Boats used to be the primary mode of transport for Thai royalty, and the National Royal Barge Museum in Bangkok displays traditional Thai barges with intricate designs of Hindu and Buddhist icons. The museum displays information about the customs and history of the royal family. Barges, suits worn by crew and even serves as a dry dock for ships. The National Royal Barge Museum in the Thonburi area of Bangkok is a building that displays a fantastic collection of Thai barges and vessels. Boats were the only ancient means of communication navigating the vast Khlong (the local term for canals) and the Chao Phraya River.
Royal Barge Procession
Boats used to be the primary mode of transport for Thai royalty, and the National Royal Barge Museum in Bangkok displays traditional Thai barges with intricate designs of Hindu and Buddhist icons. The museum displays information about the customs and history of the royal family. Barges, suits worn by crew and even serves as a dry dock for ships. The National Royal Barge Museum in the Thonburi area of Bangkok is a building that displays a fantastic collection of Thai barges and vessels. Boats were the only ancient means of communication navigating the vast Khlong (the local term for canals) and the Chao Phraya River.
Museum Exhibits
The royal barges at the National Royal Barge Museum are often brought ashore for auspicious occasions or to participate in the “Royal Barge Procession.” The ceremony dates back to the Ayutthaya era when water travel was the only mode of transportation in and around Bangkok. A fleet of 50 barges is used for ceremonial processions, which are a rarity today, with the last known parade taking place in 2012 to celebrate the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday.
Tips for Visitors:
Tourists are suggested to take the long-tailed boat excursion of the canal with the aid of deciding on to prevent on the museum. It is beneficial to test with the government to inquire approximately its closure. The museum stays closed on the thirty-first of December and 1st of January each year. It is likewise closed to the general public during the auspicious event of Songkran that takes location from the thirteenth to the fifteenth of April. Touring the warehouse and searching on the barges could make one thirsty. It is a fantastic concept to hold water and snacks Walking over swampy grounds is tricky. However, vacationers discover it to be a comfortable experience.
Interesting Facts About Royal Barges National Museum
The museum contains eight barges, notable for their beautifully colored exterior. Most of the boats were used by royal members of Thailand and those of high rank in the military. However, some of the ships were only used about 16 times. In addition to the royal barges, other traditional Thai barges are also on display at the National Royal Barge Museum. Carved from dark wood, they feature the ubiquitous dragon at the bow. These, however, deserve no place alongside the finest royal launches. Instead, visitors can view them in the warehouse-like building next to the bridge.
