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Published on September 22, 2007

Bad Homburg, Germany

"The two Thai salas are symbols of the close relationship between Thailand and Bad Homburg," city mayor Ursula Jungherr said at the opening ceremony.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sawanit Kongsiri and Ambassador Sorayouth Prompoj were among the Thai officials attending the event.

Bad Homburg is a town north of Frankfurt and one of the most famous German mineral-water resorts. The local spring is renowned for effective treatment of several disorders, including heart and circulatory diseases. Many members of ruling families, including Russian Tsar Nicholas I and England's Edward VII, have visited the city.

King Chulalongkorn, known as the "King who opened the world of travel", visited Bad Homburg on his second trip to Europe and spent nearly a month there, regaining his health at the famous mineral-water baths.

During his stay, King Chulalongkorn discovered a spring that was later named after him. He also presented the city with a Thai sala, which was built in Bangkok, dismantled and sent to Germany by sea. The king's intention was to have the sala situated at the spring named after him, but the German emperor ordered the sala to be moved next to his pavilion so as to be more accessible to visitors.

The sala inaugurated on Thursday finally fulfils King Chulalongkorns's wished as it is located right at the Chulalongkorn spring. The inauguration date, September 20, was chosen because it was the king's birthday, which he celebrated in Bad Homburg 100 years ago.

While Thai authorities were responsible for constructing the sala, the town spent ¤400,000 (Bt18.6 million) to prepare the foundations, the area around the spring and other decorations, Jungherr said.

"The event is very important to us. I believe it enables our younger generation to see, feel and learn about other cultures so that they become more tolerant of other cultures," she said.

Several activities are being held to celebrate the centenary of King Chulalongkorn's visit, including a symposium of Thai and German academics, an exhibition of archives documenting the King's visit in the town museum and a Thai festival featuring khon performances and Thai products. The three-day festival ends tomorrow.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is scheduled to visit the festival today before flying to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

Sopaporn Kurz

 The Nation