National Museums in the South

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The museum stands on the Hill of Sam Kaeo Mountain, in the area of the government center in Chumphon. The building is designed as an integrated style of local and contemporary themes, specially built for protection against strong winds, and at the same time, be appropriate for use as a museum. The local style of architecture is dominant.

The dominant feature of the local style of architecture appears in the museum buildings

The ancient site of Sam Kaeo Mountain or “Khao Sam Kaeo” is found in a steep limestone gully in the mountain range which runs through Thung Tako, Sawee Pathiw and Pha To districts. Here, many prehistoric artifacts were found and brought for display to the museum. These include potsherds, tripods, flake and polished stone tools. The evidence shows people migrated further down the plain and settled there. Afterwards, these people interacted with other communities by land and sea.

As Chumphon’s location was near the seashore, it became an early important port for trade by the 1st century A.D. This had a substantial effect on the way of life here. The place was known as “The Port of Khao Sam Kaeo.”

Because it was a major trading port, many archaeological finds were excavated showing that trade flourished in both eastern and western directions, during the first century onwards; some of these artifacts are: bronze human and animal figures, iron tools, bronze drums and beads. Beads are the most important proof of the trading relationship between the community of Khao Sam Kaeo and people from overseas. Beads were made of glass and stone, and some were inscribed in the Pallava script. These beads were used as ordinary ornaments which people from India, Arab and Roman cultures brought with them while traveling here.

The importance of this port continued on for four hundred years. In the meantime, many additional ports along the Andaman coastline were opened, such as the Port of Phu Khao Thong of Ranong province and Khuan Luk Pat, Khlong Thom of Krabi. Also, in the Gulf of Siam, new ports opened south of Chumphon, namely, Tha Chana and Chaiya Ports of Surat Thani and Sathing Phra of Songkhla. By the 5th century onwards, the significance of the Khao Sam Kaeo port of Chumphon began to decline.

Situated to the north of Chumphon city across the railway track right by the side of bypass road H1007.

Situated to the north of Chumphon city across the railway track right by the side of bypass road H1007.

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A remarkable characteristic of the museum is its architecture. A mixture of Chinese and Western influences, it was built more than a hundred years ago. The building is constructed of bricks and plaster painted white, while the door and window panels, including the Chinese style roof ornaments, are red. The roof is covered in Terracotta tiles with a perforated ridge. The capitals of columns, crossbeams, and walls under the pediments are decorated with frescoes, bas reliefs of Chinese deities, and floral designs which are signs of good fortune. The building has been restored from time to time and has become a treasure of Songkhla Province for its beauty and historic value. The building was awarded “An Art on Architecture” from the Association of Siamese Architecture in 2007.

Built in 1878 by Phraya Suntharanurak (Net Na Songkhla), a governor of Songkhla during the reign of King Rama V, the building was formerly a residency of the Na Songkhla family. It was given for official use in 1904, for the intendancy of Nakhon Si Thammarat precinct when Phraya Yomarat (Pan Sukhum) was the intendant. (The position of the ruler of Songkhla changed to that of a governor who was under government authority, and who served as the commander-in-chief of the precinct.) Later, during 1933-1953, it was used as a city hall, until the Fine Arts Department declared it a national monument in 1973.

The building is constructed in a rectangular shape around a courtyard with a big tree in the middle. There are two stairways leading to the second floor. The space on each floor is divided into rooms and balconies which are used as the exhibition galleries. Exhibitions on the lower floor focus on archaeological evidence and arts found on the peninsula of Thailand. Some of these ancient art objects are considered masterpieces by scientific researchers. Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and European ceramics provide important evidence which verifies that Songkhla was once an important trading port.

In contrast, the second-floor exhibition is totally centered on the presentation of furniture and daily items used by the well-to-do. Exhibited are a bench-bed, betel nut sets, food trays, niello wares, mirrors, cosmetic sets, beds and chairs, altars, candlesticks, vases, joss stick pots, etc. These objects are a reflection of the Chinese community and its importance in helping the city of Songkhla thrive during the 19th century. In addition, there are cultural objects that illustrate the way of life of the people in the South, such as tools, utensils, musical instruments, and games. They are outstanding examples of the living style of the Thais in the past.


The artefacts document the civilizations of the peninsula in the regions of Songkhla, Phatthalung, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. The exhibition starts off with the prehistory of the region and continues into the historical period. Most of the artefacts are archaeological finds from sites around districts of Songkhla, such as in the ancient town of Sathing Phra and other ancient communities around the Songkhla lagoon. Proof in the form of artefacts attests to the importance of Songkhla Province in particular as a leading community on the peninsula.

It is open to the public from 9 to 4 except Monday, Tuesday, and public holidays. Tel: 074-311728.

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Phraya Ratsadanupradit Mahison Phakdi Museum is an important historical site. It is also called the "Old Trang Governor's House" or the house of Phraya Ratsadanupradit, the former governor of the province.
Inside the two-story wooden building is a wax figure of Phraya Ratsadanupradit and a complete collection of his daily personal items. Nowadays, the Na Ranong family looks after the house.
The museum is open to the public everyday, except Mondays. Group visitors require a guide and they have to contact the Kantang Phitthayakon School, tel. 075-251100, in advance.

