The Hall of opium is certainly one of the few museums in the world that have been created with a purpose of creating awareness about drug abuse. It is an educational destination where you can learn and understand about opium and about the consequences of drug addiction. Read on to know more about this intriguing place.
Opium
Opium is the substance obtained from the latex of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), Approximately over 12 per cent of the latex of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid morphine, which is chemically processed to produce heroin and other synthetic drugs for medicinal use and for the illegal drug trade.
Opium and Thailand
During the ancient times since the discovery of opium in Thailand, the substance played a vital role in the country’s economy, as it was used a legal narcotic and was consumed by many as a medicinal drug. There is even evidence of the drug being imported to neighbouring countries.
The museum
The hall of opium is a museum about opium and which showcases the country’s history of narcotics since the discovery of opium in Thailand. The museum also describes the opium trade and renovation of the past 5,000 years. The Hall of opium also features artefacts and provides information about the opium wars that happened between the United Kingdom and China during the ancient times.
The exhibits
The artefacts and the exhibits showcased there include tools used for processing opium and consumption, photographs, and some short movies about opium from different countries in the world. The museum also features glass storages with figures inside which represent case studies.
Getting there and places to stay nearby
Golden Triangle Hall of Opium is located at Area1, Ban Sob Ruak, Wiang District, Chiang Saen County, Chiang Rai Province and if you are stationed in any of the Chiang Rai hotels, you can get here easily by a taxi. You might need to spend a lot of time inside the museum and you can find many resorts close to the museum the likes of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort to rest after a tiring day of exploration.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+
