Sai Suddha Nophadol Building
Museum
Architectural Features of the
Royal Mansion
The Sai Suddha
Nophadol Building is a large royal
mansion designed by an Italian architect
(the same architect behind the Railway
Hotel Hua Hin). The interior features
interconnected walkways between the
structures on both the ground and upper
floors. The design stands out for its
effective ventilation system; all doors
and windows are aligned, complemented by
transoms throughout the mansion to
ensure optimal airflow and a breezy
indoor atmosphere.
In the Suan
Sunandha complex, royal mansions were
categorized into three sizes based on
royal rank:
- Large
Mansions: Residences for Royal
Princesses of highest ranks (Chao Fa)
and Royal Consorts.
- Medium
Mansions: Residences for Royal
Princesses (Phra
Ratchathida).
- Small
Residences: Dwellings for Royal
Concubines (Chao
Chom).
Currently, only
6 mansions
remain within Suan Sunandha Rajabhat
University: 1 large mansion, 4 medium
mansions, and 1 concubine
residence.
Second Floor Exhibits
The second
floor is divided into two main
exhibition areas:
- Exhibition
Area of Her Highness Princess Saisavali
Bhiromya, Chrom Phra Sutthasininat
Piyamaharaj
Padivaraddha
- Exhibition
Area of Her Royal Highness Princess
Nibha Nobhadol Vimalaprabhavadi, the
Princess of Uthong (The Younger
Princess)
Royal Life
Exhibition Room
This room
displays photographs depicting various
royal duties of Princess Saisavali
Bhiromya. A highlight is a special
photograph taken by King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V) when the Princess turned 40
years old.
1) Royal Family
Tree Panel
Princess
Saisavali Bhiromya was the daughter of
H.R.H. Prince Bhuminthrabhakdi (Prince
Ladavalya, son of King Rama III) and
Chao Chom Manda Chin. She had two full
sisters:
- H.R.H. Princess Ubolratana
Narinaga, the Princess of
Akaraworarajakanya
- H.R.H. Princess
Saovabhak Nariratana
Princess
Saisavali Bhiromya had four children
with King Rama V:
- H.R.H. Prince
Yugala Dighambara, the Prince of
Lopburi (Founder of the Yugala royal
lineage)
- H.R.H.
Princess Naphachara Chamrassri:
Passed away at a young age. Following
her passing, Princess Saisavali Bhiromya
established Thailand's first
orphanage, named by King Rama V as "The
Nursery of Phra Akarachaya
Ther", built in the Suan Mali
area for public
benefit.
- H.R.H.
Princess Malini Nobhadara, the Princess
of Srisatchanalai: Resided in Suan
Sunandha, west of Princess Saisavali
Bhiromya’s
mansion.
- H.R.H.
Princess Nibha Nobhadol, the Princess of
Uthong: Served as the Private
Secretary to King Chulalongkorn
throughout his reign. She resided in the
opposite wing of Princess Saisavali
Bhiromya’s
mansion.
2) Royal
Artifacts Display
- Commemorative
Fan: Used for the Princess's
60th birthday celebration. The center
features her initials, "สสภ."
(S.S.Bh.),
intricately embroidered with silver
thread by court
ladies.
- Low Wooden
Daybed (Tang):
Original furniture preserved from this
mansion.
- Royal
Portrait: Portrait of Princess
Saisavali Bhiromya at the age of
60.
- Court
Ladies' Staircase: Small corner
staircases throughout the mansion
designated for attendants and staff,
ensuring they did not use the main
stairs reserved for
royalty.
- 3) Recreated
Royal Bedroom of Princess Saisavali
Bhiromya
(Based on oral histories
from interviews with former royal court
ladies)
The room features a
central bed set with overhead drapes and
a manual pulley fan system. The Princess
typically retired to bed between 9:00 PM
and 11:00 PM (1 Yam). Her daily routine
before bed included strolling through
the garden. While she slept, 4–5
court ladies rotated shifts to read
books to her and operate the manual
fan.
(Note: The original sleeping
area corresponds to the current dining
room
location.)
4) Royal Handicrafts &
Cuisine
Princess
Saisavali Bhiromya personally trained
her court attendants in various arts,
including cooking, floral arrangement,
and crafts:
- - Floral
Crafts: Court ladies crafted fresh
flower hangings, such as those designed
by Princess Nibha Nobhadol for the
funeral of H.R.H. Prince Bhanurangsi.
Outside royals frequently requested
floral and craft arrangements from her
court for their
events.
- - Gold Thread
Embroidery: Recreated samples of
gold bullion embroidery on cloth (Pha Tat),
featured on fans with the initials "สสภ.".
- - Watercolor
Paintings by Court Ladies
(Replicas): The Princess had her
attendants paint flowers blooming around
the mansion every morning to capture
their beauty. Each painting records the
artist's name, flower names in Thai
and English, and the date. To date, the
Office of Arts and Culture has compiled
131 watercolor paintings, which are
currently undergoing
conservation.
- - The Royal
Kitchen (Hong
Khreuang): Princess Saisavali
Bhiromya supervised the royal kitchen
throughout the reign of King Rama V.
External royal members frequently
requested catering from her kitchen for
banquets.
- - Interactive
Touchscreen (Royal Cuisine Recipes):
Displays royal recipes recorded by Chao
Chom M.R.W. Sadab (niece of Princess
Saisavali Bhiromya), categorized into
dipping sauces (Khreuang
Chim) and cooked rice
dishes.
- - Nam
Phrik Long Ruea (Boat Chili Paste):
Invented by Chao Chom M.R.W. Sadab when
Princess Nibha Nobhadol and other royals
were boating and wanted to dine on the
water. As it was not meal preparation
time, Chao Chom M.R.W. Sadab cleverly
combined available kitchen ingredients:
shrimp paste chili dip, raw salted egg
yolks, crispy catfish fluff, and sweet
pork.
5) Royal Writing
Room
Features large
built-in wooden wall cabinets and an
adjacent prayer room. Originally used to
store the ashes of royals from the
Ladavalya lineage, it currently houses
sacred Buddha images belonging to Suan
Sunandha Rajabhat
University.
6) Recreated Royal Bedroom of
Princess Nibha Nobhadol
Exhibits a
replica of her royal bed, safe box, and
private bathroom.
- En-suite
Bathroom: Equipped with contemporary
running water systems, a free-standing
bathtub, and a flush
toilet.
7) Central
Hall
Formerly a
leisure and gathering lounge featuring a
billiard table where royals met.
Currently displays oil portraits of
royals who once resided in Suan
Sunandha:
- H.R.H.
Princess Valaya Alongkorn, the Princess
of Phetchaburi: Daughter of Queen
Savang Vadhana and founder of Valaya
Alongkorn Rajabhat University. She
resided in Suan Sunandha (her mansion
was located in the present area of Suan
Dusit Rajabhat
University).
- H.R.H.
Princess Yaovabha
Bongsanid
- Queen
Sunandha Kumariratana: She never
resided in Suan Sunandha as she passed
away before its construction; the
university was named in her
memory.
- H.R.H.
Princess Sasipong
Prabai
- H.R.H.
Princess Adisai
Suriyabha
- H.R.H.
Princess Hemvadi
Historical
Transition: Following the Siamese
Revolution of 1932, the royal household
dispersed. Princess Nibha Nobhadol
granted permission for her court
attendants to return to their families
or relocate to Suan Mali, providing them
with monthly pensions for life. She
subsequently moved to Bandung,
Indonesia, where she resided until her
passing.
