Varadis Palace is the former residence of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab, who became a legendary figure in Thailand. The prince, who lived in 1862-1943, is famous for having successfully modernized the country's education system, making it more modern and better adapted to the wider world.
During the reign of King Rama V (1868 — 1910), Damrong also made important decisions on reforming Thailand's administrative-territorial division. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the king's death, he was engaged mainly in educational activities, studied the history of Thailand, and published many scholarly works. In 1962, Damrong Rajanubhab became the first Thai to be included in UNESCO's list of the most distinguished people.
The Varadis Palace building, where the prince lived, was built in 1911 by the German architect Karl Döhring. In 1996, the house was renovated and a museum was opened in it. The museum is a collection of all the prince's personal belongings, including exquisite furniture from the beginning of the century decorated with traditional Thai painting, household items, clothes and uniforms, dishes, and paintings. Separately, there is an impressive library with more than seven thousand books in Thai and other languages.
