Pemika from the Journeys Within Thailand office gives her take on Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, one of Bangkok’s newer museums that showcase Thai life in the area from the 1700s to present day…
Welcome to Siamese Rattanakosin Era, the fourth Thai kingdom, at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. One of the newer tourist attractions in Bangkok, the multimedia showcase is designed to give visitors a feel for Thai culture, history, and religion using amazing, interactive multimedia.
Guests start with “The Colorful Thai Way of Living Hall” to see how Thai riverside lifestyle evolve from simpler times to a more modern lifestyle.
Thailand has many rivers and canals, and traditionally houses were set up alongside the river. This exhibit gives visitors a glimpse into how this water was used, past to present; from taking water for washing clothes and showering to traveling by boat — floating market are very popular – and catching fish and prawn to eat.
After talking about life on the riverside, guests are invited to take a trip down the “river” in their own “boat”. Life along the river is animated on a multimedia screen while guests take their seat small cart, whose movements simulate that of a boats.
Thai life is so simple and based on nature, this section helped show how the river is very important to my people. Even as Thais become more modernized – we now have roads and travel by cars – our connection to the water remains.
After the trip down the 3-D river, the screen then changes into the old city with the first road in Thailand while the seated voyage continues on as a faux-tram.
Next take in “The Heart and Soul of the Nation Hall” which illustrates the royal stories of 9 Kings of the Chakri Dynasty who bestowed great mercy one their people. Here you can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some royal ceremonies and traditions.
The two-hour tour ends with “Grandeur Rattanakosin Hall” which gives a historical account of the construction of Royal Palace, Bangkok and surrounding temples. I was impressed by the light and sound performance of this exhibit; definitely worth seeing.
Ever wonder how all the traditional hand-made goods you see scattered around Bangkok are made? The museum uses multi-touch screens to give a glimpse of those Thai handicrafts that originate from the 12 communities of Rattanakosin Island.
Architecture buffs will come to appreciate those styles – Chinese and Western – that influenced Thai buildings over time. They will also get a look at the heritage and design of some of the area’s most notable projects like Wat Prakaew and the Grand Palace. Not to mention the great view of current day buildings from a viewing area on the third floor.
The exhibition hall has two routes; you can choose either one or do both, with each route taking about two hours. Just don’t forget to have a bite to eat before heading in!
It should also be noted that the exhibit is not entirely wheelchair friendly; the ground is uneven and has slopes built to fit with Thai theme. The tour is also not provided in English, though there are audio guides for rental. This presents a great opportunity to take your private guide along and have them answer any questions you may have.
The museum is located in Rattanakosin Island and can be combined with other nearby tourist attractions such as Wat Prakaew, Grand Palace, and Wat Pho. And while some visitors may come to take in the puppet shows and traditional dancing, which are not to be missed, most will leave with a better overall understanding of the area and its history.
Why not let us design your days in Bangkok with the added Siamese experience?