Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej set for five-day funeral year after death

APD NEWS

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Thailand is preparing to bid farewell to the country's revered former ruler, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, more than a year after he died.

About a quarter of a million people are expected to attend the elaborate five-day funeral in Bangkok, which begins on Wednesday.

Many will gather round the spectacular crematorium complex built specially for him outside the famous Grand Palace.

The area, painstakingly constructed over the months since his death on 13 October 2016, is gold in colour and features many statues and sculptures.

On the top tier of the main pavillion stand statues of his two of dogs, Jo Cho and Tong Daeng.

Each province of the country has a replica of the crematorium for those who cannot get to Bangkok.

Statues of the king's two dogs, Jo Cho and Tong Daeng, are on the top tier of the main pavillion

A series of golden chariots will bring the late king's body to its final rest in the capital.

Full dress rehearsals have been taking place and roads around the area closed.

King Bhumibol, known also as King Rama 9, was the ninth monarch of the current dynasty and reigned for 70 years.

He is credited with industrialising Thailand, transforming it from an economic backwater into a modern economy.

Guards march towards the crematorium during the final dress rehearsal for his funeral

A year of mourning was declared by the government when King Bhumibol, who was seen as semi-divine, passed away, with people asked to refrain from joining "joyful events" and entertainment for 30 days after he died.

Under his rule, Thailand withstood the threat of communism during the Cold War.

He was seen as a constant in a fast-changing world, someone Thais could trust during the current period of political and social turmoil that began with the coup that deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006.

(SKYNEWS)