14 October 1973 MemorialThe 14 October 1973 Memorial stands on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue at the Khok Wua intersection, a short walk west of the Democracy Monument, on the stretch of road where the 1973 uprising reached its violent climax. It was the first memorial in Thailand built to honour people who died in the struggle for democracy, and every 14 October it is the focus of a commemoration.
The memorial is laid out around a small amphitheatre with a slender central spire in the form of a chedi, dedicated to the dead, in a design that echoes temple architecture. Rooms beneath it have housed a photo exhibition of the events, a library and meeting space; what is open varies, but the outdoor memorial can always be seen from the street. It is a sober, quiet stop between Khao San Road and the Golden Mount.
Nearby Attractions to 14 October 1973 Memorial#
Weather & Climate near 14 October 1973 Memorial#
14 October 1973 Memorial's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 21°C to 35°C. Abundant rainfall (1319 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ideal | 21° - 32° | 27° | 9 mm | mostly sunny | 64% | 1.5 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.3h |
| February | Excellent | 23° - 33° | 30° | 14 mm | mostly sunny | 60% | 1.8 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 11.6h |
| March | Excellent | 25° - 34° | 32° | 32 mm | some cloud | 62% | 1.7 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 11.9h |
| April | Very Good | 26° - 35° | 35° | 61 mm | partly cloudy | 66% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.3h |
| May | Acceptable | 26° - 34° | 36° | 171 mm | overcast | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.6h |
| June | Acceptable | 26° - 33° | 36° | 130 mm | overcast | 80% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.8h |
| July | Acceptable | 25° - 33° | 35° | 144 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.7h |
| August | Acceptable | 25° - 33° | 35° | 179 mm | overcast | 82% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 12.4h |
| September | Acceptable | 25° - 32° | 34° | 289 mm | overcast | 85% | 1.4 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.1h |
| October | Acceptable | 24° - 32° | 33° | 238 mm | overcast | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 1.9 very high | 11.7h |
| November | Very Good | 23° - 32° | 31° | 46 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 1.5 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.4h |
| December | Ideal | 21° - 32° | 26° | 6 mm | some cloud | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 1.8 very high | 11.2h |
How to Get to 14 October 1973 Memorial#
The memorial is about five minutes’ walk from the Democracy Monument and 10 minutes from Khao San Road. Phan Fa Lilat pier on the Khlong Saen Saep canal boat is about 10 minutes’ walk east, and Phra Athit pier on the Chao Phraya Express Boat a little farther west.
History & Culture of 14 October 1973 Memorial#
In October 1973 Thailand had been under military-led government since the late 1950s, with Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn as prime minister. When 13 activists were arrested for campaigning for a permanent constitution, student protests at Thammasat University grew day by day. On 13 October a crowd estimated at several hundred thousand marched along Ratchadamnoen Avenue to the Democracy Monument. The government agreed to free the prisoners, but the next morning clashes broke out as the crowds were dispersing, and troops backed by tanks and helicopters opened fire. The official toll was 77 dead and more than 800 injured, and buildings along the avenue were set on fire. That evening King Bhumibol announced that Thanom’s government had resigned, and Thanom left the country.
The event, known in Thai as 14 Tula, opened a short democratic period that ended with the massacre at Thammasat University on 6 October 1976. Historians see it as a turning point in modern Thai politics.