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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