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 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

  1. Boat and Barge:
There are 8 of 52 important royal barges displayed in this museum
1. Royal barge Suphannahong
AppearanceGold, royal swan-shaped prow decorated with glass ornaments.
DimensionsLength 46.15 meters; Width 3.17 meters; Hull depth, draught of 41 cm
PowerDriving power of 3.5 meters per stroke
Crew50 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 – Rama IX
AppearanceThe figurehead of Vishnu god mounted on a garuda holding on Naga. Porthole for cannon beneath the Garuda. Decorated with golden lacquer and glass ornaments
DimensionsLength 44.30 meters; Width 3.20 meters at the beam; Hull depth 1.10 cm
Crew50 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

3. Royal Barge Anechatbhuchong
AppearanceCarved and gilded in pattern of small nagas. The hull is painted pink outside and red inside.
DimensionsLength 45.67 meters; Width 2.91 meters; Hull depth 91 cm
PowerDriving power of 3.5 meters per stroke.
Crew60 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

4. Royal Barge Anantanagaraj
AppearanceSeven-headed nagas shape prow. Decorated with golden lacquer and glass ornaments. The hull is green outside and red inside.
DimensionsLength 44.85 meters; Width 3.17 meters at the beam; Hull depth 94 cm
PowerDriving power of 3.02 meters per stroke
Crew54 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

5. Ekachai Hern How Barge
AppearanceThe figurehead of Hera decorated with golden lacquer.
DimensionsLength 29.76 meters; Width 2.06 meters at the beam; Hull depth 60 cm
PowerDriving power of 3 meters per stroke
Crew38 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

6. Krabi Prab Muang Marn Barge
AppearanceThe figurehead of uncrowned monkey warrior with white body of Hanuman. Decorated with golden lacquer and glass.
DimensionLength 28.85 meters; Width 2.10 meters at the beam; Hull depth 56 cm
PowerDriving power of 2.6 meters per stroke
Crew36 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

7. Asura Vayuphak Barge
AppearanceThe 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.
DimensionsLength 31 meters; Width 2.03 meters at the beam; Hull depth 62 cm
PowerDriving power of 2.6 meters per stroke
Crew30 oarsmen, 2 steersmen

8.Krut Hern Het Barge
AppearanceThe prow features a garuda clutching a naga. The hull is red inside and black with floral designs in gold on the outside.
DimensionsLength 28.58 meters; Width 2.10 meters at the beam; Hull depth 60 cm
PowerDriving power of 2.6 meters per stroke
Crew34 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