Built in 1901 by King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) as the Celestial Residence, this large, beautiful, golden teakwood mansion was restored in 1982 for Bangkok’s bicentennial and reopened by Queen Sirikit as a private museum with a collection of the royal family’s memorabilia. An intriguing and informative hour-long tour takes you through a series of apartments and rooms (81 in all) in what is said to be the largest teak building in the world — the thought of all that gorgeous teakwood employed is staggering. The original Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall houses a display of Thai handicrafts, and nine other buildings north of the mansion display photographs, clocks, fabrics, royal carriages, and other regalia. Classical Thai dance, folk dance, and martial art demonstrations are given daily at 10:30am and 2pm.