Royal Barges National Museum

Ebook version

Located on Khlong Bangkok Noi off the Chao Phraya River and not far from the Phra Pinklao Bridge, this shed has a display of several ornately carved royal barges with unique designs and decorative details. These barges are used on royal and official occasions and formerly served as war vessels.

The most beautiful and well-known barge “Suphannahong” is used by the king only when he makes his royal river procession for the Kathin Ceremony, a Buddhist tradition of offering robes to monks, usually held during October or November. There is also “Narai Songsuban Ratchakan Thi Kao”, the latest royal barge especially built on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty the King’s Accession to the throne in 1996.

The royal barges were also used during the Rattanakosin bicentennial celebrations and the reception ceremony of the APEC 2003. The shed is open to the public every day from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. There is an admission fee of 30 baht and extra charges for shooting videos and photographs (100 baht per camera).