Sanam Chandra Palace is a royal palace complex in a large park on the western edge of Nakhon Pathom town, built for King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in the early 20th century. The park is open to the public and makes a pleasant hour's walk through manicured grounds. Several of the palace buildings are accessible for guided tours, and the mix of Thai and European architectural styles reflects Vajiravudh's unique cultural position as a Thai king educated at Sandhurst and Oxford.
The most striking building is the Phra Tamnak Chali Mongkol Asna, a Khmer-influenced Thai structure, set alongside the very English-looking Marukhathaiyawan-style hall. A statue of Vajiravudh's dog — which he kept here and genuinely mourned when it died — stands in the grounds, an oddly personal detail in an otherwise ceremonial setting. The palace is about 2 kilometres from the chedi and the two make a natural half-day pair.