This steep artificial mountain pre-dates Bangkok as the Capitol of Thailand. King Rama III(1787-1851), grandson of Rama I, decided to build a mud and brick "chedi", or mountain temple, of huge dimensions to house Budhist relics. Unfortunately, the soft soil underneath was unable to support the weight and it collapsed while under construction. Laying abandoned for ensuing decades, the collapsed structure took on the shape of a natural hill. King Rama IV decided to construct a smaller temple mountain and it was completed during the reign of his son Rama V (1853-1910). Concrete walls surrounding the structure were added during the 1940's. A series of animals, corresponding to the Chinese Zodiac can be found the base of the hill.
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Carl and Lorraine Aveni are two retirees planning on traveling through Europe for at least one year.
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April 2016
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