NARAI PALACE

Narai Palace

The town of lopburi

Lopburi is a province in central Thailand where historical, archaeological, and cultural evidence has been discovered that prehistoric humans lived here about 3,500-4,000 years ago. later, it was influenced by the art and culture of India in the 11th to 12th centuries B.E. as it entered into the historical era. This first period under the influence of Indian culture was called the Dvaravati Period. Since that time, lopburi has been ruled by the Khmer, coming under the influence of their art and culture, in the 15th to 16th centuries B.E., called the lopburi Period. Eventually, when the Ayuthaya empire was established, lopburi become a“Meung Luk Luang”, a city ruled by a prince, and was a border town to the north of Ayuthaya. When King Narai the Great ruled Ayuthaya, he had a palace built in Lopburi, and each year spent most of his time there. Lopburi thus served as a second capital, next to Ayuthaya. After the time of King Narai the Great, Lopburi decreased in importance, until King Mongkut (Rama IV) had it restored to be used as an inland royal city. Later, in about 2480 to 2500 B.E., Prime Minister Marshal P. Piboolsongkhram developed Lopburi to be a national military center. The improvements he made to city are apparent even to the present day.

Phra Narai Rajanivet (King Narai’s Palace )

Phra Narai Rajanivet was built by King Narai, the king who ruled Ayuthaya from 2199 to 2231 B.E. He had the palace built in the town of Lopburi in 2209 B.E. on 41 rai of land to be a place for relaxation, hunting, administering the country is affairs, and welcoming official visitors. The king would stay in Lopburi almost all year round, returning to Ayuthaya only in the rainy season. When he died in 2231 B.E., Lopburi was abandoned until King Mongkut of Bangkok (Rama IV) ordered the restoration of Narai is palace. He built a new throne hall for his stay in 2399 B.E. and named the palace Phra Narai Rajanivet. In the time of King Chulalongkorn (Rama IV). Phiman Mongkut Pavilion, which had been King Mongkut is accommodations, was given to the government to use as a provincial hall. On 11 October 2467 B.E., Prince Damrongrajanuphab and Prince Narisaranuwatiwongsa opened the Chantarapisarn Pavilion in King Narai is palace as a museum, calling it the Lopburi Museum. Leter,in 2504 B.E., the name of the museum was changed to Somdet Phra Narai National Museum. To present, the museum has exhibited more than 1,864 items of the collection of ancient artifacts in different pavilions and buildings of the palace.

The Museum Building
The Phiman Mongkut pavilion
The Phiman Mongkut Pavilion was built in 1856 by King Mongkut to be used as his residence in case of a critical event in Bangkok in the period of colonialism. Sixteen rooms of this building are used for permanent galleries and the objects displayed are divided into seven categories:

The Prehistoric Period in Central Thailand
Most of the archaeological materials are derived from many from many excavations in the Lopburi region. Subcategories of items on display are body ornaments, various types of pottery, prehistoric metallurgy and stone axes and adzes. The outstanding site display is of The Khae and burial customs. These prehistoric artifacts can be dated to 2000 B.C.-100 A.D.

Central Thailand, 6th-9th Centuries
The history of this period is portrayed through archaeological materials and religious sculptures comprising the following subcategories : tow settlement , religious beliefs. The sculptures and archaeological mate display are Buddha images, images of Hindu divinities, coins, inscriptions, etc.

Khmer Influence-Lopburi
Period style of art, 10th Centuries
During the 10th-15th centuries many monuments and sculptures in the lopburi region reflected the strong influence of Khmer art from Angkor : in the late 15th century the style of art developed show a unique local Lopburi style. Displayed in two rooms are art objects belonging to that period: Buddha images, door guardians, lintels, Shiva lingas, Bodhisattvas, etc
The broad collection of sculpture represent styles of art found in every part of Thailand. Art objects are grouped into Lopburi Art, Sukhothai Art, Art of Peninsula Thailand (Srivichaiya Art), Northern Art (Lanna Thai) and Art of Northeastern Thailand. The outstanding art object is the bronze Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara of the 6th century found at Kuan Saranrom, Surat Thani Province.



The Ceramics Gallery
The collection includes all kinds of ceramics made in Thailand: Buriram(or Khmer), Sukhothai, Lanna Thai and Sri Satchanalai. Ceramics from China and Vaetnam are on display as well.

Ayuthaya and Bangkok Period Art Styles (15th-20th Centuries)
The objects which belong to these periods are Buddha images, door panels, succo architectural decorations, coins, textiles, imported and local ceramics, etc

King Mongkut Memorial Room (1851-1868)
This chamber was once King Mongkut is private bedroom. It now contains memorabilia associated with both him and his reign.

The Chantara Phisan Pavilion
This building is separated into two rooms. In the first room, aspects of King Narai is reign (1666-1688) are displayed. In the rear, cabinets for Buddhist manuscripts, chairs and ecclesiastical fans are on view.

The Phra Pratiab Building Group
Is a cluster of 8 building in King Narai is palace in the inner part of the palace by King Mongkut. This group of buildings features two permanent exhibition:

Life of Central Thai Gallery
Features traditional Thai ways of life, dwellings, farm implements and fishing tools.

The Nang Yai (The Great Shadow Play)
Exhibit features the carved cow hides of lopburi, gathered from Wat Takian in Tambon Thaytalat and Wat Samran in Tambon PhoKaoton.