The National Museum Insight Bangkok

Bangkok's National museum,one of the largest in Southeast Asia, is a good place to start learning more about the history and culture of thailand.



     The National Museum's three main galleries are spread over a handful of old and new building. Thai history from the Sukhothai period (13th - 14th Centuries) to the Rattanakosin period (1782 - the present) is covered in the Sivamonkhaphiman Hall, while behind the hall, the Prehistoric Gallery has 5,000 year-old exhibits from the Ban Chiang archaeological  site in the norheast. The south wing exhibits Buddha images and artefacts from the Srivijaya and Lopburi periods, while the north wing displays exhibits from the Lanna, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods. The rooms in the Wang Na, or Fromt Palace (see side bar opposite ), display fine art masterpieces, mostly from the Rattanakosin period, with treasures in the form of gold, carvings, enamelware, musical instruments, ceramics, clothes, weapons and palanquins.

      In front of the old palace is the Buddhaisawan Chapel, once the private chapel of the Prince Successor and a good example of Rattanakosin architecture. Today, it houses the second holiest image in Thailand, Phra Buddha Sihing, a Sukhothai-style Buddha image. Beautiful murals cover the wall of this chapel.

The First Thai Museum 


      King Chulalong korn, or Rama V established the country's first public museum in 1874 in the Grand Palace. The collections were based on those of his father, King Mongkut (Rama IV). In 1926 the museum was moved to what was the Wang Na (Front Palace), the abode of the second-in-line to the throne called the "Second King" or the Prince Successor. This vast palace, dating from 1782, once extended across Khlong Lot up to the Grand Palace and in clouded a large park. When his heir-apparent attempted a violent over throw, Chulalongkorn abolished the office in 1887 and tore down most of the buildings. The Wang Na is one of the remnants of the original palace and today it houses a variety of artefacts in Rooms 4-15. Look  out especially for Room 6, which contains a beautifully carved howdah, or elephant seat, made of ivory.

      Chulalongkorn's statue can be found in the lssaretrachanusorn Hall, which also exhibits the bed of Phra Pin Klao, the thrones of King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh, and intricate Chinese and European-style furniture.