of memory or spirituality. Here you see the Golden Jubilee Monument, built in 1996 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of King Rama IX’s reign, one of Thailand’s most beloved monarchs. This unique marble monument features four white elephant heads set back-to-back on a base decorated with floral motifs. Standing in the middle of Ratchadamnoen Road, it symbolizes the monarchy’s stability and longevity, right in the heart of Bangkok. And if you’re tempted to make a short detour, just a few steps away on the lawns of Sanam Luang you’ll find the statue of Mae Thorani, known as Mother Earth Squeezing Her Hair. According to Buddhist legend, when the Buddha was attacked by the demon Mara and his armies, he touched the earth to call it as his witness. Mae Thorani appeared, wrung out her long hair, and unleashed torrents of water that swept away the demons, clearing the path for the Buddha to reach enlightenment. It’s a powerful image, reminding us that in Thai culture, even the Earth itself is seen as an ally of righteousness and a protector of the just.
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