Ancient Siam

Mueang Boran ( lit. Old City, in the English language therefore often Ancient City, Thai: เมือง โบราณ ) is an open air museum of Thai architecture, culture and art in Samut Prakan in Thailand. The supposedly largest open-air museum in the world is about 30 km south of Bangkok near the coast to the Gulf of Thailand on the old Sukhumvit Highway to Trat.

The terrain

The museum is situated on a 128 acre site situated in the industrial area of Samut Prakan. It has seen from the air the shape of Thailand itself The entrance is located on the southernmost tip, which in reality would be the border to Malaysia. Can be achieved even with your own car every single attraction via an extensive network of gravel roads. The preferred mode of transportation in the old city is by bicycle, which is available on hire at the entrance.

And ... the original in Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, Si Satchanalai

History

The idea for this unique museum comes from a vision of Khun Lek ( Praphai ) Viriyapan (* 1914, † November 17, 2000 - Thai: ประไพ วิริยะ พันธุ์ ), a wealthy Thai businessman. He loved his country and was very interested in their culture and art history as well as for the traditional architecture. Already in the mid-20th century, he found on his many trips that the development of Thai society progressed from a traditional agrarian towards an industrial society. This large number of buildings were neglected and abandoned gradually decay. He began to collect antiques and thus came together with many like-minded people, with archaeologists and art historians. He first had the idea to build a miniature golf course with miniaturized editions of important Thai places. This he did but quickly fall again, as he had found in the 1960s in Samut Prakan is the ideal place to realize his ideas. On February 11, 1972, Mueang Boran was then opened in the presence of the Thai King and Queen and Queen Elizabeth II of England. It is speculated that by now, about 200 million U.S. $ are gone into the project.

Attractions

On the site there are artificial watercourses, the mountains were piled up, sometimes you can watch shy roe deer, which briefly hold the sparse grass. There are here at last count 116 monuments, but also copies of originals of famous buildings from all parts of Thailand. Groups of statues, adjust which works of Thai literature and its people or famous events of the story are arranged in " gardens ".

The individual attractions are located geographically correct within the museum. Upon entering the museum, each visitor gets a schedule attached, all monuments are listed numbered. Only a few years ago could be acquired in the northwest another piece of land which is used for additional buildings that are partially sprung from the imagination of Khun Lek.

One particularly interesting buildings from south to north:

• The " Stupa of Wat Phra Mahathat " in Chaiya in Srivijaya style
• In the "old market town ", there are several original teak houses from Yan Nawa, which are modeled on a street market from the province of Tak.
• The " Palace of the Tiger King " ( King Suriyentharathibodi ) was rescued from Ayutthaya, the original is now in Wat Suwannaram, Phetchaburi
• The " audience hall of King Taksin " with murals, Thonburi

• The "Great Battle of Yuthahathi " describes the battle of King Naresuan against the Burmese.
• The "Three Pagodas Pass " in Kanchanaburi
• A reduced copy of the " Dusit Maha Prasat " from the Grand Palace in Bangkok, as it was originally created in the research Mueang Boran - teams of King Rama I..

• The " Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall of Wang Luang ( Royal Palace ) of Ayutthaya " was reconstructed according to ancient records at a scale of 1:3.
• The " Phra Kaeo Pavilion", a round pavilion in the Chinese style, as it was marked on old maps of Ayutthaya.
• The " Khun Chang Khun Phaen - Garden" was modeled figures that the Thai national poet Sunthorn Pu has devised.
• The "footprint of Buddha" at Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi was reconstructed reduced after extensive research of historical records.
• A "Thai Hamlet ", a small agricultural hamlet from the central level has been set up here with some original houses and antique farm implements.

• The " Sukhothai Viharn " was reconstructed according to ancient records in original size. His appearance was modeled on the Viharn Phra Buddha in Wat Phra Sri Rattana Chinnarat Mahathat in Phitsanulok and a Viharn at Wat Nang Phaya in Si Satchanalai.
• On the "floating market " takes on special feast days actually a market place as anywhere in Thailand was common in the past. Original wooden houses lining the large water area, they are associated with small wooden bridges.
• The "lotus bud tower of Wat Phra Mahathat " in Sukhothai
• Ho Kham, a " Golden Pavilion " from Lampang was built according to old photographs only of wood without using a single nail. Inside is a small museum.
• The " Treasure of Chama Thewi " from Lamphun shines here, slightly smaller, in original beauty.
• The " Viharn of Wat Phumin from Nan " with its flanked by serpent bodies entrance stairs is constructed reduced here.
• The " Khao Phra Viharn ( Preah Vihear )" was here reduced to an artificially built, 54 -meter-high mountain so built, how could experience hundreds of years ago in the believers.
• Also 1:3 replicas of the sanctuaries of Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima province and Phanom Rung in Buriram Province are here.

The following buildings in the northwest of the museum area have no real role model, they originate in the imagination of Khun Lek:

• The " Mount Sumeru ", a wooden building with fantastic and mythological figures and murals, before a statue group representing the mythological Anotatta Lake on Mount Meru.
• The " Pavilion of 80 Yogi " is an old form of medical treatment, based on partially distorted picturesque statues of hermits dar.
• Two large " statues of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara ( Kuan Yin) "
• The " Ramayana Pavilion" is actually a series of floating wood pavilions which are connected by a bridge. Point to the story of the Ramayana murals.
• The " Botanical Garden of the Thai literature ": a garden with trees and plants, which is specially worshiped in the Thai literature, a covered portico winds.

Other projects of Khun Lek

• Erawan Museum - Museum in Samut Prakan. Originally planned to house the antiquities collection of Khun Lek. In a small park with many statues of Thai mythology is a circular building, in the basement, there are some antiques. However, attraction is the huge Erawan, standing on the building. The three-headed elephant is internally accessible, an elevator is located in his left hind leg. Interior in barockartigem abundance decorated with small and big characters from the imagination of Khun Lek.
• Sanctuary of Truth - building complex in Pattaya with wooden carvings of figures from Thai mythology. During the construction of many materials of ancient Thai houses were used. Here Khun Lek could let his imagination run wild.
• Muang Boran Publishing House - publisher of many publications on traditional Thai art, culture and architecture. The majority of published books are in Thai language, however, there are often one or two chapters translated into English.
• Muang Boran Journal - Fourth annual journal of archeology, architecture. Mainly in Thai language, selected articles in English.
• Lek Prapai Viriyapant Foundation - Cultural Foundation
• Nai Rob Roo - publisher of travel guides alone for the Thai market
• The Viriyah Insurance - General Insurance Company

Swell

• The Viriyah Business Co.: Guide to Muang Boran. Muang Boran Publishing House Bangkok 2001, ISBN 974-7381-26-5
• Jittima Sutthasri ( Ed. ): The Old Town Market. Muang Boran Publishing House Bangkok 1992, ISBN 974-7366-91-6