Castles and Manor Houses

McDonald,James

Photographs of
Far Eastern Castles and Manor Houses

Grand Palace

Bangkok, Thailand

The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925. The present monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), resides at Chitralada Palace, but the Grand Palace is still used for official events.

Changdeokgung, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Changdeokgung means "Prospering Virtue Palace". The palace is also known as Changdeokgung Palace and Changdeok Palace

It is set within a large park and is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). It is located east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung, along with Changgyeonggung, is also referred to as the "East Palace"

Changdeokgung was the favored palace of many Joseon princes and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung.

Like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, it was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945).

Roofs, Changdeokgung, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Changdeokgung means "Prospering Virtue Palace". The palace is also known as Changdeokgung Palace and Changdeok Palace

Changdeokgung was the favored palace of many Joseon princes and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung.

Like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, it was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945).

Roofs, Changdeokgung, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Changdeokgung means "Prospering Virtue Palace". The palace is also known as Changdeokgung Palace and Changdeok Palace

Changdeokgung was the favored palace of many Joseon princes and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung.

Like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, it was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945).

East Gate, Ancient City of Fenghuang, China

Gamba Castle, Tibet

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul, South Korea.

Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace.

Constructed in 1395, the palace was later burned, and abandoned for almost three centuries. It was reconstructed in 1867, as the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty.

The name means "Palace" [Gung] "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" [Gyeongbok].

In the early 20th century, much of the palace was destroyedby Imperial Japan. Since then, the walled palace complex has been gradually restored to its original form.

Gyeongbokgung

(Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace)

Jongno-gu

Seoul

South Korea

Gyeongbokgung was a royal palace

Laolongtou or “The Old Dragon’s Head” i

part of the Shanhai Pass (also known as Shanhaiguan) of the Great Wall of China

Paro Taktsang

located in the cliffside of the upper Paro valley, Bhutan

Paro Taktsang is an alternative name for what is properly known as the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, known in English as the Tiger's Nest). It is a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex. A temple complex was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Padmasambhava, a noted Guru, is said to have meditated in the 8th century.

Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the tutelary deity of the country.

Po Shanu Cham Towers

Phan Thiet, Vietnam

West of Mui Ne, the Po Shanu Cham towers, remnants of the once flourishing Cham empire, occupy a hill near Phan Thiet, with sweeping views of the town.

Dating from the 9th century, this complex consists of the ruins of three towers, none of which is in very good shape, largely due to destructive restoration efforts.

The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

It is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

It is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

It is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet

The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

It is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Punakha Dzong or Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong

[the palace of bliss]

Punakha, Bhutan

The Punakha Dzong or Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong

[the palace of bliss]

Punakha

Bhutan

Samdrubtse Dzong or Shigatse Dzong

Shigatse, Tibet

Samdrubtse Dzong was probably built in the 15th century. It looked like a smaller version of the Potala. It had had turret-like fortifications at the ends and a central Red Palace.

It used to be the seat of the kings of Ü-Tsang and the capital of the province of Ü-Tsang or Tsang

The castle was totally dismantled at the instigation of the Chinese in 1961. Between 2005 and 2007, the building was reconstructed in concrete, and wainscotted with natural stones.