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The Krabi Contemporary Art Museum is part of the Temple and hosts various exhibitions by regional artists.

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Roythai Museum shows an exhibition of antiques found in Krabi province, such as old bicycles, motorbikes etc.
The museum gives an overview of life in Krabi province in the last decades. The coffee shop and restaurant serves fresh coffee and Thai dishes. The walkway takes you through a nice piece of rainforest and plants and trees have name plates to them.
Roythai is located on the road to Ao Nang, about 8 kms from Krabi Town in Sai Thai.

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Wat Klong Thom Museum contains various objects from the early history of Krabi Province. During excavations in the 1980's, seals from the 5th to 7th century came to light as well as pearls and bronze mirrors from the Chinese Han Dynasty.
Wat Klong Thom Museum is situated within the compound of Wat Klong Thom between KM 69-70 on Petchkasem road, just 1 km from the District office.

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In the village of Pak Le in Kapong District the local temple Wat Narai Nikaram contains not only the normal temple buildings but also a very attractive local museum painstakingly set up by the head monk.
A modern building houses an interesting large local museum with exhibits from the last century: household goods, pottery, electric equipment, cutlery and tools and many more.
It displays also the statues of Indian origin that were found in Takua Pa River. These statues are nearly 2000 years old. They were brought to Takua Pa by merchant ships from India. The vessels could only navigate with the wind and thus were forced to wait in Takua Pa for several months until the monsoon winds changed. For their religious needs the merchants built small temples and equipped them with statues from their home country. Some vessels capsized in heavy storms and deposited the stone statues in the river. In the last century divers found and recovered them. Some of them are in immaculate condition. The originals of the main statues are said to be exhibited in the National Museum in Bangkok. Copies of these statues are also displayed in the central park of Takua Pa. They are said to be Phra Ram (Rama), Nang Sida (Sita) and Phra Rak (Laksamana), the main characters of the Ramayana epos.

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Phuket Seashell Museum showcases a collection of seashells from every part of the world.

There are shell fossils that are hundreds of millions of years old, a giant shell weighting more than 250 Kg., a golden pearl that weights 140 karats, etc.
Phuket Seashell Museum is open daily form 8.00 am. - 17.00 pm. For more information call 076-613678, 076-613789, 076-316666. Fax : 076-613777.

Phuket Seashell Museum is located near Rawai Beach.

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To have a national museum at a provincial level was a trend that had become the Fine Arts Department policy. National Museum, Thalang, was established as a consequence to the need to serve the Phuket region. Every point of information on the history, archaeology, art and culture of Phuket, including the story about their two female heroines, was gathered and displayed. It also includes a section full of geographic data about the coastline on the west. As a result, Phuket has its own city museum that became a center for both scientific data and historical information for the province. The project for its establishment began in the year 1985 and the museum was officially opened in 1989.

A native style of architecture was used for the design of the museum building. But, in order to make it long-lasting, energy efficient and easy to maintain, modern materials were being brought in for its construction, replacing local ones. To the end, this beautiful and highly esteemed building preserves the best of the native homestyle design while using up-to-date standards. It was awarded the best architecture award for “The Promotion of Art and Culture” category by the Siamese Architect Association under Royal Patronage during the “Architect 3o Fair.” similar to many national museums, the theme of its exhibition is focused on the development of history and culture of the province, highlighting “Phuket.” The story begins telling about the first settlements of primitive men on the island until native life gradually entered tin historical phases. The presentation shows the relationships between the Thai and Malay people on the peninsula, and along other parts of the west coast of the southern region of Thailand, and follows the continuity of development until the first city-state was set up. Since then, the history of Phuket and the Andaman coastline have begun to become more defined.

“Thalang” was an ancient community that was first mentioned in many historical records seven hundred years ago. At its beginning, it may only have been a small place where merchant ships stopped over. Later, it was recorded in the “Legend of Nakhon Si Thammarat City” that it was united with “Takua” and was known as “Takua - Thalang” town. The area became more significant in the Ayutthaya period, due to plentiful mineral resources, such as lead; as a result, the three towns were promoted as “the third rank” defensive cities.

In 1785, Thalang became embroiled in a big war with Burma. During the war, two female heroines, “Thao Thepkasatee and Thao Sisoontorn,” united the people of Thalang together to fight back, and together, they won the war. The heroic legend is depicted in scenes in a diorama in the exhibition, using an effective technique to retell this part of history.

In the early 19th century, trade with England increased. Ships entered into the Straits of Malacca and went onward to China, stopping at Phuket. Lead was in great demand as a trade product, and as a result, the production and trade of lead in the Phuket area expanded rapidly. The prosperity from the sale of lead brought a change to the area. The history of Phuket was closely connected to China at this point. Many Chinese had come to Phuket looking for jobs on the lead mines.

Thalang National museum is located only 200 meters from the intersection of the Monument of Heroines Sisters, Thao Thepkasatee and Thao Sisoontorn.

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