The National Museum Bangkok is the main museum of the National Museum of Thailand, which has 38 branch museums located across Thailand. The National Museum Bangkok is located at Na Phrathat Road in Bangkok, on the opposite side of the road from the Sanam Luang field. This is where visitors get to view a king's ransom in Thai artistic and cultural treasures.
The National Museum Bangkok traces its own history back to 1874, when King Rama V opened the first public museum exhibiting the royal collection of King Rama IV. Its original site was at the Concordia Pavilion, in the Brand Palace. Later, the museum was moved to its present site, occupying Wang Na Palace, or "Palace of the Front", which was the official residence of the Prince Successor (the "deputy king"). In 1926, it became known as the Bangkok Museum. Subsequently, when it came under the jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Department, it became known as National Museum Bangkok.
Floor Plan of the National Museum
The following are some of the more important buildings at the National Museum Bangkok.
Gallery of Thai History
The Gallery of Thai History is house in the Siwamokhaphiman Hall, which was orignally built as the Audience Hall for the Prince Successor to King Rama I, Maha Surasinghanat. Within the Gallery of Thai History are the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Bangkok Gallery. Among the most significant items is the controversial (controversial because some scholars dispute its authenticity) stone inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai, showing the oldest extant inscription in Thai alphabet.
Within the Ayutthaya Gallery shows diorama of important events leading up to the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese. The Bangkok Gallery shows historical events during the Bangkok period.
Buddhaisawan Chapel
The Buddhaisawan Chapel was built in 1787 to house the Phra Buddhasihing, an important Buddha statue. The gold-plated bronze statue was made in Sri Lanka and sent to Sukhothai via Nakhon Si Thammarat. From there, it was transferred to Ayutthaya, Kamphaengphet, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai before being brought to the Buddhaisawan Chapel in 1787. Murals inside the chapel shows the life of Buddha.
The Red House
The Red House was formerly the home of Princess Sri Sudarak, the elder sister of King Rama I. Queen Sri Suriyen, consort of King Rama II moved it from Thonburi to the Grand Palace. Later, one of her sons, Pin Klao, who was Second King to King Rama IV, moved it to the compound of the Palace of the Prince Successor (the present museum site), where it stays to this day.
Funeral Chariot Hall
The Funeral Chariot Hall houses royal funeral chariots dating back to the reign of King Rama I (1789 - 1809). The Grand Chariot of Victory located next to the door is used to transport the urn containing the body of the king or queen towards the cremation pyre. Royal cremations are carried out at Sanam Luang outside the Palace of the Prince Successor. The chariot requires 160 men to pull it.
Gallery of Thai History at the National Museum
Main entrance to the National Museum
Front view of the Buddhaisawan Chapel
The Red House
Side view of the Buddhaisawan Chapel
Mangkhalaphisek Pavilion, National Museum
Royal Funeral Chariots
Royal sedans
Wood carving section of the National Museum
Stone carvings at the National Museum
Ancient Khmer-style busts
Stone carvings at the National Museum
Tim and his wife Chooi Yoke at the National Museum
Hotel Room Price Checker
Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?
The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!
If you're flying somewhere, use our Flight Checker to compare the rates from different airlines. To use it, enter where you will be flying from, where you will be flying to, your departure date and return date. Select the number of passengers, and then click search.
Our engine will return you a list of possible flights that you can take. You can compare the fare of different airlines for your trip. Click on your selected airline, and we transfer you to the airline website.
AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. Reasonable care is taken to check and verify the accuracy of the content. AsiaExplorers disclaims responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the tips and advice provided directly or indirectly by this website. All pages may be printed out for your own personal, non-commercial use. You may use the information on this website on your blog or website so long as you place a dofollow link back to the page in AsiaExplorers where it appears. Photographs not credited to a third party belong to Timothy Tye and may not be reused in any form unless you are first given permission. Write in to inquire if interested. Third party photographs are governed by their respective licenses. To contact Tim, write to the following email address:
