Royal Boat Museum

Since the heyday of Thailand’s ancient capital, Ayutthaya, the Royal Navy has taken on a major role in securing the state’s coastline. Even then, the masters paid special attention to the appearance of the royal boats. They were adorned with powerful and proud figures of Garudu, Hanuman, seven-headed Naga, who beat to frighten enemies. Now these elaborately painted and decorated boats are in a museum located on the shore of the Noi Klong Water Canal, near the Pra Klao Bridge in Bangkok. The crown of the creation of Thai masters was the personal boat of the king – “Suphanhongsa”. The design, made of a single tree trunk, is a swan rushing along the waves. The boat is decorated with multicolored mosaics, ornaments and non-repeating gold patterns. It is here that the king of the country participates in traditional water processions. Other boats on display at the Bangkok Museum also take part in the ceremonies.