Explore Thailand 2015

Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall

Modern Bangkok with its fast paced way of life disguises an ancient empire. It’s home to Thailand’s Royal family, a dynasty since 1238, and it’s still in place today.

The old town of Rattanakosin is the city’s royal district. It was once an island surrounded by manmade canals.  Now, it’s one of the most enchanting historic places to explore in Bangkok. The best way to get to Rattanakosin is still by boat. Not only does it give you a different view of the city but it’s also a great way to beat the busy Bangkok traffic.

Rattanakosin is one of the most enchanting districts of Bangkok, the historic heart of the city and home to many of the major sites including the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. But the best way to start uncovering Rattanakosin’s charms is to first visit the Rattanakosin Exhibition hall.

If you think of museums as stuffy and old fashioned, the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall breaks the mould. Opened just four years ago, it uses state-of-the-art technology with multi-media displays to bring Thai history and culture alive.

There are nine different halls each showcasing a different part of Thai life and culture.
1. Grandeur Rattanakosin Room
2. Prestige of the Kingdom
3. Remarkable Entertainments
4. Renowned Ceremonies
5. Graceful Architectures
6. Impressive Communities
7. Sight - seeing Highlight
8. The Color Thai way of Living
9. The Heart and Soul of the Nation

One of the most interesting displays is the Prestige Kingdom Hall. It will give you a far greater understanding of the royal life and customs and history, before a visit to the Grand Palace. It gives us an insider view inside parts of the palace that aren’t accessible to the public like the Emerald Buddha Temple Another fascinating aspect is when you see the temple to scale. It’s hard to believe it was built in three years.

Another interesting display is the replica of the Twilight Gate that leads to inner courtyard of the palace, an area zoned just for the women. Here in the museum, it gives everyone the chance to see what it was like behind the gate.

The Community Hall showcases ancient artefacts of what each community around Bangkok were crafting but are no longer made. There were some amazing handiworks.

Thai performing arts have been around for hundreds of years; in fact, all of the monarchs used performances to boost the people’s morale.

It’s not all ancient history at the museum; one exhibit shows us the 1960s life in Bangkok.  Learn interactive Thai dance, or even get your face on the cover of a magazine!

The Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall is a great place to take a break and take in the old town before getting out there and exploring yourself, armed of course with plenty of information and a far greater understanding of the district’s historical and cultural significance.

For more information, visit www.tourismthailand.org