According to ancient Thai law, giant swings were to be built in every major city in the kingdom. Although there is no physical evidence of them, some scholars guess that there were giant swings in all important cities throughout Siam including Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and Nakorn Si Thammarat. So naturally, when Rama I built a new capital here in Bangkok, Brahmin priests advised him to immediately build a Giant Swing. On April 8th, 1784 construction was completed on the Giant Swing.

The original swing was 42 meters tall, nearly twice the height of the present swing. And in those days it stood directly in front of the Brahmin Chapels. It was later moved to its present location by King Rama V to make room for a tank to hold the kerosene used to light the Grand Palace.