Thais remember the king with parades or a trip to the temple to make merit by giving alms to monks. As King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day is a public holiday it means banks and government offices plus overseas embassies and consulates will be closed from this evening until Monday morning.
King Chulalongkorn enacted the first steps that saw the abolition of slavery in Thailand. He also oversaw the establishment of the nation’s Defence Ministry and the formal registration of land ownership. The first railways and eclectic lighting were among other key milestones the country saw during Chulalongkorn’s reign.
As the public holiday effectively gives Thais three days off work they use the opportunity to travel. This means tickets for trains and buses are hard to come by and to avoid disappointment you might want to book your journey with 12GO ASIA.
Thailand marks King Chulalongkorn national holiday tomorrow
News in Asia
Thailand is celebrating the memory of revered King Chulalongkorn tomorrow with a national holiday. The 23 October 2015 marks the 105th anniversary of the day the beloved monarch passed away and brought to a close a 42-year reign that saw Thailand take significant steps on the road to becoming a modern state.