Erawan Museum: Bangkok’s Surrealist Dream Come to Life
There is no doubt, that one of the surest ways to know the history of a country is by its museums. It’s always one of the quintessential parts of travel — to include visiting museums in our itinerary. From the artifacts belonging to specific eras to the history that defined and molded the country into what it is today, Bangkok, too, has several significant museums housing items of significance from the distant past. These museums are now home with their own specialized collections and provide a vibrant picture of what Thailand may have been in the past.
As surreal as it gets, Erawan Museum is definitely one man’s dream — come to life.
The man is none other than Lek Viriyapant, his eccentric, lively spirit is also the one behind Bangkok’s Ancient City and Pattaya’s Sanctuary of Truth. He wanted to build a space for his vast collection of Asian antiquities, to preserve them for Thai people for the next generation. It took almost ten years to construct and complete the whole vicinity. A friend of his, Khun Lek thought and decided upon an image of the Hindu elephant otherwise known as Erawan, to serve as the inspiration for his unique museum with its Eastern cosmology origin.
As you enter the facade, you will be welcomed with a three-headed, huge elephant statue which depicts the image of Hindu mythology’s Airavata (otherwise known as Erawan).
Erawan Garden
Visitors can enjoy the tranquility of Erawan’s lush tropical gardens with its rare flora, pavilions, benches for a quiet spiritual retreat. You can also wander around stone paths or cross tiny streams while admiring the vivid colors of the flowers and plant around the vicinity. Setting adrift lotus leaves to dispense of bad luck, or join offerings of fruit at the famed elephant shrine, are only a few of the popular things to do in this area of the museum.
Cosmology, the Underworld, and Mount Meru
Perched on the dimly lit basement is space where surreal dreams and religious avidity can be seen with surrounding soothing garden as a backdrop. The “Nagas” (mythological snakes) is among other things you will witness in the area together with some Chinese porcelain, tea set, furniture and Vietnamese vases.
The upper level is a beautiful, domed architecture that represents the Mount Meru — centre of the Buddhist universe. The ornaments made to decorate the walls and the winding stairs, copper work, and mural painting is a testament of a superb craftsmanship in this museum. Stands in the center place is a Bodhisattva Guan Yin and four pillars of religion that symbolize earth. This section of the Museum a clear proof of eclectic mixture of traditional decorative style of East and West with its stained glass ceiling that represents the roof of the world. A juxtaposition of surrealism Dali-inspired artistic accents and solemn serenity of a temple.
Make your trip to Bangkok a mythical one and filled with surrealism with a visit to this high art museum around the city. Just try not to get lost with the mixture of arts and surreal juxtaposition of psychedelic accent and eclectic decors you’ll see outside a dream.
Opening Hours: Everyday 8:00-17:00
Location: Sukhumvit Road, Samut Prakan
How to get there: From the BTS Skytrain On Nut Station, take a taxi to the museum (should cost around 80 – 90 baht each way).
If you prefer a private transport to get there, we can arrange one for you go get there from your place and back.
