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In July 1897 HM Chulalongkorn and three of his sons arrived in Sweden. They travelled with an entourage of 300 men, and a few Danish navy officers who served as translators as few Swedes knew English by this time. However one of the princes (or two) had studied in Denmark and thus knew Danish.

Unlike most foreign visitors of his rank, HM Chulalongkorn travalled to northern Sweden. Part of the reason was he wanted to inspect the Swedish timber industry. Timber was both Swedens and Siams largest exports by this time.

The contemporary Swedish press describes HM Chulalongkorn as a kind person with much dignity but also with a huge sense of humor who would often play practical jokes on his entourage as well as on his Swedish hosts.

Some fifty years after HM Chulalongkorns visit they decide to name a road after him, as the memories and many stories of his visit still lived on.

1992 a Thai dance group takes the wrong turn and get lost in Northern Sweden and stumbles across King Chulalongkorns road. They become fascinated and asks if its possible to build a memorial site.

1994 The Swedish state, in cooperation with Thailand, starts the construction of a memorial pavilion. His Majesty the King of Thailand graciously sent both monks and construction workers to lead the work. It is patterned after Bang-in Palace in Ayutthaya


Maha Chakri. HM boat in Stockholm


HM Chulalongkorn in Stockholm with the King Oscar II


HM Chulalongkorn with the princes in Sweden


The ready Pavilion


The statue of HM Chulalongkorn inside



Today the pavilion hosts a nearby Thai restaurant, hotel, camping, Thai handicraft, the Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce and a meditation center run by Thai monks.




Source: STCC, Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce http://www.swethai.com/