Dusit is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

, Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

.

The district forms the main administrative center of Thailand, as both the national parliament as well as the royal palace are located in this district, as well as several ministries. It is connected with the Rattanakosin island by the Ratchadamnoen road (literally 'Royal way for traveling').

Neighboring district are (from north clockwise) Bang Sue

Bang Sue

Bang Sue is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from east, are Chatuchak, Dusit and Bang Phlat, and Bang Kruai and Mueang Nonthaburi .-Places:...

, Phaya Thai

Phaya Thai

Phaya Thai is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the name of a major road, as well as a BTS Skytrain station, both of which are in the nearby Ratchathewi district....

, Ratchathewi

Ratchathewi

Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...

, Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...

, Pom Prap Sattru Phai

Pom Prap Sattru Phai

Pom Prap Sattru Phai is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are Dusit, Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon.-History:...

, Phra Nakhon

Phra Nakhon

Phra Nakhon is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including the Rattanakosin Island...

, and across the Chao Phraya River

Chao Phraya River

The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...

 the district Bang Phlat

Bang Phlat

Bang Phlat is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from north, are Amphoe Bang Kruai of Nonthaburi Province, Bang Sue, Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok Noi, and Taling Chan districts of Bangkok.-History:...

.

History

The district was established by King Chulalongkorn

Chulalongkorn

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...

, who wanted to escape the cluttered area of the Rattanakosin Island.

The Vimanmek Palace

Vimanmek Palace

The Vimanmek Palace officially named Vimanmek Mansion, is a former royal palace in Bangkok, Thailand. It is also known as the Vimanmek Teak Mansion or Vimanmek Mansion...

was constructed in 1900 completely out of teak

Teak

Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...

, and was used as a royal palace for a short time, but was abandoned in 1908. Revived and reconstructed in 1992 it is now a major touristical attraction of the district.

Chitralada Palace

Chitralada Palace

Chitralada Palace is the Bangkok residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. King Bhumibol was the first king in the Chakri dynasty to live in the Chitralda Palace. He moved there after the death of his older brother, King Rama VIII in the Grand Palace...

was built by King Vajiravudh

Vajiravudh

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramentharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Phra Bat Somdet Phra Ramathibodi Si Sintharamaha Vajiravudh Phra Mongkut Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama VI was the sixth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1910 until his death...

 (Rama VI), and is still the residence of the King of Thailand. The large park around the palace is used by King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King of Thailand. He is known as Rama IX...

 for agricultural research.

Buildings

Other important buildings in the district include the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, which was another former residence of King Chulalongkorn, and was later used as the first parliament building. It was built 1907-1915 by the Italian architects Annibale Rigotti and Mario Tamagno. Next to the building is the Suan Amporn park, and across the street the Dusit Zoo

Dusit Zoo

Dusit Zoo at Khao Din Park is a city zoo in Bangkok, Thailand.Located at Khao Din Park in Bangkok's Dusit District next to the Parliament House and Dusit Palace, it is the oldest zoo of Thailand, built by King Chulalongkorn as his private garden adjacent to the royal palace. After the King's...

. The vast space in front of Ananta Samakom Throne Hall is the Royal Plaza. At the middle of the plaza is the Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn

Chulalongkorn

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...

.

Various events are held in Suan Amporn park and Royal Plaza. Yearly events include commencements

Graduation

Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...

 for many universities in Bangkok, and the Red Cross Fair which takes place for 9 days about the end of March till the first week of April.

Important administration offices such as the National Assembly

National Assembly of Thailand

The National Assembly of Thailand or the Parliament of Thailand is the legislative branch of the government of Thailand. The National Assembly of Thailand is a bicameral body, consisting of two chambers: the upper house, , and the lower house,...

 and Government House are also in Dusit. Wasukri Pier is the pier to board and store Royal Barge

Royal barge

A royal barge is a ceremonial barge that is used by a monarch for processions and transport on a body of water.Royal barges are currently used in monarchies such as the United Kingdom, Sweden and Thailand....

s, which sail in Thailand's Royal Barge Procession

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession

Thailand's Royal Barge Procession is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has been taking place for nearly 700 years. The exquisitely crafted Royal Barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, typically...

. Near the pier is the National Library. Several other palaces are now convert to other use. For example, Chan Kasem Palace built for the crown prince by King Rama V was never used by King Rama VI and later became office for Ministry of Education. Suan Sunandha Palace built for queen, consorts, princes and princesses are now Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University.

The most famous buddhist temple of the district is Wat Benchamabophit

Wat Benchamabophit

Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram is a Buddhist temple in the Dusit district of Bangkok, Thailand. Also known as the marble temple, it is one of Bangkok's most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction...

, built by Prince Naris as the royal temple of King Chulalongkorn.

Transportation

The Bang Sue

Bang Sue

Bang Sue is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from east, are Chatuchak, Dusit and Bang Phlat, and Bang Kruai and Mueang Nonthaburi .-Places:...

 station of Bangkok Metro

Bangkok Metro

The MRT , sometimes referred to as the Bangkok Metro, is Bangkok's underground metro system in Thailand. It was constructed under a concession concept...

is located just a short distance outside Dusit district at its extreme northeast corner in Bang Sue district.

Administration

The district is sub-divided into 5 sub-districts (Khwaeng).

1.	Dusit	ดุสิต
2.	Wachiraphayaban	วชิรพยาบาล
3.	Suan Chit Lada	สวนจิตรลดา
4.	Si Yaek Maha Nak	สี่แยกมหานาค
5.	Thanon Nakhon Chai Si	ถนนนครไชยศรี

External links

• Official website of the Dusit district office (Thai only)