The Royal Elephant Museum. The closest sky-train station to The Royal Elephant National Museum in Bangkok is the BTS Victory Monument Station in Bangkok. The museum is also known as the Chang Ton National Museum and is located very close to the Parliament House of Thailand.
The Royal Elephant Museum
Note that it is also close to the Vimanmek Palace. The museum has stables for Chang Ton (royal elephants) or white elephants that had been appointed the elephants of the King. You will note that the Chang Ton stables was built in traditional Thai architectural style. Inside the main building there are Benyapad platforms for the royal elephants to stand on.
These are all linked to reigns of King Chulalongkorn and King Mongkut. You will note that this is also the only place where the belief about white elephants are shown. There would be a ceremony appointing the white elephant to be the King’s royal elephant. The Royal Elephant Museum. Likewise also see the Suan Dusit Palace in the area. Around Bangkok there is also the Blue Elephant Restaurant as well as the King Royal Garden Inn Hotel.
There are 2 buildings. The first which you can see in the pictures below are artifacts such as the skin of white elephants as well as charms and white elephants figures. There is also a division amongst the elephants as they are placed in 4 groups being Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and Agni. The second building is home to the ceremony and Royal garments for the elephants. The place opens daily (except on holidays) from 9.00 a.m. to 16.00 p.m. The museum gives you great insight into the heritage of Thailand as well as religion in Thailand. You will also note how popular the Erawan Shrine is in Thailand.
The Royal Elephant National Museum Map
Lastly see what is also around the BTS Surasak Station as well as the BTS National Stadium Station.
