Prasart Museum is a private museum containing a vast collection of artifacts from the prehistoric to modern Bangkok periods. The museum houses a large and unique collection of pieces from Thailand’s distant past leading up to the Rattanakosin period. The buildings within the grounds where these pieces are exhibited are also wonderful examples of the various styles of Thai architecture. The museum is a center for education and research for those interested in Thai antiquity, and a legacy for future Thai and foreign generations interested in Bangkok history.
If you want to get away from the crowds and heat of Bangkok then you should head for the art and culture oasis that is Prasart Museum.
If viewing Buddhist temples in Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok has you feeling hot and in need of a calm oasis of beauty then you should consider spending a half day visiting the Prasart Museum. This museum truly stands out amongst all others with regards to its grandeur and ancient style. Although it is not easy to find (all the more reason to book the services of a private tour guide), the Prasart Museum gives visitors a true look into what a life-long resident of Bangkok has to say about the city’s past and present cultural history.
Quote from Khun Prasart Vongsakul (owner and head gardener at the museum) – “I saw so many of our national treasures disappear or leave Thailand. Many Thai art objects and antiques are sold overseas, and thus Thai people are denied the chance to see them. I have worked most of my life preserving our heritage so that it can be cherished by future generations.”
Customer feedback – “The relatively high entrance fee and remote location ensured that despite being here during the packed tourist season, we had the place almost all to ourselves.”
At Prasart Museum, visitors are given a private tour that lasts about one hour, after which they are free to wander the grounds and buildings at their own leisure.
Prasart Museum is listed as one of the seven MUST SEE museums in Bangkok. The other museums on the list are:
- Vimarnmek Mansion
- Bangkok National Museum
- Grand Palace
- Thai Royal Barge Museum
- Jim Thompson House
- Erawan Museum
The Prasart Museum is never crowded by large tourist groups because it is a completely private museum and admission is arranged by appointment only. Having a private tour guide who can make all of the booking and transportation arrangements ahead of time is certainly the best way to visit and enjoy the Prasart Museum.
Some of the highlights of visiting the Prasart Museum are:
- Red Palace: This Thai-style teak house is a replica of the mansion with the same name in the National Museum. Antiques from the Ayutthaya and early Rattanakosin periods are found here. They include many domestic items such as furniture, tea sets, and vases.
- Lanna Pavilion: Located near the European style building this wood pavilion is where Lanna period Buddha images are displayed.
- European-style Building: Thai materials and household utensils used by the upper class of Thai society in the past, such as Bencharong ceramic pieces and
- Western art objects are exhibited here.
- Buddhist Chapel
- Hor Kaeow (Teakwood Library).
- Guanyin Shrine
- Lopburi-style Chapel, which is a replica from a Khmer sanctuary.
- Beautiful garden grounds full of rare Thai and foreign species of plants that create the setting for several Sukhothai period terracotta pieces.
Customer Feedback – “You need to book your visit in advance, you can’t just turn up to this private museum but it is well worth paying a visit. The museum is set in its own lush gardens with various buildings, each representing a different architectural style or purpose, all built or reconstructed here by Mr Prasart, each of them fascinating in its own way. Within these is Mr Prasart’s personal collection, amassed over many years, covering mostly South East Asia with some European works it is mainly grouped in themes to represent a particular area or style. Many of the pieces are rare and exquisite, the like of which you would be lucky to find in a major international museum.”
Another attraction in this area is the authentic Thai cooking course.
Prasart Museum is open Tues-Sun from 9am until 2pm, by appointment only. Closed every Monday.
Admission Price: 500 Baht per person and there is a 2 person minimum in order to visit the museum. If you would like to visit the museum on your own you will be charged the rate for 2 persons (1,000 Baht).
Customer feedback – “An eclectic collection indeed. Reservations and a private tour guide are the only way to see this very unique Bangkok attraction.”
Things you should be aware of when visiting the Prasart Museum:
- Photography inside any of the structures is strictly forbidden. Visitors are allowed to take photographs of any outside area of the complex.
- It is recommended that you wear shoes that can be easily removed as you’ll need to take them off when entering any structure in the complex.
