Free rides to the museum
a view from the fourth floor of the Nitas Rattanakosin
Thais are not known for their love of museums, with many citing heavy traffic, difficulties parking and hot weather as reasons not to visit.
But now there's no excuses, thanks to an initiative from the King Prajadhipok Museum, which has joined with neighbouring venues on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue in offering free parking and a shuttle service on weekends.
Located where Phan Fah Bridge meets Lan Luang Road, the museum has done a deal with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for free use of the city's two-storey underground parking structure during a pilot project, which runs from July through September.
The shuttle will travel in a circular route and stop at the King Prajadhipok Museum, Nitas Rattanakosin and the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre before going back the BMA.
"We want to lure Thais to visit the museums in this area and we're hoping this pilot project will do the trick," says King Prajadhipok Museum president Thongthong Chantarangsu.
A former permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, Thongthong adds that the three venues are not distant from each other but often seem miles apart because of the neighbourhood's notoriously congested traffic. "Our aim is to help people to enjoy the cultural activities in the area, he says".
For inspiration, he points to New York's "Museum Mile", an area with one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Three blocks long, nearly two kilometres, the section of Fifth Avenue is home to nine museums. Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, he says, has much the same cultural content though the distances between venues is shorter.
"It is just 500 metres from King Prajadhipok Museum to the Democracy Monument where we have museums, a thrilling exhibition hall like Nitas Rattanakosin and the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre. By providing a shuttle service, we think we can get Thais to visit and drink in the knowledge and entertainment we provide," says Thongthong.
The King Prajadhipok Museum is housed in a three-storey colonial-style building dating to 1906.
It first housed a store then the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning before being handed over to the Prajadhipok Institute. It has operated as a museum since 2002 and showcases the personal effects of King Rama VII and Queen Rambai Barni, including photographs, films and documents.
It also presents the significant historical events that occurred during King Prajadhipok's reign, including the 150th anniversary of the Rattanakosin era through a mock-up of the Sala Chalermkrung Theatre, which was built to mark the anniversary, and the 1932 Revolution and the Conferment of the first Constitution of Thailand
The complex also has three smaller museums - the Thai Parliament Museum, the Thai Cabinet Museum and the Royal Thai Orders and Decorations Museum - in the Rambai Barni building, behind the museum.
"The museums are filled with historical photography as well as exquisite items and make it a pleasure to learn about our history," Thongthong says. "It obviously more entertaining to visit with a tour guide but if not, we have interactive displays in every area."
Visitors can next head to Nitas Rattanakosin, aka the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, which is in a renovated structure next to Maha Chetsadabodin Pavilion Square. In addition to the high-tech interactive displays, there's a view from the fourth floor where visitors can take in the historic surroundings, including the metal-shrouded Loha Prasat, Phookhao Thong (Golden Mount), Wat Saket and other landmarks.
A mere few steps from the exhibition hall is the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre, which is under supervision of the Culture Ministry's Office of Contemporary Art and Culture and has rotating exhibitions every three months.
Thongthong adds that Thais worried about culture overload needn't visit all the museums in one go.
"The Museum Route project will run for three months. You can go to just one place and then enjoy the rest of the weekend by sampling the delicious food at the famous shops around here," says Thongthong. "If the project earns a good response, then we will think about extend the service. But we have to wait and see," says Thongthong.
And those thinking of simply taking advantage of the free parking without visiting the museums can forget the idea. Protocols will be in place to prevent any such trickery.
VISITING TIME
The Museum Route shuttle vans run from the BMA every 20 minutes from 10am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays from July 4 to September 27.
For free parking vouchers, send a message through www.Facebook.com/|kingprajadhipokmuseum.
Admission is free at the King Prajadhipok Museum and the three smaller museums in the compound.
Admission to Nitas Rattanakosin is Bt100. Students, monks and the elderly get in free. It's also free for visitors after 5pm for the light and sound presentation and window display, which gets underway at 7pm.
