Home Exhibition Hall Photo Album Digital Camera Tip & Trick About Me Enter your search terms Submit search form This website is best view in Firefox resolution 1024x768 pixels The Erawan museum locates on Sukhumvit road, soi 119 in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand. The symbol of this museum is the gigantic three-headed elephant named Erawan standing on the circular building. It heighs 43 meters, as high as 14-storey building (including the museum part). The elephant itself weighs nearly 300 tons. It was built with more than a hundred thousand copper pieces. Each one was crafted and shaped by hand. It required 270 craftsmen to assemble these copper pieces into a masterpiece of massive three-headed Erawan sculpture. The museum is divided into 3 parts. The first part is supposed to be underworld. In this part, there are many valuable antiques such as porcelain, vases from China dating back to the Ming and Ching Dynasties, porcelain from ancient Sukhothai, five-colored chinaware, etc. and an exhitition about the construction of Muang Boran (Ancient City-the largest outdoor museum), the Sanctuary of Truth and the Erawan Museum. The second part is supposed to be earth. It is a hall which is supported by four pillars covered with tin plates on which stories of the four major religions-Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism-are embossed. The highlights are a world map made of stained glass on the ceiling at the entrance, handmade stuccos and decorative ornaments furbished with polychrome chinaware. The first 2 parts are in the round building. The third part is in the elephant's abdomen which is supposed to be heaven. The visitors go up to this part through the legs of the elephant. The right rear leg contains a spiral staircase while the left rear leg contains an elevator. The right front leg contains electric wires, air conditioning ducts and water pipes whereas the left front leg contains a fire extinguishing system. There is a lightning conductor in each leg because this elephant is covered with copper. The lighting in the third part of the museum is arranged to make visitors feel calm. In front of them stands a walking Buddha image imitating the one in the Marble Temple and there is a Lord Buddha's bone in the head of the Buddha image. There is a replica of a Buddha image called Phra Buddha Sihing. Surrounding the museum is a waterway and there is an overflowing pond whose bottom is lined with black rocks. This is the place where visitors come to make a wish by floating water lilies as a tribute to the Erawan. In the vicinity, there is a botanical garden where rare plant species throughout Thailand and plant species mentioned in Thai literature are grown. In addition, the garden is studded with beautifully carved sculptures. It is belived that god Indra rode the Erawan for pleasure in heaven and let rain fall onto the earth. As a result of the strong Hindu influence in Thailand's Buddhism, the massive three-headed Erawan sculpture has inevitably become an object of worship and homage among Thai people. The name 'God Elephant" has also been given by those who have come to pay respects and ask for blessings and favours from this colossal elephant statue. Besides gigantic three-headed elephant, there are many beautiful sculptures and elaborate decorations in the museum. It has taken 10 years to complete this museum. Pictures in this photo album were taken by digital camera and resized to 1600x1197. Click the pictures to enlarge Size: 244 Kb Size: 215 Kb Size: 303 Kb Size: 196 Kb Size: 225 Kb Size: 175 Kb Size: 126 Kb Size: 310 Kb Size: 198 Kb Size: 182 Kb Size: 137 Kb Size: 91 Kb Size: 154 Kb Size: 235 Kb Size: 128 Kb Size: 167 Kb Size: 311 Kb Size: 221 Kb Size: 205 Kb Size: 183 Kb Size: 179 Kb Size: 188 Kb Size: 223 Kb Size: 271 Kb Size: 294 Kb Size: 273 Kb Size: 327 Kb Size: 188 Kb Size: 289 Kb Size: 175 Kb Size: 258 Kb Size: 183 Kb Enter your search terms Submit search form This website is hosted by www.agilityhoster.com (C) 2007-2008 All rights reserved.