National Museum Bangkok
Bangkok's National Museum is one of the best attractions the city. It holds endless artifacts and information about Thailand, and leaves visitors with a good understanding of Thai culture, history and tradition.

Located on Naphra Road, the museum is comprised of six buildings, each of which house different exhibits and galleries. The museum was begun in 1874, and the extensive collection here can be quite the undertaking to see, so allowing yourself at least an afternoon, if not a full day, is a good idea. The museum is a great place to have as one of your first stops in Thailand, as it is sure to educate you on many aspects of Thai life and history, making the rest of your trip more enjoyable as you will be seeing the country with an informed mind.

Entrance to the museum is extremely reasonable, and it is worth taking a tour to get the most out of your experience. Tours in several languages are available, as are leaflets and brochures which will give you details about what you are seeing in the museum.

The Gallery of Thai History, located in the first building of the museum compound, contains rare and priceless artifacts dating back over 1500 years. In the rear of this building is the Prehistory Gallery, showcasing ancient artifacts from as early as 3500 BC.

The museum's Buddhaisawan Chapel contains one of the most revered images of Buddha in Thailand, dating back to the 15th century. This heavily ornamented chapel is beautiful inside, with many old murals and statues.

Moving along to the Transportation Room, visitors will see Thailand's many forms of transportation, including ceremonial chairs, elephant chairs and roofed howdas.

The Theatre Arts and Games room is one of the most interesting exhibits, containing masks, puppets and shadow play figures. These works of art are astoundingly intricate, with their carved and painted faces and embroidered clothing.

Jewelry prevails in the Gold Treasure room, where many of the priceless jewels worn by the royals and wealthy of Thailand are on display. The Clothing and Textiles room displays beautiful clothing, including samples of Thailand's finest silks.

The Funeral Chariot Hall is absolutely fascinating, with its giant gilded chariots filling the room, most of them dating back to the 18th century. The Grand Chariot of Victory is used to transport the urn containing the body of a king or queen. This heavy chariot required 160 men to pull from the front, with an additional 135 men to act as brakes from behind.

The Red House is made of Teak in the traditional form of interlocking pieces of wood. The rich red color gives it a beautiful look, and the house contains many intricately carved pieces of furniture, including a gorgeous carved bed.