It is countless number of Bangkok Museums in Bangkok that visitors can go. The museum is a good place to learn and understand the local life, believe, history, craft work, art and knowledge. Thai art in museum may not present only painting or scripture but numerous of artifacts and handicraft can be seen there. Let see some interesting museum here.
- Ancient City, Open Air -Museum
- Jim Thompson House
- Royal Barge Museum : Royal ornament boat
- Suan Pakkad
- King Prajadhipok Museum
- The Artist House, Klong Bang Luang
- Erawan Museum , Giant Three-headed Elephant
- Thai puppet show
- Correction Museum
Top of Royal museum : The art of Kingdom
Art of Kingdom was located in Anantasamakom Throne Hall before but now move to Ayutthaya province which is 1 hour away from Bangkok. There are a display of elaborate royal craft and magnificent fabric work such as silk and sewing items.
There are many masterpiece items such as palanquins, curtains decorated with beetle wings, intricate wood carvings and miniature of royal barge made of hand carved gold. You may sore your eyes due to countless reflection from binge stuff such as gold, gems stone and valuable metal.
The museum was established by the founder of the Siam Piwat Group, Chaiyapat Paitoon, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Government. It was opened to the public to promote and preserve Thai art and heritage.
The “Art of the Kingdom” museum is a significant cultural institution in Thailand and provides visitors with a deep appreciation for the country’s artistic heritage.
Note : Lady must wear long skirt and men must wear casual dress. Sleeveless shirt are not allowed. Inside of the museum, they do not allow photos.
Location : Koh Kerd , Ayutthaya
Jim Thompson House museum: Thai silk legendary
Jim Thompson was an American who settled in Thailand after World War II. He is best known for revitalizing the Thai silk industry and introducing Thai silk to the global market. He built his unique residence in Bangkok in the 1950s, which now serves as a museum.
The museum features a diverse collection of Thai art, antiques, and artifacts that Jim Thompson collected during his time in Thailand. Visitors can admire Thai ceramics, textiles, sculptures, and other traditional crafts. The museum also displays a wide range of Thai silk products.
This is a lovely place to visit and feel the old Thai atmosphere. Enjoy the story of Jim Thompson with local guide while enters the teak wood house as well seeing his antique collated. The visitors can also shop the high quality silk fabric and goods there.
The museum not only showcases the cultural and artistic heritage of Thailand but also honors the legacy of Jim Thompson, who made a lasting impact on the Thai silk industry and the country’s cultural exports.
Visiting the Jim Thompson House museum is a unique opportunity to explore a fascinating blend of Thai culture, art, and history, while also learning about the individual who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Thai silk. Please verify the current visiting hours and admission fees before planning your visit, as they may change over time.
Click for escorted tour to Jim Thompson house. or visit old community (Baan Krau) which was once main silk factory.
Royal Barge Museum : Royal ornament boat
The Royal Barge Museum in Bangkok, Thailand, is home to a stunning collection of Royal Barges, which are ornate and elaborately decorated boats used in royal ceremonies and processions. These barges are important symbols of Thai culture and tradition.
This museum keeps the royal barge which uses for special event of a royal procession. It is a place to learn about Thai history and ceremonial. The ornate barge dry docked above the canal which is amazingly beautiful. The more you see it closer, the more intricate detail you can watch. Visitors can read information on the wall and see a miniature royal barge parade as well.
Among the Royal Barges, you’ll find the “Royal Ornament Boat,” which is one of the most splendid and visually striking vessels in the collection. It is used to carry the Royal Regalia and other royal artifacts during ceremonies. The boat is richly adorned with symbols and designs that hold deep cultural and spiritual significance.
The Royal Barges and the Royal Ornament Boat are not only beautiful works of art but also important symbols of Thai culture, heritage, and monarchy. They represent the deep-rooted traditions of the Thai royal family and are only used on special occasions of great significance.
The Royal Barge Museum is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, specifically on the Thonburi side of the river. It’s situated near the Wat Arun temple, another iconic Bangkok landmark.
Note : Getting there by long tailed boat taxi is the easiest ways. Otherwise, you can take a taxi and enter at the back door of the museum. Or going there with the tour guide during buying the canal tour is best. There is a charge for using a camera however a couple of dollars to take some pretty amazing photos is worth it.
Suan Pakkad : Prince Jompot’s home
Suan Pakkad Palace is situated in the heart of Bangkok, near the intersection of Sri Ayutthaya Road and Sri Ayutthaya Soi 3. It’s easily accessible and often visited by tourists interested in Thai art and culture. It is the former home of Prince Chumbhotbongs Paribatra and his family. The name “Suan Pakkad” translates to “Cabbage Patch,” reflecting its origins as a simple residence surrounded by lush gardens.
