National Museum
/!--- Free English-language tours of the museum are given by National
Museum volunteers on Wednesdays (Buddhism) and Thursdays (Thai art,
religion and culture), starting from 09:30. These guided tours are
excellent and many people have written to recommend them. The tours are
also conducted in German (Thursdays), French (Wednesdays) and Japanese
(Wednesdays). For more information: contact the volunteers (Telephone
215-8173). The museum is opened from 09:00 to 16:00 Wednesday to Sunday;
admission is 20 baht. ---/
On Thanon Na Phra That, on the West side
of Sanam Luang, the National Museum is the largest museum in Southeast
Asia and an excellent place to learn something about Thai art. The Museum,
founded in 1874 by King Rama V, is housed in the Palace of Wang Na,
originally home to the Second King and part of the Grand Palace. The visit
starts with a useful introduction to Thai history. Note the black-stone
inscription from Sukhothai, the oldest-known record of the Thai alphabet.
Two large modern buildings house the main collection of pre-Thailand Thai
sculpture, as well as pieces from elsewhere in Asia. An important exhibit
in the southern wing is one of the Buddha from Gandhara in India, clearly
influenced by classical Greek sculpture. A garage in a nearby building
houses the collection of magnificent royal funeral chariots. Wetchayan
Ratcharot is still used even though it needs 300 men to pull it.
Palace of Wang Na: Built in the
1780's as a home for the king's successor, the palace houses a magnificent
collection of Thai art objects. The lovely Red House belongs to Princess
Si Sudarak and retains her period furnishings.
Phutthai Sawan Chapel: Phra
Phuttha Sihing in this chapel is said to have been divinely created in Sri
Lanka and sent to Sukhothai in the 13th century. Despite doubts about its
origins it actually dates from the 15th century. It is still worshipped by
many and is carried in procession at the Thai New Year. The fine murals
around it tell the stories of the Buddha's lives.
Royal Barges Museum
/!--- The barge shed is opened daily from 08:30 to 16:30 and the admission
fee is 10 baht. To get there, take a ferry to Tha Rot Fai, then walk down
the street parallel to the railway tracks until you come to a bridge over
the khlong (canal). Follow the bridge to a wooden walkway that leads to
the barge sheds. You can also get there by taking a khlong taxi for 5 baht,
up the canal and getting off near the bridge. ---/
The Royal Barges are fantastically
ornamented boats used in ceremonial processions on the river. The largest
is fifty metres long and requires a rowing crew of fifty, plus seven
umbrella bearers, two helmsmen, two navigators, a flagman, a rhythm-keeper
and chanter. The barges are kept in sheds on the Thon Buri side of the
Chao Phraya River. They are on Khlong Bangkok Noi, near the Phra Pin Klao
Bridge. Suphannahong, the king's personal barge, is the most important of
the boats. One of the best times to see the fleet in action on the river
is during the royal Kathin ceremony at the end of Phansa, the Buddhist
rains retreat ending with an October to November new moon, when new robes
are offered to the monastic contingent.
Museum of the Royal Support Project at
Aphisek Dusit Palace
Situated at the back of Anantasamakhom Palace within the same compound of
Wiman Mek Palace, the Palace itself was graciously established by King
Rama V of Siam in 1904. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has graciously
granted Royal permission to restore and reconstruct the Aphisek Dusit
Palace into a museum which displays exquisite arts and crafts generated by
members of the Royal Support Project under the Royal patronage of Her
Majesty Queen Sirikit. The most outstanding decorations of the Palace is
the finely carved teakwood similar to that of the Victorian-style wood
carving in England. Inside the museum a wide variety of exquisite
handicrafts are displayed, e.g. silverware, gold and silver inlaid
vessels, handwoven textiles, embroidered materials, gold and silver
nielloware and fine artworks made of the sparkling green wings of the
Buprestid beatle, etc.
The museum is opened daily between 10:00
and 16:00, except for official holidays. The admission fee is added in the
fee for entering the Wiman Mek Palace. For more information please
telephone 281-8803, or 281-8824.
