File:Bangkok SanamLuang2.jpg

English: Sanam Luang has long been present since the establishment of Bangkok. It lies between the Grand Royal Palace and the Palace to the Front, known as “Royal Palace” and the “Front Palace”, where Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit is located in between. Its original name was “ThungPhra Men” as it was used to hold royal cremation of past kings and royal family members.

During the reign of King Rama II, the field was an area for flying kites in the beginning of the trade wind season. There was a competition between the royal palace and the front palace in which the royal palace flew a star-shaped kite (Chula or Kula), and the front palace flew a diamond-shaped kite Pak Pao). The sport of kite flying still remains popular until today. This field was also used to grow rice, by order of King Rama III to show that there was an abundant supply of food and a vast number of rice paddies even near the Grand Royal Palace as during that time Thailand had a conflict with Vietnam over Cambodian territory. In 1855, King Rama IV changed its name from “ThungPhra Men” to “Thong SanamLuang” as the former was considered “inauspicious name”, and ordered construction of a pavilion to observe rice culture and a rainmaking ritual which later become the present-day Royal Ploughing ceremony.

During the reign of King Rama V, this field was used to organise “Bangkok Centennial Royal Ceremonies marking100 years of the Rattanakosin Era”. Also, King Rama VI set up the place for horse racing. In the reign of the current king, the field was again used to organize “Bangkok Bicentennial Royal Ceremonies marking 200 years of the Rattanakosin Era”. The Department of Fine Arts registered the field as a National Historic Site on 13th December, 1977.