National
Museum
 To
get a feel for the art and history of Thailand and Southeast
Asia, the National Museum on Na Phra That Road is the best
place to visit. The museum houses one of the largest collections
in Southeast Asia with all periods and styles of Buddhist
and Thai art represented.
The
museum buildings themselves are of historic interest, built
as a palace for Prince Wang Na in 1782, the year of the founding
of Bangkok. The palace was converted into Thailand's first
museum around a century later, during the reign of King Rama
V.
Perhaps
the most important artifact in the museum is the Phra Buddha
Sihing, one of the country's most revered Buddha images. Thought
to be a Sukhothai or Chiang Saen period image, the gold-plated
bronze statue was probably brought to Bangkok by King Rama
I in 1795. The image, in the attitude of meditation, is housed
in the 18th century Buddhaisawan Chapel, which displays classic
Rattanakosin-style architecture and some of the best surviving
mural paintings from the period.
Other
than the museum's fine collection of period sculptures, ceramics,
mural paintings and the decorative arts are well represented.
Several gilded teak funerary chariots are on display including
the magnificent 40-ton Vejayant Rajarot, which was built by
King Rama I in 1785.
The
National Museum is open 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, Wednesday to Sunday.
Admission is 20 baht. Guides tours, starting at 9.30 am, are
available in English, French, German and Japanese. For more
information, call +66 2 224-1333, 224-1396. 
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