The Bangkok National Museum

The National Museum is a vast cultural complex, renowned throughout the country. It’s as beautiful and beloved as Bangkok’s many temples, all thanks to King Rama V. After his coronation, he ordered a space to be built for his father’s private collections. Inaugurated in 1874 within the Grand Palace grounds, the National Museum was relocated to its current location in 1887, and became accessible to all Thai people. The museum is spread across 3 wings, all retracing Thailand’s history from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. The permanent exhibition covers archaeology and Thai art, full of cultural artefacts, Buddhist sculptures and ancestral objects. Like a fine wine, the museum has gotten better with time. Its collections have grown denser and more remarkable, and the National Museum is now considered the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.