Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
if not exactly hicksville. It's also something of a transport hub, with minivans to Ko
Samet, Kanchanaburi and Ayuthaya stopping here, and there's a useful BTS stop.
TOP SIGHTS
SUAN PAKKAD PALACE MUSEUM
Everyone loves Jim Thompson's House, but few have even heard of Suan Pakkad Palace Museum (Lettuce Farm
Palace), another noteworthy traditional Thai house-museum. Once the residence of Princess Chumbon of Nakhon
Sawan (and before that a lettuce farm - hence the name), the museum is a collection of five traditional wooden Thai
houses linked by elevated walkways containing varied displays of art, antiques and furnishings. The landscaped grounds
are a peaceful oasis complete with ducks, swans and a semi-enclosed, Japanese-style garden.
The diminutive
Lacquer Pavilion
at the back of the complex dates from the Ayuthaya period (the building originally
sat in a monastery compound on the banks of Mae Nam Chao Phraya, just south of Ayuthaya) and features gold-leaf
Jataka
and
Ramayana
murals as well as scenes from daily Ayuthaya life. Larger residential structures at the front of the
complex contain displays of Khmer, Hindu and Buddhist art, Ban Chiang ceramics and a collection of historic
Buddhas
, including a beautiful late U Thong-style image. In the noise and confusion of Bangkok, the gardens offer a
tranquil retreat.
DON'T MISS…
»
Lacquer Pavilion
»
Buddha statue collection
PRACTICALITIES
»
Th Si Ayuthaya
»
admission 100B
»
9am-4pm
»
Phaya Thai exit 4
