City Museum Nakhon Si Thammarat: Transformations Through Time
Nida Tunsuttiwong
Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the kingdom's oldest cities, dating back as far as the Sukhothai Era (1238-1583). The award-winning City Museum Nakhon Si Thammarat provides visitors with a fascinating glimpse into days gone by, while offering some interesting insights into the unique local culture and traditions.
The museum, which is situated in the Princess Mother 84 Public Park (also known as Thung Thalad Park), officially opened its doors in 2009. Thanks to the museum’s effective use of state-of-the-art multimedia technologies, largely utilized to educate and entertain visitors, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) honored the museum in 2008 with an Award of Outstanding Performance for Tourism Development and Promotion Organizations.
A Wealth of Knowledge
The museum includes four buildings – Ruam Chai Phak, Virathai, Thertthairachini and Na Nak Kharot. The Ruam Chai Phak building serves as a reception area and has a library and meeting room, while the Na Nak Kharot building provides the museum with a significant multi-purpose area.
On the first floor of the Virathai Building, you can learn about important historical figures, including monarchs and highly revered monks, who have played key roles in the development of the city. The second floor is dedicated to religion since the city hosts several important places of worship pertaining to Buddhism and Islam, as well as referring to aspects of Brahmanism.
The museum also has an exhibition about the temple of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramaha Wiharn and the ancient Phra Boromathat Stupa, which includes a tooth relic of the Buddha.
I was particularly impressed by a collection of miniature models depicting the Hae Pha Khuen That ceremony, which includes the presentation of cloth to the pagoda (read more).
At the Thertthairachini Building, there are several other impressive multimedia presentations. On entering, you’ll see a small theater, where you can learn about the development important and significant ancient ports and maritime trade routes. Explore the building further and you’ll encounter several life-size models, while you’ll also get to learn more about trade in several commodities, including bees wax, camphor, eagle wood, ivory and sandal wood in the ports of ‘Tambralinga’ (an ancient, former name for Nakhon Si Thammarat).
The emblem of the city features Phra Boromathat Stupa, surrounded by the 12 creatures of the Zodiac. Each creature represents one of the city’s satellite towns.
If you’re an avid collector of Buddhist amulets, you should visit an exhibition about the Chatukam Rammathep – which is considered to be the city’s ‘guardian angel’, as well as being the protector of the sacred Phra Boromathat Stupa. You’ll notice quite a few rare interpretations of the amulet, such as the Suriyan-Chanthra, which was issued in 1987.
The second floor includes additional displays and another small theater, where you’ll hear some young Thai soldiers recounting the events that took place around the time that Japanese military forces landed in the province in 1941. Another presentation recounts a terrible storm and destructive winds that swept across Thalumphuk Cape in 1962, tragically claiming the lives of over 1,000 local people.
The City Museum Nakhon Si Thammarat opens from Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is free.
For further information, contact Tel: +66 (0)75 358 261, or visit the museum's official website at http://www.nakhonmuseum.com
Transport Connections:
Air: Thai Air Asia and Nok Air offer regularly scheduled daily flights between Bangkok and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The journey to Nakhon Si Thammarat takes about one hour. For further information, visit http://www.airasia.com and http://www.nokair.com.
Car: Nakhon Si Thammarat is 780 kilometers south of Bangkok. From Bangkok take Highway 4 (Phetkasem Road) towards Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, then Highway 41 to Phun Phin disitrict in Surat Thani province. After that, follow Highway 401 to Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Then follow Ratchadamnoen road (the province's main road which connects directly to highway 401) to the province's sport stadium. The Princess Mother 84 Public Park where the museum could be found is located right behind the sport stadium.
Credit: TAN Network (www.tannetwork.tv)
No comments:
Post a Comment