About twenty kilometres south of the ruins, the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, often called the Summer Palace, offers a complete change of mood from the weathered temples. Originally founded in the seventeenth century by an Ayutthaya king, it was largely abandoned after the capital fell and then lavishly rebuilt in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, as a royal summer retreat. The result is a serene lakeside garden estate of manicured lawns, ponds, topiary and an eclectic mix of architectural styles that reflect the king's interest in the wider world. Its best-loved feature is the delicate Thai-style pavilion, Aisawan Thiphya-Art, that appears to float in the middle of an ornamental pond, one of the most graceful buildings in the country. Elsewhere stand a Chinese-style palace of imported craftsmanship, Italianate mansions and an observatory tower. As a royal site it enforces a strict dress code covering shoulders and knees. Electric carts help visitors cover the grounds.
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