After the cremation of the much loved Thai monarch took place on the 26 October, the site was opened to the general public at the beginning of November. According to the original timetable, the crematorium was supposed to have closed at the end of the month and then been dismantled.
Due to the huge influx of visitors, the demolition was deferred to an as yet unspecified date. Veera Rojpojanarat is the Thai culture-minister and he says a whole new batch of brochures and postcards for the Royal Crematorium have been printed up. The brochures give full details about the buildings and the cremation rite.
12GO notes that traditional masked Khon dance shows staged at the crematorium site give illuminating insights into Thai heritage. The performances are held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 19:00. Minister Rojpojanarat stated that special Ramayana dance performances would be held on the 30 and 31 December to usher in the New Year.
Visitor numbers to Bangkok Royal Crematorium top three million
News in Asia
Authorities in Thailand have confirmed record numbers of people have visited the Royal Crematorium in Bangkok. Figures released late last week show the number of Thais and foreigners who have visited the cremation site of King Bhumibol Adulyadej had surpassed three million.