Sights and museums
Discover Thailand’s incredible history at these amazing destinations
1 NATIONAL MUSEUM BANGKOK
Aside from modernising what was then known as Siam, King Rama V was keen to showcase the historical artefacts that had been collected by his father, King Mongkut. To do so he turned the residence of the vice king – the Front Palace, completed in 1785 – into a museum, packing three halls to the brim with antiquities. Since it opened in 1874, it has expanded greatly, with exhibits now spread over 12 themed rooms. Four more are set to open.
The items have also been recently reorganised to ensure they are better presented. As such, you’re able to get a wonderful flavour of Thailand’s past. There’s art, murals and bronzes amid the artefacts collected during the Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. There’s a wonderful hall dedicated to ceremonial royal carriages, too. The structure of the building, which has a road leading to the nearby Grand Palace, has also been well maintained, making it a sight worth seeing in itself.
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 9.30am-4pm, with admission costing 200 Baht (£4.70). tourismthailand.org/attraction/national-museum
2 BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI KANCHANABURI
Work to build a railway bridge in Thailand during World War II became the subject of a well-known novel and film, The Bridge On The River Kwai. Visit the actual bridge in real life (rather than the filmed one in Sri Lanka), however, and reality hits home: constructed by Allied prisoners during the Japanese occupation of Thailand for the Burma-siam railway, bridge number 277 resulted in the deaths of 13,000 soldiers – two-thirds of whom are buried in nearby cemeteries.
The railway line is still in use, allowing trains over what is today called the Khwae Yai River. The bridge, which was bombed by the Allied forces and rebuilt, also remains an impressive structure that affords great views, but the full human cost and horror of Japan’s Death Railway has to be remembered. Learn more about the history and background by visiting the JEATH War Museum, founded in 1977, or the more modern Thailand-burma Railway Centre, which is close to the war cemetery. Be warned that the images there can be graphic.
The Thailand-burma Railway Centre is open daily, 9am-4pm, with admission costing 150 Baht (£3.50) and 70 Baht (£1.60) for children aged seven to 12. tbrconline.com
3 THE GRAND PALACE BANGKOK
Situated in the bustling heart of Bangkok is an imposing complex of halls, temples and spires that make up the glittering Grand Palace. It’s located beside the Buddhist temple Wat
Pho, which has more than 1,000 images of Buddha. One, a humongous reclining Buddha, is 46 metres long and covered in gold leaf. It’s a sight to behold!
The Grand Palace is obviously splendid, too. This impressive maze of more than 100 buildings was the official residence of the kings of Siam and, while no royalty has resided there since 1925, it’s still used for various regal ceremonies. The current King Vajiralongkorn was crowned there following three days of pomp and splendour in 2019, and as a backdrop it takes some beating.
Suitably lavish, with carefully crafted architecture, the buildings date back to 1782 when King Rama I was in power, and much of it is available for tourists to see. Explore the inner, middle and outer court and visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (which we look at in greater depth on page 14).
Be sure to check out the throne room, too, where King Rama I received his subjects, and view the meticulously restored murals. Just be aware that parts of the palace still have working areas. Men must also wear long-sleeve shirts and trousers with socks and shoes, while women must cover their shoulders.
Open daily, 8.30am-3.30pm, with admission
500 Baht (£11.70). royalgrandpalace.th/en/home
4 JIM THOMPSON HOUSE MUSEUM BANGKOK
Nobody knows for sure how the New York businessman Jim Thompson died. He went for a walk in the Malaysian highlands half-a-century ago and was never seen again. What is known, however, is what Thompson did in the 61 years after his birth in 1906. He was an architect, an army officer, and even a spy for a short spell. More notably, Thompson revitalised the Thai silk industry during the 1950s and 1960s – a feat which earned him the nickname The Thai Silk King.
His beautiful wooden home is open for visitors. It was turned into an art museum in 1959 while he was still alive and it houses a rare collection of Asian art silk as well as historic Buddhist statues and traditional Thai paintings
– items he collected during his travels around Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Laos. There are actually six buildings full of history here as well as an art centre in the same compound. A guided tour is a must.
Open every day 11am-7pm, with admission costing 200 Baht (£4.70), 100 Baht (£2.30) for visitors under 22, and free for children under 10. jimthompsonhouse.com
5 SUKHOTHAI OLD CITY SUKHOTHAI
Sukhothai was the first capital of Siam, the focus of the Sukhothai Kingdom which existed between 1238 and
1583. It’s 426km north of the present capital Bangkok and it is of such importance that it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, praised for its fine monuments and distinctive architectural style.
There are over 190 ruins here and to explore them is to truly step back in time. In fact, it can be argued that there’s more reason to visit Sukhothai than Ayutthaya, which was the most important city of Thailand’s rival kingdom, not least because Sukhothai predates it by some 113 years. It’s certainly quieter, making for a more contemplative experience.
Highlights include Wat Mahathat, founded by Sri Indraditya between
1292 and 1347. There’s also the ruined Buddhist temple complex, Wat Phra Pai Luang, which is thought to have been founded by the Khmer Mahayana Order around the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Ramkhamhaeng National Museum is here too, housing more than 2,000 artefacts. Perhaps most awe-inspiring, however, is Wat Si Chum, which has a huge Buddha image that is not only 11 metres wide and 15 metres tall but has very long gold-tapered fingers that are as tall as an adult and point down towards the ground. Ongoing excavation work has unearthed many historic gems and you won’t walk away disappointed.
Open 6am-6pm daily, with admission to the five zones of the Historical
Park costing 100 Baht (£2.30) each. thailandforvisitors.com/north/sukhothai/historical-park/index.php