If you’re on the lookout for a singular cultural experience in Bangkok, be sure to examine out the Royal Barges Museum. This hidden gem is positioned along the Chao Phraya River, and it’s the proper place to learn more about Thailand’s wealthy history and traditions.
Getting There
The Royal Barges Museum is positioned on a canal on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River and is simple to succeed in for those based at properties like Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel. You can use the Chao Phraya Express Boat to get to this site via Wang Lang Pier (N10) which is inside walking distance. You may also consider occurring a longtail boat tour which incorporates a stop on the museum.
What are the Royal Barges?
The Royal Barges are a fleet of elaborately decorated boats which have been utilized in royal ceremonies for the reason that 14th century. These boats are usually not just any extraordinary vessels – they’re artworks, adorned with intricate carvings, gold leaf, and brightly colored glass. They are also enormous, with some measuring as much as 45 metres in length! For those based at a Riverside hotel, Bangkok adventures should thus definitely include a stop at this museum.
What to Expect
At the museum, you’ll get a probability to see among the most beautiful and historically significant Royal Barges up close. The centrepiece of the gathering is the Suphannahong, which is taken into account crucial of all of the Royal Barges. This magnificent boat which is the king’s personal barge is carved to seem like a mythical swan, with an extended, curved neck, glittering in gilded gold.
In addition to the Suphannahong, you’ll also see other stunning Royal Barges, equivalent to the Narai Song Suban, which is decorated with intricate carvings and features the Hindu god Vishnu on its bow. There are smaller boats each with its own unique characteristics too, which were used to move the royal family and their entourage.
Other Highlights
In addition to seeing the Royal Barges, you too can learn more about their history and the essential role they played in Thai culture. The museum has a group of artefacts and exhibits that specify the importance of the barges and their use in royal ceremonies.
If you’re lucky, it’s possible you’ll even get a probability to see the Royal Barges in motion! On special occasions, the boats are taken out of the museum and paraded down the Chao Phraya River, letting visitors witness their magnificence first-hand.
