MANY years ago I was given a small plaster figure of Ganesha which has since lived on one of my bookcases.
So when research of Chiang Mai's outlying areas turned up this museum I thought it would be an ideal chance to get to know a bit more about Ganesha who is a Hindu god.
Photography is forbidden in the museum which contains a great many figures of Ganesha who is variously revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, letters and learning and the god of intellect and wisdom.
Care is needed when wandering round the museum because some of the exhibits are very close together in an atmospheric way which left me with the feeling of a presence. Fanciful, perhaps, but that was how I felt.
These figures are contained in two parallel buildings separated by a central garden which has a number of figures in it including one very clever illusory work giving the impression that the head is almost suspended in the air.
Both small buildings can be viewed in a leisurely way in less than an hour with a much larger area on the other side of the site devoted to a wax museum.
Here are indoor water features with floating offerings blown on an endless journey round and round a central figure.
There are bronze figures, fountains, great colourful displays, marvellous wooden inlay work, a variety of fabulous heads, some truly lovely stained glass work and, of course, numerous wax figures.
If the mood takes you then you can also pay a small fee, get dressed up in ornate clothing and set yourself to pose in a lavishly constructed set.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to both museums and I would certainly recommend people to come here, visit the historical museum and learn a bit about Ganesha as well as touring the more exotic wax museum.