Wat Khanon Nang Yai Museum |
|
พิพิธภัณฑ์หนังใหญ่วัดขนอน |
|
Address: |
|
|
|
|
Known as: |
|
|
|
|
Description: |
|
Nangyai Wat Khanon National Museum is located at Wat Khanon in
Soi Fah Sub-district, by Mae Klong River, 10 kilometers far from
Photharam District of Ratchaburi Province. It is a Thai
architectural styled building displaying an exhibition on Nang
Yai (Shadow Play); its history and the process in making flat
articulated figures (shadow puppets.) In the museum, there are
currently 313 puppets in good condition that are mostly
characters from “Ramakien”, divided into episodes; Hanuman Tawai
Waen, Sahasa Kumar and Burning Lanka, the First Indrajit’s
Battle. The museum was established as a Royal Develoment Project
of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who recognized the value of
shadow theatre which is a prestigious theatrical performance.
The elaborately carved puppets, music from Thai grand orchestra
along with the performance and the dialogue of the puppeteers
are what make the princess ordered the temple to help conserve
this theatre. Phra Kru Sattha Sunthorn (Laung Phu Glom), the
former abbot of Wat Khanon during the reign of King Rama V, was
the one who established the theatre. As a monk with
craftsmanship knowledge, the abbot had an idea to make the
puppets which there were some at the temple, bigger. Kru Ang who
was a leader of Ratchaburi’s Khon performance group along with a
group of Ratchaburi’s craftmen helped create the first set of
grand puppets, which was the Hanuman Tawai Waen collection.
Later, they created more nine collections which became
properties of the temple since then.
Therefore, the
temple has established the Nangyai museum.
It is the only temple in Thailand with theatre, puppets
and puppeteers under its patronage. They have been shadow plays
performed at the temple until these days.
The museum
open for visitors every day from 8.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m. The
temple organizes shadow play performed by students from Wat
Khanon School every Saturday only one round on 10.00 – 11.00
a.m. (for group visitors who visit the museum on weekdays,
please contact the temple in advance to see the play with 2,500
baht entrance fee) For more information, contact Wat Khanon’s
abbot at 032-233-386, 081-753-1230 or fax 032-354-272.
How to Get There
If you travel by private car, take highway no. 4 (Phetkasem
Road), passing Nakhon Pathom, heading to Ratchaburi. You have to
take the road under the bridge to Kanchanaburi, passing Ko Nom
Nong Po Ratchaburi Cooperative and you will see Bang Pae
intersection. Keep left (don’t cross the bridge), then you will
meet another intersection. Turn right to Potharam District and
follow the highway no. 3080 route for about 5.4 kilometers.
Cross the bridge over Mae Klong River, then you will see an
intersection. Turn right to go on the highway no. 3089 route for
about 2.5 kilometers, you will see Wat Khanon on your right.
Buses to Wat Khanon are from Potharam Tour Co., Ltd. They
leave Bangkok Bus Terminal (South) every day from 6.30 a.m. to
19.30 p.m. Ticket costs 55 baht per person. For more
information, contact 02-435-5036. |
|
Province |
|
Ratchaburi |
Direction: |
|
|
|
District |
|
Photharam |
|
|
City |
|
Soi Fa |
Comments: |
|
Official Web: |
|
|
|
Genre |
|
Museum |
|
|
Related links: |
|
|
|
Best exposure |
|
AM/PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rating |
|
    |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening time |
|
na |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Entry fee |
|
Free |
|
|
GPS : |
|
13.72637 N |
99.844764 E |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|