A history of mystery
The eerie enigma of Ban Phitsanulok stretches back a century when King Vajiravudh ordered the construction of a baroque-style manor designed by Italian architect Mario Tamagno, who also helped create the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.
The mansion was to be built for the king’s favourite aide-de-camp, Maj-General Phraya Aniruttheva.
The mansion was formally named Banthomsinth House to signify the statue of the Hindu god Narayana sleeping over the cosmic ocean.
When the mansion became too expensive to maintain, Phraya Aniruttheva tried to offer it to King Rama VII, but his offer was refused.
Later, when World War II broke out, the Japanese government showed interest in the mansion and wanted to use it as an embassy.
However, because it was in a strategic spot in the capital, the government bought the mansion and half of…
