Royal Barges National Museum

Every foreign country has its famous religious monuments and museums, but how many have their own fleet of royal boats on display? The curiously named royal barges were once used daily by the royal family to get about their realm, but are now used only for grand ceremonies. They are not barges like those wide, lumbering vessels you’ll see hauling sand and produce up and down Mae Nam Chao Phraya. These barges are slender like their mainstream cousins, the longtail boats, and fantastically ornamented with religious symbolism. The largest is more than 45m long and requires a rowing crew of 50 men, plus seven umbrella bearers, two helmsmen and two navigators, as well as a flag bearer, rhythm keeper and chanter. The museum consists of sheds near the mouth of Khlong Bangkok Noi. To get here take the 3B ferry across the river from Saphan Phra Pin Klao (N12) pier and follow the signs. Most longtail tours will stop here unless you ask them not to.