The haunting legacy of Ban Phitsanulok – Thailand’s very own White House

One such story dates back to a chilling day in March 2001. Newspaper screamed with sensational headlines, recounting an incident that sent shivers down many spines.

The story revolves around a cleaner, who had reportedly been possessed by a spirit. According to witnesses, she suddenly went down on her hands and knees and began furiously scrubbing the floor, mumbling in an ancient tongue: “It’s a mess. Everything is filthy. It’s never been cleaned by anybody.”

The voice was of an old woman, and when her fellow cleaners sprinkled her with holy water, she came out of the trance, but not before yelling in anger at the people around her. However, she had no memory of what happened.

Ban Phitsanulok, which serves as the prime minister’s residence, has borne witness to many hair-raising tales throughout its history. In fact, only two prime ministers have ever dared to live in this haunted house. One of them, it is said, spent no more than a week within its eerie confines.

Who dared live there

The first prime minister to venture into this creepy abode was late General Prem Tinsulanonda in 1980. However, he spent barely a week inside the residence before returning to his own home, Si Sao Thewes mansion nearby. No reasons were given.

His three successors, Anand Panyarachun, Banharn Silapa-archa and General Chaovalit Yongchaiyuth, all shunned Ban Phitsanulok in favour of their own homes.

Next came Chuan Leekpai, who stayed away from the mansion but had to move in during his second term because his home in Bangkok’s Soi Morleng was being repaired.

Chuan, however, took all precautions before moving in and even held a religious good luck ritual. Yet, he only lasted there for six months.

Ban Phitsanulok has remained empty since then.

Even Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has chosen to shun the residence, saying he will only use it as his office and a site to greet official visitors.

Spooky sightings

Countless tales of supernatural happenings have been whispered through the ages. Some speak of a spectral maiden dressed in ancient Thai attire appearing late at night, while others have allegedly heard sounds of galloping horses coming from the bronze horse that stands proud in the garden.

Some have reportedly spotted the guardian spirit, Tao Hirunpanasoon, come to life late at night.

A history of mystery

The eerie enigma of Ban Phitsanulok stretches back a century when King Vajiravudh ordered the construction of a baroque-style manor designed by Italian architect Mario Tamagno, who also helped create the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

The mansion was to be built for the king’s favourite aide-de-camp, Maj-General Phraya Aniruttheva.

The mansion was formally named Banthomsinth House to signify the statue of the Hindu god Narayana sleeping over the cosmic ocean.

When the mansion became too expensive to maintain, Phraya Aniruttheva tried to offer it to King Rama VII, but his offer was refused.

Later, when World War II broke out, the Japanese government showed interest in the mansion and wanted to use it as an embassy.

However, because it was in a strategic spot in the capital, the government bought the mansion and half of the compound for 500,000 baht and decided to use it as a state guest house.

In 1953, it was renamed Ban Phitsanulok.

In 1979, then-prime minister General Kriangsak Chamanan spent 10 million baht renovating the building after it was proposed as the official residence of the Thai leader.

However, he ended up leaving the position before he could ever take up residence in this imposing dwelling.

Now, as shadows deepen around Ban Phitsanulok, it remains to be seen who will dare inhabit the notorious building and whether any new “sightings” will be reported.