Ubon Ratchatani National Museum

The single-storied building, built of bricks, was formerly the Governor's office. The former governor, Lieutenant Danai Ketsire established it as a provincial national museum, which is said to be one of the best in Thailand.

The Museum once the province's City Hall, puts on exhibition the province's history, geological features of the Northeast, discovered artifacts, and local handiworks like basketry, brass, traditional hand-woven fabric, and local musical instruments.

The Ubon Ratchatani museum is like a rectangle and easy to navigate. It's a beautiful building nicely decorated. A entire visit should take you between 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Traces of human beings living in Ubon Ratchatani province date for at least 10,000 years. Prehistoric tools were found at Ta Lao Cave, or ancient paintings were found on some rocks from Pha Team National Park. The museum tries to explain all these steps, evolution or passage of time, room by room.

Each room represents a period of time in the story of Ubon, Thailand or its culture. For example, around the sixth to the eleventh century A.D., this period is called Dvaravati. It's a period where Buddhism from from India was derived into Thailand. Buddhism was the main belief of this area. Artefacts and objects from that period and linked to this culture can be found in many places of Ubon Ratchatani province, for instance on the left bank of the Mun river in the north of Ubon Ratchatani.

Ardhanarishvara, discovered at Ubon Ratchatani.

(Shiva mixed with his consort Uma into a single statue. From the 9th centure AD.)

This is called a "Drainage pipeline" for water worshipped to Buddha.

It's from Wat Lung, in Ubon Ratchatani, and was crafted in early 20th century AD.

The lion on the left is from the 11th century. It's khmer art, Buphuon style.

It was found in Yasothon province.

Here are some objects done in Ban Pa Ao.

The museum is closed on Monday, Tuesday and National holidays. Admission is 30 baht for Thais and 100 baht for foreigners. It's opened from 9am to 4pm.

Links:

• Ubon Ratchatani National Museum