King Chulalongkorn and the German spa town of Bad Homburg
Kurpark, Bad Homburg – Thai-Sala Temple (Vladimir Tutik / Shutterstock.com)
King Chulalongkorn was one of the most famous kings of Siam, later Thailand. There is much to read about him. His father Mongkut had a foresight and gave his son an international education by also appointing European teachers such as Anna Leonowens. In addition, according to Thai tradition, he was twice a monk for shorter periods, including in Wat Bawonniwet.
At the age of 15 he lost his father, who died of malaria. He himself recovered from this disease and then traveled to India under English rule and Java, where Dutch colonial rules were applied. He studied this new way of governing. When he was crowned Rama V on November 16, 1873, he applied many of these new views. His travels were not limited to Calcutta, Delhi and Bombay around 1872 to get even more ideas to modernize Siam, but extend to Europe twice. The crown prince also went to study in Europe and ideas for democracy and elections developed here.
King Chulalongkorn visited Bad Homburg in Germany, a former imperial "Kur-Ort". At the time it was the summer residence of the German emperors with excellent "Spa" facilities, such as natural springs and "Kurparken". He visited this renowned Kurort on August 23, 1907 to heal from illness and ailments through drinking cures, mineral baths, mud pack treatments and massages. This for 4 weeks. In gratitude for his treatment, he donated a “Thai-Sala” to the city, which was built in Bangkok and shipped in parts to Germany by ship. It was built there and inaugurated by Princess Mahidol on May 22, 1914, because King Chulalongkorn had passed away in the meantime. (1910). The king had made every effort to fulfill his promise to give a “Thai-Sala”.
Thai sala temple at the Chulalongkorn fountain in a park in Bad Homburg
In 2007, a 100-year memorial service in memory of King Chulalongkorn was celebrated. In addition, King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit donated a second “Thai-Sala” to Bad Homburg. This was built at the newly constructed Chulalongkorn spring for its 54e birthday on September 20, 1907, where the former king would have liked to see it. This is now called: “Thai-Sala an der Quelle”. Members of the royal family still regularly visit Bad Homburg.
– Relocated in memory of Lodewijk Lagemaat † February 24, 2021 –