The Royal Barge Procession, a royal ceremony that involves more than fifty gold-crafted barges, is one of the most spectacular events in the world. With a long-run history since Ayutthaya era, the procession aims to transport the king and/or member(s) of the royal family during special events, such as when delivering the new robes to the monks after a Buddhist Lent period.
The museum houses a precious collection of historic barges, some of which were built during the reign of King Rama I, more than two hundred years old. These barges are made of high-quality wood and beautifully decorated with vivid colors, mirrors and gold leaves. Each barge’s figurehead was crafted to represent a different kind of animals, which are vehicles of Rama god according to the Hindu belief. (Thais belief that the kings are avatars of Rama god). Probably the most remembered barge as it’s part of the logo of Tourism Authority of Thailand, the figurehead of the 46-meter-long Suphannahong royal barge features the shape of a mystical swan. It was built in 1911 during the reign of King Rama VI and is one of the four main royal barges which are the vehicles of the king. The other three, which are also the highlights of the museum, are Ananta Nagaraj with naga-shape figurehead, Narai Song Suban with Rama god on a garuda figurehead and Anekchat Puchong. Today, each royal barge procession consists of 52 boats, propelled by more than 2,000 rowers.
Opening hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9am - 5pm
Opening hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9am - 5pm
Contact: 80/1 Arun Amarin Rd., Bangkok Noi, Bangkok, 10700.
Resource : www.tourismthailand.org
