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.
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 94cm (37inches), 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 – 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 Anechatbhuchong | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 Anantanagaraj | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 IX4.1 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