Location : Sukhumvit
Rd. (old route), Muang County, Samut Prakan Province
(29 km southeast of Bangkok)
The most astonishing landmark of Samut Prakan Province
is perhaps the Erawan Museum. Since its completion,
the colossal three-headed elephant statue (250 tons
in weight, 20 metres high and 39 metres long) standing
on the pink pedestal has become one of the most revered
objects in the province, which has attracted large
numbers of worshippers. Hidden underneath the gigantic
bronze sculpture of Airavata elephant (Erawan in Thai)
is a 3-storey museum housing numerous priceless antiques
and religious objects. Many of them, in the past, were
viewed as sacred objects that brought fertility and
prosperity to the land.
The Erawan, the 3-headed elephant in Hindu mythology
is not only the god Indras vehicle but also a symbol
of the eastern cosmography. Therefore, each floor
of this museum symbolizes the Thai belief of the
universe. The basement represents the underwater
world meanwhile the first floor represents Mount
Meru, which is the centre of the universe according
to the Buddhist belief. And the highest level, in
the elephants belly, represents the heaven above
Mount Meru. The softly lit ground floor exhibits
various precious antiques and the figure of the naga
human which is a half serpent. The upper level is
beautifully decorated with the intricate stucco moulding
with five-coloured porcelain inlays, fanciful supporting
pillars and stain glasses. The top level is adorned
with the exquisite art depicting the solar system
and it is where the ancient Buddha images are housed.
| Information |
Tel. 0 2371 3135 to 6 |
| Open |
Daily, 08.00-17.00 hrs. |
| Admission fees |
Adults 150 baht, Children (6-15 yrs) 50 baht |
| For taxi |
พิพิธภัณฑ์ช้างเอราวัณ ถนนสุขุมวิทสายเก่่า
สมุทรปราการ |
|