Admission is also free at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
a view from the fourth floor of the Nitas Rattanakosin
Thais are not known for their love of museums, with many citing heavy traffic, difficulties parking and hot weather as reasons not to visit.
But now there's no excuses, thanks to an initiative from the King Prajadhipok Museum, which has joined with neighbouring venues on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue in offering free parking and a shuttle service on weekends.
Located where Phan Fah Bridge meets Lan Luang Road, the museum has done a deal with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for free use of the city's two-storey underground parking structure during a pilot project, which runs from July through September.
The shuttle will travel in a circular route and stop at the King Prajadhipok Museum, Nitas Rattanakosin and the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre before going back the BMA.
"We want to lure Thais to visit the museums in this area and we're hoping this pilot project will do the trick," says King Prajadhipok Museum president Thongthong Chantarangsu.
A former permanent secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, Thongthong adds that the three venues are not distant from each other but often seem miles apart because of the neighbourhood's notoriously congested traffic. "Our aim is to help people to enjoy the cultural activities in the area, he says".
For inspiration, he points to New York's "Museum Mile", an area with one of the densest displays of culture in the world. Three blocks long, nearly two kilometres, the section of Fifth Avenue is home to nine museums. Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, he says, has much the same cultural content though the distances between venues is shorter.
"It is just 500 metres from King Prajadhipok Museum to the Democracy Monument where we have museums, a thrilling exhibition hall like Nitas Rattanakosin and the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre. By providing a shuttle service, we think we can get Thais to visit and drink in the knowledge and entertainment we provide," says Thongthong.
The King Prajadhipok Museum is housed in a three-storey colonial-style building dating to 1906.
It first housed a store then the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning before being handed over to the Prajadhipok Institute. It has operated as a museum since 2002 and showcases the personal effects of King Rama VII and Queen Rambai Barni, including photographs, films and documents.
It also presents the significant historical events that occurred during King Prajadhipok's reign, including the 150th anniversary of the Rattanakosin era through a mock-up of the Sala Chalermkrung Theatre, which was built to mark the anniversary, and the 1932 Revolution and the Conferment of the first Constitution of Thailand
The complex also has three smaller museums - the Thai Parliament Museum, the Thai Cabinet Museum and the Royal Thai Orders and Decorations Museum - in the Rambai Barni building, behind the museum.
"The museums are filled with historical photography as well as exquisite items and make it a pleasure to learn about our history," Thongthong says. "It obviously more entertaining to visit with a tour guide but if not, we have interactive displays in every area."
Visitors can next head to Nitas Rattanakosin, aka the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall, which is in a renovated structure next to Maha Chetsadabodin Pavilion Square. In addition to the high-tech interactive displays, there's a view from the fourth floor where visitors can take in the historic surroundings, including the metal-shrouded Loha Prasat, Phookhao Thong (Golden Mount), Wat Saket and other landmarks.
A mere few steps from the exhibition hall is the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre, which is under supervision of the Culture Ministry's Office of Contemporary Art and Culture and has rotating exhibitions every three months.
Thongthong adds that Thais worried about culture overload needn't visit all the museums in one go.
"The Museum Route project will run for three months. You can go to just one place and then enjoy the rest of the weekend by sampling the delicious food at the famous shops around here," says Thongthong. "If the project earns a good response, then we will think about extend the service. But we have to wait and see," says Thongthong.
And those thinking of simply taking advantage of the free parking without visiting the museums can forget the idea. Protocols will be in place to prevent any such trickery.
VISITING TIME
The Museum Route shuttle vans run from the BMA every 20 minutes from 10am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays from July 4 to September 27.
For free parking vouchers, send a message through www.Facebook.com/|kingprajadhipokmuseum.
Admission is free at the King Prajadhipok Museum and the three smaller museums in the compound.
Admission to Nitas Rattanakosin is Bt100. Students, monks and the elderly get in free. It's also free for visitors after 5pm for the light and sound presentation and window display, which gets underway at 7pm.
Admission is also free at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Centre.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
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