Page 18 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Bangkok

16 ❯❯ Top 10 Bangkok Highlights

National Museum

Thailand’s premier museum offers a great introduction to Thai
history. Inside, the Buddhaisawan Chapel is one of the country’s
most precious treasures, as is the Phra Sihing Buddha image it
houses. Other highlights include well-preserved fragments of
Dvaravati and Srivijaya statues, and the royal funeral chariots.

Lanna Art
4
Several small
Buddha images from
northern Thailand in the
Lanna period (13th to
16th centuries), are on
display here.
Phra Sihing
5
Buddha Image
One of three such
images claiming to
be the original, this
small but superbly
crafted Sukhothai-
Buddhaisawan
Rattanakosin
1 3 style sculpture sits
Chapel
Art
on a pedestal in the
Red
This beautiful temple, A gallery in the north Buddhaisawan House
built in 1787 for the wing displays art Chapel and is bathed
Second King, now sits at and furnishings in a golden glow. 2,000
Years of
the heart of the National from the 18th- Siamese
Red
Museum complex. Its to 20th-century 6 Art
rich murals, polished Rattanakosin era House
floors, gilt Buddha (right). These A fine example
images, and hushed pieces combine of an Ayutthaya-
atmos phere make it traditional and style teak house,
a star sight (above). Western elements. the Red House
was originally the
Ayutthayan Art
2 home of Rama I’s
Huge, serene Buddha heads, as well
older sister, Sri
as scrip ture cabinets adorned with scenes Suriyen. It has
of Ayutthaya in its heyday (see pp34–5), are a multitiered
dis played in the Ayutthayan gallery. roof deco rated Buddhaisawan
with beautiful carv- Chapel
NEED TO KNOW at 9:30am on Wednesdays ings, and the interior
contains some antique
MAP B3 • Na Phra That and Thursdays. royal furnishings.
Road • 02 224 1333 • The museum covers a
• Chao Phraya express big area, but there are 2,000 Years of
Siamese Art
boat to Tha Chang seats in shaded corners 7
• www.nmvbangkok.org between galleries where This gallery, located in
Open 9am–4pm Wed–Sun you can take a break. the former
• There is a kiosk just
Adm: B200 Sivamokhaphiman
inside the entrance Throne Hall, contains
• Join the free guided selling cold drinks, ice superbly displayed and
tours in English, French, creams, and snacks. lighted examples of Thai
German, and Japanese Buddhist art from all the
regions of the country.
Eyewitness Travel – Top 10 series LAYERS PRINTED:
Three-column, 8.25pt grid “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.5)
016-017_Top_10_Bangkok.indd 16 22/05/2017 12:12
Date 12th May 2015
Size 100mm x 191mm