National Museum of Royal Barges

The National Museum of Royal Barges is a museum in Bangkok, Thailand. It is on the northern rim of Bangkok Noi canal in the Bangkok Noi District.

Royal barges from the Royal Barge Procession are kept at the museum.

The museum was formerly a dry dock for barges and warships under the care of the Bureau of the Royal Household and the Royal Thai Navy. The dock and barges sustained severe bombing damage during World War II, but in 1949 they were restored by the Fine Arts Department as part of the Thai cultural heritage. Repairs were completed and the dock became the National Museum of Royal Barges in 1972.

Exhibition Boat and Barge: There are 8 of 52 important royal barges displayed in this museum

1. Royal Barge Suphannahong Appearance Gold, royal swan-shaped prow decorated with glass ornaments. Dimensions Length 46.15 meters; Width 3.17 meters; Hull depth , draught of 41 cm Power Driving power of 3.5 meters per stroke Crew 50 oarsmen, 2 steersmen, 2 officers fore and aft, 1 standard bearer, 1 signalman, 1 chanter, 7 royal regalia bearers.

2. Royal Barge Narai Song Suban HM Rama IX Appearance The figurehead of Vishnu god mounted on a garuda holding on Naga (the legendary creature, appearance as great snake). Porthole for cannon beneath the Garuda. Decorated with golden lacquer and glass ornaments Dimensions Length 44.30 meters; Width 3.20 meters at the beam; Hull depth 1.10 cm Crew 50 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

3. Royal Barge Anekkachatpuchong Appearance Carved and gilded in pattern of small nagas. The hull is painted pink outside and red inside. Dimensions Length 45.67 meters; Width 2.91 meters; Hull depth 91 cm Power Driving power of 3.5 meters per stroke. Crew 60 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

4. Royal Barge Anantanakkharat Appearance Seven-headed nagas shape prow. Decorated with golden lacquer and glass ornaments. The hull is green outside and red inside. Dimensions Length 44.85 meters; Width 3.17 meters at the beam; Hull depth 94 cm Power Driving power of 3.02 meters per stroke Crew 54 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

5. Ekachai Hern How Barge Appearance The figurehead of Hera ( Naga-headed Dragons) decorated with golden lacquer. Dimensions Length 29.76 meters; Width 2.06 meters at the beam; Hull depth 60 cm Power Driving power of 3 meters per stroke Crew 38 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

6. Krabi Prab Muang Marn Barge Appearance The figurehead of uncrowned monkey warrior with white body of Hanuman. Decorated with golden lacquer and glass. Dimension Length 28.85 meters; Width 2.10 meters at the beam; Hull depth 56 cm Power Driving power of 2.6 meters per stroke Crew 36 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

7. Asura Vayuphak Barge Appearance The Figurehead of an ogre-faced bird. Face, hands and feet are indigo, the front is purple, and the back is green. The hull is black outside. Dimensions Length 31 meters; Width 2.03 meters at the beam; Hull depth 62 cm Power Driving power of 2.6 meters per stroke Crew 30 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

8.Krut Hern Het Barge Appearance The prow features a garuda clutching a naga. The hull is red inside and black with floral designs in gold on the outside. Dimensions Length 28.58 meters; Width 2.10 meters at the beam; Hull depth 60 cm Power Driving power of 2.6 meters per stroke Crew 34 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

2. History

2.1 Evidence of Royal Barge and royal Barge Procession 2.2 Battle formations 2.3 Ceremonial Processions

3. Bangkok Period Royal Barge Heritage 3.1 Building process 3.2 Description of the figureheads 3.3 The royal barge procession 3.4 Relevance to Thai art history

4. Royal Barge Narai Song Suban – Rama IX 4.1 Detail of Royal Barge Narai Song Suban 4.2 Building detail 4.3 Royal ceremonies 4.4 Initiation of the procession

5. Royal Barge Procession Chants 5.1 The percussion instruments 5.2 Meaning of the song

6. Royal Barge Suphannahong and the World Ship Prize. 6.1 Full history of the Royal barge Suphannahong 6.2 Art and craftsmanship 6.3 Award

National Museum of Royal Barges

Bron en licentie