NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL BARGES
In the past, Thailand was an agricultural society with settled communities growing beside the waterways. The river was the m important avenue of communication, and boats were the standard form of transport for everyone the Royal Barges as well as artifacts and accessories used I the ceremony.
Royal Barge Procession
Thailand's Royal Barge Procession (Thai:กระบวนพยุหยาตราชลมารค; RIT translit:Krabuan Phayuhayattra Chonlamak) is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has been taking place for nearly 700 years. The exquisitely crafted Royal Barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, typically coinciding with only the most significant cultural and religious events. During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej spanning over 60 years the Procession has only occurred 16 times.
The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges (51 historical Barges, and the Royal Barge the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX, built in 1994 and the only Barge built during King Bhumibol's reign) and is manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and finally arrives at Wat Arun.
The Royal Barges
Thailand's Royal Barge Procession (Thai:กระบวนพยุหยาตราชลมารค; RIT translit:Krabuan Phayuhayattra Chonlamak) is a ceremony of both religious and royal significance which has been taking place for nearly 700 years. The exquisitely crafted Royal Barges are a blend of craftsmanship and traditional Thai art. The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, typically coinciding with only the most significant cultural and religious events. During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej spanning over 60 years the Procession has only occurred 16 times.
The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges (51 historical Barges, and the Royal Barge the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX, built in 1994 and the only Barge built during King Bhumibol's reign) and is manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and finally arrives at Wat Arun.
The Royal Barges
 The Royal Barge Suphannahong (means. the Golden Swan) was built in 1911 during the reign of Rama VI with a bow resembling a mythical swan, or Hong, adorned with gold lacquer and glass jewels, with a crystalline ball and tassle dangling from her mouth. This 46 meter craft was carved from a single trunk of teakwood, and was launched November 13, 1911. There is a golden pavilion on board to house the King and his Royal family. The World Ship Trust, in 1992, awarded the Royal Barge Suphannahong as a Maritime World Heritage. |
 The Royal Barge Anantanakkharat (means. Ananta, the King of Snake) was built during the reign of Rama III (King Nangklao). It was used as the primary Royal Barge of Rama IV (King Mongkut). The current Anantanakkharat was built during the Reign of Rama VI (King Vajiravudh), and launched on April 14, 1914. The bow is carved into the 7-headed Nakkharat, the mystical snake-like creature, in gold lacquer and glass jewels. |
 The Royal Barge Anekkhachatphuchong (means. the Varieties of Snake) is the oldest of the four Royal barges, being the actual barge built during the reign of Rama V (King Chulalongkorn). While no mystical figure is readily visible on the bow, numerous small ornamental Naga figures are carved into the bow. |
 The Royal Barge Narai Song Suban Ratchakan Thi Kao or The Royal Barge Narai Song Suban HM King Rama IX (means. God Narayana on his carrier, Garuda) is the only barge built during the reign of Bhumipol Adulyadej, who laid the keel in 1994, it was built under commission by the Royal Thai Navy and the Thai Department of Fine Arts and was launched May 6, 1996 to coincide with the celebration of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Fiftieth Anniversary of his accession to the throne. |
The name of the four Royal Barges is composed to be in a consistent rhyme: "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban", "Anantanakkharat" and "Anekkachaphuchong".
