As the day is a memorial day and not a Buddhist holiday, bars and other entertainment places will mostly be open. Immigration offices, but not immigration checkpoints at airports and land border crossings, will be shut for the day. Post offices, the main branches of banks and government offices are also closed.
King Chulalongkorn and King Bhumibol were both Chakri Dynasty monarchs. Chulalongkorn was number five and Bhumibol was number nine. King Chulalongkorn is said to be the founder of modern-day Thailand and, during his 42-year reign, was the driving force behind setting up a legal system and preventing Thailand from being colonised by a foreign power.
12GO ASIA says that while Chulalongkorn Day is usually not busy, this year will be different as Thais are already heading to Bangkok to attend the Royal Cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday. The national airports operator says forecasts show Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport will handle four million passengers this week.
Today is a national holiday for King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day
News in Asia
Today is a national holiday in Thailand. The 23 October marks the death of one of the nation’s favourite monarchs, King Chulalongkorn, in 1910. Due to the upcoming funeral rites for King Bhumibol Adulyadej, today’s ceremonies will probably be very subdued.