Boasting a 770 year history, Bangkok’s renown Buddhist temples and palaces make the city one of South-East Asia’s most popular travel destinations. Bangkok’s Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall is a new addition to the city’s list of attractions and is easily accessible from Anantara Baan Rajprasong Bangkok Serviced Suites.
A short distance from many Serviced Apartments Bangkok, Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall lies along Ratchdamneon Klang Avenue in Bangkok’s Old Town. Once the royal city area of Bangkok, the Chakri Dynasty of the Rattanakosin era (1782–1932) led Thailand’s economic and cultural revival that helped enforce Thailand’s modern identity. Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall is dedicated to showcasing the proud heritage of Bangkok city using hi-tech visual and audio media. Opened in early 2010, the 4,800 square-metre museum is open six days a week and conducts two-hour long tours that take visitors through the museum’s nine viewing galleries. The use of modern technology for interactive story-telling is evident from the very beginning where the lobby wall displays a skyline of an old town with birds taking flight when you walk past it.
Arranged thematically, the nine exhibition halls showcase various aspects of the Rattanakosin kingdom including its palaces, villages, economy and culture. Among the interesting exhibits is the visual of life at the royal palace and royal ceremonies, a typical Thai village street, a detailed model of the Grand Palace complex and the legendary Emerald Buddha Temple. A 360 degree multimedia demonstrates the period’s performing arts including the masked Khon dance, lakhon plays and puppet shows. An interactive museum, the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall allows visitors to manoeuvre puppets and even customises the visuals of the city’s attractions by having the visitor’s picture imposed on one of the visuals. A must-see is the 4D multimedia presentation on the early Rattanakosin period which appeals to senses including touch and smell.
On the museum’s ground floor is a 300 square-meter hall used for artistic and cultural events, a souvenir shop and library while Sky Cafe on the top-most floor sells traditional Thai ice cream against the breathtaking backdrop of the Loha Prasart and Golden Mount Temples.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
