Discover the richness of Thai textiles, their royal association and the story behind their weaving at the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles. This museum is dedicated to collecting, displaying and preserving textiles obtained from South East Asia as well as showcasing the country’s own impressive heritage in textiles together with the queen’s own exquisite wardrobe. The museum enjoys a convenient location within the grounds of the Grand Palace, and visitors can explore it if they possess a pass to the Grand Palace.
The museum was opened last year and is the result of the request made by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand to preserve and treasure the textiles history and heritage of this splendid nation. This is claimed to be a gift from her to the people of Thailand while her role in enhancing weaving as a money-making source for women of many families cannot be stressed enough.
Once a simple office building, the current home of the museum was converted to a state-of-the-art complex complete with a brand new lobby, galleries, a library and studio and so much more that facilitate both viewing pleasures as well as the pursuit of knowledge of the history of this fine craft for those who wish it. Some of the most noteworthy displays in the museum include the Queen’s own wardrobe of magnificent hand-woven textile ensembles prepared for her by the people of the SUPPORT foundation. It appears that the queen had excellent taste and true appreciation of grand vestments, which is evident from the exquisite specimens displayed in all their glamour at the museum.
The curator’s walk is the other centre piece of the museum that showcases the eight traditional Thai costumes for women in one of its main exhibition halls. The museum holds enough room for storage of some treasured collection of textiles while the shop at the premises holds an alluring collection of decorative items that are perfect to grace any home, as well as a vibrant selection of accessories from jewellery to handmade ornaments.
After exploring the museum and perhaps some of other fascinating cultural sites that grace the cityscape, a traveler will inevitably want to pause at the threshold of a renowned Bangkok hotel that will ensure utmost comfort with impeccable services and congenial hospitality. The Anantara Bangkok Sathorn promises to simply take your breath away by featuring and sophisticated interiors in each of the rooms and suites of this heavenly abode. Holding a premier place among the various hotels Bangkok has to offer its leisure and corporate visitors, this supreme venue is excellently located and possesses numerous luxuries to complement a visitor’s stay in this wonderful city.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+