Rattanakosin Drum Tower

Name of a historical monument in Bangkok's Rattanakosin area, in Thai simply referred to as ho klong, i.e. ‘drum tower’, and located to the southeastern corner of Wat Poh (fig.), on the same side as the Territorial Defence Command, just south of the Royal Clock Tower (fig.). The original drum tower was commissioned by King Rama I in 1782 AD, at the beginning of Rattanakosinsok. It was built in the Ayutthaya style and had three floors. Each floor housed a different size of drum, each with a different sound and each used for a specific purpose and to convey a different message. The first one was a large drum named Yam Phra Surisri (ย่ำพระสุริย์ศรี) and had a diameter of 82 centimeters. It was located on the ground floor and was used to signal dawn and dusk by beating the time for the people who lived within the city walls. The second drum, named Akki Phinaat (อัคคีพินาศ), was a medium-sized drum, with a diameter of 60 centimeters. It was located on the second floor and was used to beat the alarm in case of a fire. The third drum, named Phikhaat Phairih (พิฆาตไพรี), was a small drum with a diameter of 44 centimeters and was located on the third floor. It was intended to be used as a warning signal in case of an enemy attack, but it appears that it has never been used, as no foreign enemy ever came close to the capital. The original drum tower was made from wood and covered with din daeng, i.e. red clay. In the reign of King Rama III he tower's pyramidal rooftop was modified from its Thai mondop-style to a Chinese style known as yod kiyaw baep jihn (ยอดเกี้ยวแบบจีน), yet in the reign of Rama IV it was changed back to its original form. Later, King Rama V ordered the drum tower dismantled in order to make place for the creation of a Royal Park named Suan Chao Chet (สวนเจ้าเชตุ) and because newer and better signal systems were being introduced, and all three drums were moved to the Deva Phithak (เทวาพิทักษ์) Gate Tower in the Grand Palace. Later, King Rama VII allowed for the three drums to be put on display at the capital's Phra Nakhon Museum, which today is known as the Bangkok National Museum (fig.). In 1982, in the reign of King Rama IX and on the occasion of the Bicentennial of the Chakri dynasty, the Cabinet planned to revive the drum tower and had it rebuilt after its original design and in its original location, yet is now made from stone. On 24 February 1987, a drum-raising ceremony took place in which three used drums, larger than the original ones, were reallocated from Wat Pracha Sutharam, a temple in Surin, and housed in the new replica. Also referred to as the Phra Nakhon Drum Tower. See also kong dap phleung TRAVEL PICTURE and MAP. 回