Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
chaeology and art history wing
has exhibits ranging from prehistoric times to the Bangkok peri-
od.
In addition to the main exhibition halls, the
Buddhaisawan (Phutthaisawan) Chapel
includes
some well-preserved original murals and one of the country's most revered Buddha im-
ages, Phra Phut Sihing. Legend says that the image came from Sri Lanka, but art histori-
ans attribute it to 13th-century Sukhothai.
Museum of Siam
OFFLINE MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.museumsiam.com
; Th Maha Rat; admission 300B; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun; Tha Tien)
This fun mu-
seum employs a variety of media to explore the origins of the Thai people and their cul-
ture. Housed in a European-style 19th-century building that was once the Ministry of
Commerce, the exhibits are presented in an engaging, interactive fashion not often found
in Thailand. They are also refreshingly balanced and entertaining, with galleries dealing
with a range of questions about the origins of the nation and its people.
Each room has an informative narrated video started by a sensory detector, keeping
waiting to a minimum. An Ayuthaya-era battle game, a room full of traditional Thai toys
and a street vending cart where you can be photographed pretending to whip up a pan of
pàt tai
(fried noodles) will keep kids interested for at least an hour, and adults for longer.
Check out the attached shop for some innovative gift ideas.
