By: Conor Simone
For people interested in getting a good feel for the history of Thailand, the museum is very much a ‘must see’ destination. Initially established as a palace by King Rama V, the building underwent a number of transformations before becoming what is now called the National Museum in 1887. Housing a definitive presentation of Thai history, the museum has a variety of different sections, each focusing on the history of specific topics (Thai musical instruments, masks, armaments, Thai clothing, etc.). The displays cover Thailand’s ‘prehistory’, move through the Lanna, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya periods, and bring you right up to the modern Thai kingdom. Certainly worth a visit is the chapel (Phra Thinung Phutthaisawan) which features ‘Phra Singh’ Buddha images and the ‘Throne room’ which caters for numerous special exhibitions put on by the museum. The Tamnak Daeng (or ‘Red House’) is also worth a look. In fact, as with other world-class museums, the National Museum is a place visitors can spend many hours just wandering through exhibitions and looking at displays.
Suan Pakkad Palace Museum, the former palace of Prince Chumbhot and his wife Mom Rajawongse Pantip, displays the important role royalty played and still plays in Thai everyday life. Converted into a museum in 1952, the eight houses, built in traditional Thai style, are linked by corridors, thus forming a single, unified structure. The highlight is the display of the ancient Ban Chiang collection which dates back to 3600 BC to 200 AD and puts Ban Chiang on par with other major ancient world civilisations. Online guide to Bangkok culture & art
More lively royal exhibits, this time water based, can be admired at the Royal Barge Museum. This is where the Royal Thai barges are stored when not being used in one of the elaborate ceremonies on the nearby Chao Phraya River. Visitors can get a glimpse of how the barges are used during one of these exciting events. Measuring up to 50 metres in length, the old style barges make for quite an impressive sight.
Back among the hustle and bustle of the central shopping malls and department stores is the tranquil oasis of Jim Thompson�s House, tucked away down a little lane alongside one of Bangkok's few remaining canals. Guide to Bangkok galleries and museums This old-style teak house was the former residence of Jim Thompson, who single handedly regenerated the Thai silk trade before later disappering in the Malysian Highlands under mysterious circumstances. Visitors can admire fine Asian art and artefacts and take a break in the coffee shop, set in the lush gardens.
More hair-raising history can be seen at the Bangkok Corrections Museum on Maha Chai road. This museum is housed in a former prison and gruesomely displays how the ancient penal system, based on retribution and sever punishment, was implemented. Life-sized wax figures can be seen upstairs in grisly execution scenes, while shopping fans will love the high quality furniture and handicrafts for sale in blocks 2 and 3, crafted by prisoners from prisons around Thailand.
Pirated goods are not only widely for sale on the streets and in the shopping centres of Bangkok. Now there's a whole museum dedicated to the ingeniuty of modern-day counterfeiters. Established in 1989, the Museum of Counterfeit Goods exhibits pirated wares seized in raids, such as electronics, drugs, households appliances, car parts, clothing, leather goods and footwear.
Although one day (or night!) in Bangkok is not enough time to delve into the intricacies of a place with such a wealth of culture and range of activities, it is possible to see its best bits in a day. So many tourists overlook the fact that this remarkable city offers a great deal in culture and activity that few bother to spend more than a day or two passing through. If you would rather get to the island and mountains, here’s what we suggest you get to in just one day.
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