Ancient Siam, called Muang Boran in Thai, is the largest open-air museum in the world, spread over 300 hectares and located 33 km from Bangkok. With many mini-museums and sculpture gardens inside, the museum mainly displays recreations of some of Thailand’s most important historical sites. The antique city map here is a replica of the Thai city map, which, like Thailand, is divided into four sections. The divisions include the Northern Region, the Northeast Region, the Central Region, and the Southern Region. Here the recreations of the essential sites of Thailand have been recreated – the various kingdoms that existed here, such as Lanna, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin.
Boran has more than 115 buildings and monuments throughout the ancient city of Muang. Replicas of ancient sites include Old Market Town, The Wihan at Wat Phrao, The Thai Hamlet from the Central Plains and The Northern Thai Village. As well as beautiful ponds and enchanting streams, ruins at such significant sites as The Wihan at Wat Phra Si Sanphet (Ayutthaya), the Garden of the Sacred Stupa and the Ancient Theater Pavilion.
Things to do at Muangboran:
Explore early southern city life at The Ancient City. Once you enter from the south part of the park, you can see a replica of a small rural village showing the traditional life of the ancestors. The traditional houses here are genuine and come from an old area of Bangkok called Yan Nawa.
Revisit the history in the central part of the old town. This museum section is dedicated to the Rattanakosin era, where replicas of places like the Dusit Maha Prasat Palace (the Grand Palace of Bangkok) and the Sanphet Prasat Palace are kept. Sanphet Prasat Palace is believed to have been destroyed by the Burmese when they conquered Ayutthaya in 1767. You’ll also find replicas of famous temples, such as Ayutthaya’s Wat Phra Si Sanphet Wihan and Lopburi’s Prang Sam Yot.
Sukhothai Architecture in the Northern Part of the Old City
Admire the architectural beauty of replicas such as Noen Prasat and the Sukhothai-era Great Wall of Wat Mahathat, which can be found in the northern part of the museum. Other architectural gems, such as Wat Chong Kham in Lampang, can also be found here.
Be transported back in time to the floating market
The floating market in the northern part of the old town gives you a good idea of what daily life around the canals called khlongs was like in ancient times. It’s also a great place to eat pasta or buy fresh fruit.
Rediscover the ruins in the northeastern part of the old town:
The northeastern part of this park/museum has replicas of the ruins of the Khmer Empire, which you can learn a lot about here. These include Phimai Historical Park in Nakhon Ratchasima and Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buriram, similar in style to Cambodia’s famous Angkor Wat.
How to reach Muangboran:
By Skytrain/BTS
Since the Old City is entirely outside Bangkok, the quickest way to get there is by Skytrain or BTS. It takes 45 minutes to get from BTS Siam in Bangkok to BTS Kheha, which is the closest. Skytrain station of the Altstadtmuseum. Once you exit the train station, you must take a taxi. A free shuttle runs between BTS Kheha and Muang Boran Ancient City on Saturdays and Sundays. You can also take a BTS, get off at Bearing Station, and take a taxi to the museum.
Tips for visitors:
- Once within the Ancient City, you need to stroll a lot, as it’s enormous. We advocate you put on a comfortable pair of footwear so that your ft do not harm later.
- As it’s miles an open-air museum, you should be out withinside the sun. Wear loose, snug garb to avoid getting hassled with the aid of using the heat. Remember to position plenty of sunblocks and wear sunglasses, as you’ll be an exterior maximum of the time.
- Since the Ancient City is so massive, it’s impossible to discover the museum on foot. An Open Tram follows a predetermined direction thru the Ancient City at scheduled times.
- This is a snug alternative for exploring the museum. You could lease a golfing cart if you need to discover the museum independently without following a predetermined itinerary.
- These are to be had for THB150 for an hour for a two-seat cart, THB three hundred for an hour for a four-seat cart and THB 450 for a six-seat cart.
- You want an International driver’s license to power those carts. Bicycles also are to be had gratis at the entrance, and this feature is best for people who do not thoughts a chunk of exercise.
