Amazing palace/grounds combination that features Italian architecture in the palace and an oriental temple-like structure on the outer grounds. There is a dress code and lots of visitors, so go early and, hopefully, minimize the tourist groups. I preferred this palace to the Grand Palace: if nothing else you can go inside and see the excellent art collection!
The building houses some of the most awesome artifacts in Thailand. The building itself is a treasure. However, this place is totally and unacceptably overrun with thousands and thousands of people in tour groups arriving by dozens of buses starting an hour before the door even opens. It must be on the Asian tour list for every company. They will surround you, push you out of the way, make clicking noises at you if you block their views. Each group has a guide who screams at the group in order to be louder than the next. It was miserable. We visited at 10am opening time in a Sunday and thought it would be nice... Oh so wrong. Avoid this place.
The art at this attraction is beautiful and unlike anything I've ever seen. What was interesting was the mediums that were used. This attraction displayed elaborate wood carvings, silk embroidery/tapestries and murals using metallic beetle wings.
Seeing this museum in the middle of touring outside all day was a nice break because it had AC.
While the art was beautiful the attraction had some strange policies regarding what types of groups are permitted to bring in guides.
The only tourists that are permitted to come in the building with guides are Chinese tourists. Everyone else has to leave their guide at the door and use an audio guide.
The effect of this is that my husband and I spent our time in this museum darting from art piece to art piece lest we become consumed by a crowd of 50 or more Chinese tourists. At times we had to wait a little while before we could view an art piece because the Chinese tour group entirely obscured it. When we were actually able to go look at the work of art for a minute or two before we were pushed out by another tour group.
This experience happened during the low season so I can't imagine how it would have been during the high season.
Like in Grand Palace, there are lots of tour groups, BUT they limit how much group can enter at the same period of time (Grand Palace should do the same). For individuals, you have a different entrance and you can go in straight away (less queue).
I suggest using a guide/audioguide because none of the collections have any explanation on it (except for the last part of the collection).
You will see Thailand's beautiful handicrafts with their ability to create meticulous details here, and how they are trying to preserve them. I am truly amazed.
Amazing European-style hall with beautiful golden temple-like structure in the front side of the hall. Beautiful and rich collections inside, from wood carving to silk embroidery. Free entrance with the Grand Palace ticket (within 7 days), or buy seperately for 150 THB. Dress properly; long pants for men, long skirt and covered shoulder for women (no pants are allowed for women, sarong available inside for 50 THB). You are not allowed to take picture in the building, and you have to leave your bag and cellphone inside the lockers provided before entering the hall. Recommended for those who loves art and culture!
