In 1782, King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, better known as Rama I, founded the Chakri Dynasty in Bangkok. His direct descendant Rama IX has been the King of Thailand since 1946. A life-size statue of the prior eight monarchs is inside the Royal Pantheon. Also called the Prasat Phra Thep Bidorn, this building with a corn-cob shaped tower (called a prang) is on the east end of Upper Terrace at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is only open to the public on Chakri Day which is celebrated on April 6.
