Royal Barge Museum

Royal Barge Museum review Rate it

It's an unforgettable sight when fifty slim, elegant and ornate boats carry the royal family from Vasukri Pier to Wat Arun, for a kathin ceremony; the most recent marked King Bhumibol's 72nd birthday in 2008. You can view eight of the barges in this canalside hangar, with bilingual displays of regalia, dioramas and barge lore. Seen on the TAT logo, the 45.15m (148ft) long, 3.17m (10.5ft) wide king's barge, Suphannahongse ('Golden Swan') was carved from a single log and seats 50 costumed, chanting oarsmen. A seven-headed naga figureheads the 54-oar, Rama IV-era Anantanakaraj, while the newest, Narai Song Suban, with Vishnu riding Garuda at its prow, was built in 1996. The museum is easiest to reach by boat or canal tour, given the badly signed trudge from the road via alleys.