National Gallery
Graciously inaugurated on August 8, 1977 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn, the National gallery is located at the foot of Saphan Phra Pin
Klao, on the opposite side of the National Theatre. The National Gallery
compiles and displays both classical and temporary arts of renowned Thai
artists for those who are interested in art appreciation or study. His
Majesty the King's oil paintings are also exhibited to be appreciated by
the public. The gallery opened daily except Mondays, Tuesdays and official
holidays from 09:00 to 16:00 hours. Admission fees for Thais and
foreigners are 5 baht and 10 baht respectively. School children or
students in uniform do not have to pay but group study tours need to be
notified in writing. For more information please contact Tel. 281-2639.
Museum of Pottery
The museum building is a private house by the river which features a fine
collection of ancient potteries including the exquisite Bencharong or
five- colored porcelains. It is situated at the back of Fine Arts College,
next door to Thammasat University. Interested persons may visit the
premises in group tours by prior arrangement with Swait Sopha Foundation
which is located at House 5, Phra Athit Road (Telephone 224-1373,
224-1388) during official hours. Admission fees for Thais and foreigners
are 20 baht and 50 baht respectively.
Museum of Sciences and Planetarium
Situated at Ekkamai area of Thanon Sukhumvit, the museum is the centre for
demonstrating and disseminating knowledge in Sciences and Astrology. Among
special events organised are periodic exhibitions, movies, lectures and
discussions in subject matters related to Sciences and Astrology. The
museum is opened during weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00 hours. Admission fees
for adults and children are 10 baht and three baht respectively. Within
the same compound there is a planetarium for solar system studies which
opens for the public from Tuesdays to Sundays between 08:00 and 14:30
hours, except Mondays and official holidays. Admission fees for adults and
children are 10 baht and three baht respectively. For more details please
telephone 392-5952 or 390-2301.
Museum of Photography
This was the first museum of camera and photographs ever established in
Asia. Situated at the Department of Photographic Science and Printing
Technology of the Faculty of Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, this
museum features a collection of old photographs and related legends
including camera and photographic apparatus which were used in the olden
days. In addition there are displays on the progress in three-dimension
photography, electronic drawings and chronological development of printing
and colour separation technologies. The museum opens for the public every
Saturday between 10:00 and 16:00 hours. Admission fees for adults,
students and foreign tourists are 20 baht, 10 baht and 100 baht
respectively. Group tours may be conducted on Thursdays with prior
arrangement. For more information please telephone 251-1913.
House of Bangkok Dolls and
International Doll Museum
Located within Soi Ratchataphan (Soi Mo Leng) of Thanon Ratchaprarop,
Makkasan area of Ratchathewi District, the House of Bangkok Dolls from
various countries of the world including Bangkok dolls of different types
like dolls dressed in classical theatrical outfits representing characters
from the Ramayana; tribal people in various parts of the country; people
of different professions; cuddly dolls for children, etc. House of Bangkok
Dolls opens for the public daily from 08:00 to 17:00 hours, except on
Sundays and official holidays. No admission fee is required. For more
information please telephone 245-3008 or 245-2512.
National Library
The National Library was originally established in the compound of the
Royal Palace under the name of "Ho Samut Vajirayarn". It was
moved to a four-storied building constructed at Tha Wasukri in 1963. Its
services became more extensive, covering: "Ho Phra Samut Vajirayarn"
a place for keeping stone inscriptions and Buddhist inscription cases;
music library of the late H.R.H. Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu; Narathip
Centre where ancient inscriptions are kept for social research;
Soonthraporn Audio Visual Centre including facilities for showing
documentary films, technical meetings, seminars and exhibitions, which are
organised on a regular basis. National Library opens for the public daily
from 08:00 to 16:30 hours except during official holidays.
Damrong Rachanupharb Library
Located in the compound of Wang Voradit on Thanon Lan Luang, the library
was erected in honour of Somdet Phra Chao Borommawong Ther Krom Phraya
Damrong Rachanupharb. It is a reference library for research into
interesting events both in the older and modern days. It is open for the
public during weekdays from 08:30 to 16:30 hours.