Enjoy well preserves and interesting exhibits of artifact collection from different eras of Thai culture. There are also a collection of Thai music instruments, Thai masks and rare stone. The highlight of this place is the scripture hall made of teak wood.
Inside the hall, there is depicting the story of the Lord Buddha life and Ramayana paint in black lacquer and gold leaves decorated. This lacquer pavilion is made in the 17th century in Ayutthaya period. The nice garden and big trees make this place very nice and attractive.
Suan Pakkad Palace is a serene oasis in the bustling city of Bangkok, providing a peaceful and educational experience for those interested in Thai heritage and culture. Please verify the most up-to-date information on visiting hours and admission fees before planning your visit, as these details may change over time.
King Prajadhipok Museum: The last king of absolute monarchy and the first king of constitution monarch
The museum is housed in a colonial-era building that was once the stables of the palace’s horses. It was converted into a museum to honor the memory of King Prajadhipok, who played a significant role in Thailand’s transition to constitutional monarchy. He was the last reign of absolute monarchy. He ruled the country during in 1925-1934.
Learn the fascinating story when the king alive , see the movie and his personal belonging as well his work when he was in the power. If you are interested in history of Thailand from the prospective of royalists , you can find a couple hours here.
King Prajadhipok, also known as Rama VII, was a pivotal figure in Thai history. His reign witnessed significant political and social changes, including the establishment of the first Thai constitution in 1932. King Prajadhipok’s willingness to engage with these changes and his eventual abdication in 1935 played a crucial role in shaping modern Thailand.
Ancient City, Open Air -Museum
Muang Boran, also known as the “Ancient City” or “Muang Boran Open-Air Museum,” is a unique cultural attraction located in Samut Prakan, Thailand, just outside of Bangkok. It is often referred to as the world’s largest outdoor museum, and it features a vast area that replicates historical and cultural landmarks from all over Thailand.
Muang Boran is designed as an open-air museum that showcases scaled-down replicas of important historical and cultural sites from various regions of Thailand. The concept allows visitors to explore the rich heritage and diverse architectural styles of Thailand in one place.
Within Muang Boran, you’ll find over 100 meticulously crafted replicas of temples, palaces, shrines, and other architectural landmarks. These replicas span different time periods and regions, representing the cultural and historical diversity of Thailand.
Visitors can explore the site on foot, by bicycle, or by renting a golf cart. The museum offers an immersive experience where you can learn about Thai history, art, and culture while admiring the architectural details of the replicas.
Muang Boran is situated in Samut Prakan Province, approximately 33 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. It’s easily accessible by car or public transportation.
Erawan Museum, Giant Three-headed Elephant
The Erawan Museum, known locally as “Phra Thinang Songtham,” is a unique and iconic cultural attraction located in Samut Prakan, a province neighboring Bangkok, Thailand. The museum is renowned for its remarkable architecture, which features a massive three-headed elephant sculpture (Erawan) made of bronze and weighing approximately 250 tons. The elephant stands on a pink-hued pedestal that represents the Hindu mythological universe.
The three-headed elephant, Erawan, is an important figure in Hindu mythology and represents the mythical Airavata, the elephant that carries the god Indra. The museum’s design and sculptures draw from Hindu and Buddhist symbolism and artistry. Visitors can ascend through the interior of the elephant and reach the observation deck at the top, where they can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area, including Bangkok in the distance.
If you’re interested in art, culture, and spirituality, the Erawan Museum is definitely worth a visit when you’re in the Bangkok area. It provides a unique and immersive experience that allows you to delve into Thailand’s rich cultural heritage.
The Artist House, Klong Bang Luang
The Artist House, or the name in Thai is “Baan Silapin”. For a tourist who wants to see something different from the classic attractions, this is a place to visit. Baan Silapin is where to experience the “slow” life of old Bangkok, escape the fast-paced metropolis Bangkok and find the quiet life along its Klong or canal. It brings one back to the time when civilisation thrived just beside the river, and how life was back then.
Bangkok has long been known as the “Venice of the East.” Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the area around modern Bangkok developed an extensive network of waterway canals (known as Klongs) that provided practical transportation as well as protection. It gives one a feeling of how Thonburi looked in the 17th century, when it was Siam’s capital.
Then this was the residential area for influential families and high-ranking government officials. From there comes the name Bang Luang: Bang means “area”, Luang refers to the “monarchy”. Today the official name of the canal is Klong Bangkok Yai.
Baan Silapin is over 200 years old two-storey L-shaped teak wood house set beside the canal and built around a 300-plus-year-old pagoda in its garden. It has a gently sloping roof and gables, which are decorated with wooden carving. Admiral Yodchai Raksamruad took possession of it not long ago after it had belonged to his goldsmiths family for generations.
