About Erawan Museum
Get ready to be welcomed by the magnificent copper clad Erawan elephant statue as you enter the premises of Erawan Museum Bangkok. This museum is one of a kind museum which has the largest hand sculpted statue of a celestial elephant named Erawan. It is inspired by the traditional Hindu mythological representation of the world consisting of three levels- the underworld, earth and heaven. This museum towers as tall as a 14 storey building in length and is, in fact, housed within the giant elephant itself. This majestic 3 headed elephant weighs 250 tonnes and is cast in pure copper. For many locals, this museum acts like a shrine to worship Erawan
The inside of the museum houses many psychedelic artefacts and priceless objects which originally belonged to Khun Lek Viriyapant, who is the current owner of the Erawan Museum Bangkok. You can expect to be awed by many Chinese relics, jade ornaments, ancient tea sets etc. not only the outer appearance, but the inner architecture of the museum too is worth admiring. Both of the well chiselled carvings and the ravishing colourful roof of the Erawan Museum Bangkok will leave you speechless. Later, when you are done with observing the museum, you can head to the lush green garden of the museum to enjoy the tropical environment.
Why To Book Erawan Museum Tickets?
If you are planning a visit to Erawan Museum Bangkok , then booking your ticket online can be the best available option. It will help in steering clear of all the hassles of buying an offline ticket. The issues such as non- availability of the ticket and unavailable slots can also be avoided.
- Get an opportunity to stand besides the biggest hand carved copper statue of the world
- Develop a deeper connection with Hindu mythology with the three levels of museum
- Admire the Thai architecture inside the museum which is home to beautifully carved staircases and walls
- Connect deeply with the Buddhist influence on the Thai culture when you stumble upon the big central Buddha statue
- Witness the the artefacts and relics that imply a rich eastern heritage
Exhibit Spaces In Erawan Museum
Erawan, as per the local mythology, has triple meanings, namely rainbow, cloud and water. Erawan is celebrated as the vehicle of Indra (Hindu God), is white in colour and has 33 heads. Erawan is said to have served the human beings alongside Indra in times of dire need when drought had stricken mankind. There are three levels to visit in Erawan Museum Bangkok that have been constructed in accordance with the Hindu mythology and belief system.
This is the floor of the lower beings and the level is called Suvarnabhumi. This is where the tour to the museum commences and the place where you can encounter many ancient and precious relics from the founder of the museum Lek Viriyaphant himself. There are tea sets, collections of vases, elegant bowls etc. from the Qing Dynasty and Ming dynasty. It also has a sculpted statue of half naga, which is believed to have guarded these treasures underwater for so many years.
This section represents the human earth and symbolises Mount Meru which is the centre of the Buddhist world. There is rich iconography in the beautiful towering hallways and the winding staircases radiate the utmost level of artistic joy. Here you can see hand- beaten copper work, the dexterity of Petchaburi craftsmen through their intricate work of stucco, Benjarong inlays, mural paintings etc. the beautiful colour stained ceiling made of glass is a spectacle to look at which represents the Milky way galaxy and the roof of the universe.
Tavatimsa Heaven is located in the belly of the beautifully carved beast. A Bodhisattva statue stands tall in the middle of this level of the museum to remind the visitors of cosmos or heaven. There are several Buddha posters and abstract art paintings in this part of the museum. This section of the museum aligns truthfully with the concept of fusion art displayed in the museum. A three dimensional Dali painting spotlights the surrealism of the temple in the far end corner of the section.
Garden in Erawan Museum
When you are done with your tour in Erawan Museum and want to spend some more time in the area, then you can head straight into the relaxing greens of the nearby Erawan Garden. This garden too is full of surprises for you. It has various elegant statues of elephants placed in the garden and as an element of surprise, a trumpet sounds as soon as someone passes beneath them. This is made possible by the use of sensors that are attached to the elephant statues.
Other than that, you can enjoy the serene tropical trees amidst the sculptures from Hinduism and Buddhism. Other smaller shrines like the ones dedicated to lord Ganesha are also present. When you are done enjoying the ambience, you can head over to the eatery situated here to enjoy food at a very reasonable price.
What To Expect In Erawan Museum
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Walk into the grand museum of one of its kind, built on a spectacular pedestal, signifying the importance of Erawan, the mystical elephant that fought alongside Indra- the highest of the deities.
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Enjoy the three levels of the museum and soak in the grandiosity of Thai culture as you admire even the roof of the museum which is covered in the paintings of various galaxies, signifying the grandiosity of the universe.
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You can expect a perfect union of architecture, mythology and tropical scenic beauty as you emerge yourself completely in the beauty of the artefacts and paintings that are kept in this museum.
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A walk in the garden outside the museum is a must and you can even feed the school of carps presents in the artificially made pond.
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Expect to emerge yourself in the local culture and you can even try praying for good luck and prosperity from the Erawan elephant by floating lotus in the pond water.
Know Before You Go To Erawan Museum
Location:
99 Kanchanaphisek Rd, Bang Muang Mai, Mueang Samut Prakan District, Samut Prakan 10270, Thailand
Time:
9 am to 6 pm everyday
Best time to visit-
The morning hours would be the best if you want to fully drown yourself in the cultural and mythological heritage of the museum. This would be the best time to take amazing pictures and spend some time alone in the serenity as the crowd would be way lesser than in the afternoon or evening hours.
Rules And Regulations:
- No sleeveless attires allowed inside
- You cannot take your pets inside so better leave them out of this trip
- You need to keep the premises of the museum clean and not litter around while in the museum
- Don’t create unnecessary nuisance or noise inside the museum
- You cannot carry your own food inside the museum
Tips To Visit Erawan Museum
- As most of the visitors often come to this museum to offer their prayers, maintaining silence would be the best option for all.
- Fold your legs, relax your shoulders and sit quietly in the heaven section of the museum and quietly pay homage to the Bodhisattva statue situated in the middle of the arena.
- Make sure that neither your back nor your legs face the altar else it would be considered impolite. Always make sure to cover your shoulders while you pray.
Erawan Museum FAQs
What is the three-headed elephant in the Erawan Museum?
The three headed elephant in the Erawan Museum is the symbolic representation of Erawan or Airavata elephant that can pass through all three realms of the universe and had fought alongside the great deity Indra. Erawan bestows humans with rain and rainbows in the times of famine and droughts. Therefore this majestic creature is often paid homage by the local inhabitants too. This Erawan has 3 heads which represent the 33 heads of the Airavata elephant.
How far is the Erawan Museum from Bangkok?
Erawan Museum is not too far from Bangkok and is built in the ancient city that has miniature versions of all the ancient places of Thailand. It is situated at a distance of 26 km from Bangkok and is just 45 minutes away from the capital city.
What is unique about the Erawan Museum?
Erawan Museum has a 14 storey long hand carved statue of Erawan elephant whose outer layer is made from pure copper. This is one of its kind museums and houses ancient relics and artefacts from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It has three levels of exhibition which are indicative of the three dimensions of existence in Hindu mythology. This museum is unique for being the perfect fusion of architecture, history and mythology.
How long does it take to explore the Erawan Museum?
It takes around 1 hour to fully explore the Erawan Museum. If you want to spend ample time in the garden as well and sit in the museum to pray, then it might take you around 2 hours to do the same.
What are the three interesting facts about the Erawan Museum?
- Erawan museum is made after the celestial elephant Erawat, who is worshipped by the local people and the museum is treated as a shrine for many.
- Erawan Elephant sculpture is the first and the biggest hand carved copper statue of the world.
- The artefacts and paintings are displayed in three distinct levels in the museum which are in accordance with the levels of existence in Hindu mythology.