Bank of Thailand Museum
The Bank of Thailand Museum was established at the Bangkhunphrom Royal
Palace within the compound of the Bank of Thailand. It was set up under
the joint auspices of the Department of Fine Arts, the Treasury
Department, National Museum and Thai Coin Association of Thailand. The
museum features a large collection of coins used as a medium of exchange
since the pre-historic age and is divided into sections: e.g. room for
ancient coins, Pot Duang coins, Thai coins, Thai banknotes, Thongtra room,
50th Bank of Thailand Anniversary room, and so forth.
The museum opens for group tours
free-of-charge with prior arrangement during weekdays from 10:00 to midday
and from 14:00 to 16:00 hours, except weekends and Bank holidays. For more
information please telephone 283-5265 or 283-5284.
Stone and Mineral Museum
Located next door to the Priest Hospital on Thanon Rama VI opposite to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Stone and Mineral Museum was established
in 1948 and is under the responsibility of the Department of Mineral
Resources, Ministry of Industry. The museum displays a large collection of
objects like minerals, stones, fossils including ancient mineral or stone
weapons. Its exhibitions are divided into two major parts. The first part,
Geology, features the chronological development of the earth, the changes
in its surface, stone minerals, and fossils. The other part presents
different types of mineral resources. The museum opens for the public
free-of-charge during weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00 hours. For more
information, please telephone 245-6397.
Prasart Museum
Situated at No.9, Soi Krung Thep Kritha 4, Thanon Phatthanakan Tat Mai,
Phra Khanong District, the museum has a large collection of antiques from
the prehistoric to the Rattanakosin Era. Within its compound there are
buildings of different architectural designs like the so-called Tuek
Farang Tam-Nak Daeng which is the replica of Tam-Nak Daeng (Red Abode)
within the National Museum, Ho Phra (chapel where a Buddha image is
enshrined) transcribed from Wat Yai Suwannaram, etc. It is opened for the
public from Friday to Sunday between 10:00 and 15:00 hours. The admission
fee, including snacks and refreshments, is 300 baht per person. During
weekdays group tours may be made by prior arrangement. Please telephone
379-3601, 379-3609, or 253-9772.
National Cultural Centre
Situated on a large land area of 23 Rais on Thanon Ratchadaphisek, Huai
Khwang District of Bangkok. The National Cultural Centre is the local
point for cultural exchange both at the national and international levels.
Its main objective is to enhance the awareness of the Thai people of the
value of Thai culture to the extent that they will guard it with ardent
care and preserve it as part of their eminent national identity. Inside
the centre there is a large assembly hall, small meeting hall, open air
theatre, library, language laboratory, and audio-visual laboratory. For
more information please telephone 247-0028 or 247-3201.
National Theatre
Situated on the right side of the National Museum, the National Theatre is
directly under the administration of the Department of Fine Arts with the
mission to organise theatrical performances particularly the Sisuk
Nattakam programme which is staged on the last Friday and Saturday of each
consecutive month. For more information please telephone 224-1342 or
221-8191 during office hours.
Sangkhit Sin Centre
Located within the Saphan Phan Fa, branch of the Bangkok Bank, the
Sangkhit Sin Centre is a cultural centre where Thai classical music or
technical discussions on the issue of music are organised for the public
every Friday free-of-charge. For more information about the performances
and timetable please call 282-2396.
Bangkok Theatre
Located on Thanon Petchaburi (near Ekkamai Intersection) near Charn Issara
II building, Bangkok Theatre is where modern dramas are staged every
weekend from Friday to Sunday. For more information about current
programmes and timetables plase contact 319-7641-5, or facsimile 319-7644.
Chaloem Krung Royal Theatre
Located on Charoen Krung road of Phra Nakhon District, the theatre used to
be Chaloem Krung movie house in the old days. The place was renovated to
be a modern theatre, well equipped with special effects and techniques
like laser and multivision systems. There is a wide variety of
performances being offered like Khon (drama enacting scenes from
Ramayana); plays, period dramas and movies. For more information about
current programmes please contact 222-0434, 225-8757-8, 222-1352 or
222-1753.
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