Although a charming old structure but the house became dilapidated, so he invited artist Chumpon Akkapantanon to help after he had seen what Chumpon did for the Phranakorn Nornlen Boutique Hotel.
Chumpom and three friends decided to buy, renovate and turn it into an art gallery, an artist-run cafe and performance space. Everyone from notable professional artists to teenage art students joined hands to support the idea and transform the space into a unique centre for the arts. Klong Bang Luang possesses a homegrown artistic spirit since then.
Baan Sinlapin’s upstairs section has been set up as an art gallery with exhibitions of various paintings; while prints, drawings, photographs, sculptures and other artistic decorations are scattered around the first floor in a colorful melange.
There is a coffee shop on the first floor and a studio where visitors can learn to draw and make woodcuts and jewelry. Plain papier-mâché masks are also available to purchase and visitors can unleash their own creativity by painting their very own masks (with a canal view in front).
It is a great activity for kids, too. Once finished, the masks can be left behind to add to the decor or taken home as a one-of-a-kind souvenir. The artwork here is also beautiful to look at. One of the iconic images of Baan Silapin is the red man statue, it is an expression of art that is undoubtedly unique and recognizable.
Yet Baan Sinlapin’s most popular artists are its resident traditional Thai shadow puppet troupe, Kum Nai Hun Lakon Lek, who act out scenes from the Ramakien in 15 minutes show. Dressed in black costumes with expressionless masks covering their faces, performers masterfully bring their Khon (Thai classical masked drama) puppets to life in thrilling and humorous shows.
The Thai puppet show is an amazing performance, each puppet is brought to life by three puppeteers, as they control the puppets they also dance in rhythm. The show is very entertaining and free of charge, although donation is appreciated. Show time is at 2 pm every day of the week except on Wednesdays. It is best to call and check beforehand at 02-868 5279 or 089-125 3949
Before or after the show, try the outstanding coffee or Thai iced tea at The Artist House Café, it is a great place to sit and relax and enjoy the traditional Thai culture atmosphere. Visitors can also dangle their feet off the old wooden docks while feeding the fish and watching the children swimming in the Klong or the speedy long-tailed boats passing by.
The old wooden shop houses along the Klong are similar to those found in Ampawa. The surrounding area is similarly attractive, just take a stroll through the narrow alleys. Also the new owners have encouraged their neighbors to create terraces in front of their houses, where visitors can now walk along the canal.
It is a treasure along one of Bangkok’s old canals and gives a true feeling of being a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of central Bangkok. The neighborhood is charming, with clean canal, old shops and old way of life. If someone is looking for an attraction that is off the beaten track and a great preservation of Thai culture and tradition, visit Baan Silapin – Bangkok’s Inspiring Artist’s House.
Baan Silapin was opened to the public in September 2009. Open hours are Mon-Tue 10 am-6 pm, Wed-Fri 9 am-6 pm, Sat-Sun 9 am-7 pm and admission is free.
How to get there: Take a BTS to Wongwian Yai station, then take a taxi to Charansanitwong Soi 3. Ride all the way to the end of the soi (small street), where it is a dead end at the 7-Eleven. Get out and keep walking straight and in just 10 metres there is a bridge. Walk across the bridge and make a left turn along the canal and Baan Silapin will be found.
In summary, visiting museums in Bangkok is not only a chance to learn and appreciate the culture and history of Thailand but also an opportunity to engage in a meaningful and enriching experience. Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, or simply curious about the world, exploring Bangkok’s museums can be a fascinating and fulfilling endeavor.
Correction Museum , where you do not to stay but OK for a visit
The “Correction Museum” in Nonthaburi, Thailand, is a historical and educational museum that provides insights into the country’s correctional system and its history. It is officially known as the “Correction Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์การคุมขัง),” and it is managed by the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Thailand.
The Correction Museum showcases various aspects of Thailand’s correctional system, including the history of prisons, the evolution of correctional practices, and the rehabilitation of inmates. Visitors can explore exhibits and displays related to prison life, correctional facilities, and efforts to reform and reintegrate offenders into society.
Exhibits that trace the history of prisons and corrections in Thailand, showcasing the changes in correctional practices over the years. Displays of equipment and tools used in prisons, such as restraints and uniforms.
The Correction Museum in Nonthaburi can provide visitors with valuable insights into the correctional system in Thailand and its efforts to promote rehabilitation and social reintegration among offenders.
There are more museums in Bangkok that we did not cover in this article such as Prasart museum, Museum Siam, Nitat Rattanakorsin, Queen Sirikirt art, Contemporary Art Museum, National Museum, Erawan museum and many more. Send story to us if you have some interesting information.
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