Suan Pakkad Palace, Bangkok

Opened in 1952, this traditional first of its kind Thai style museum was originally the private residence of Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Chumbhot of Nagara Svarga. Comprising of antique collections of Royal Highnesses passed down through generations, the Suan Pakkad Palace is a combination of fine arts and ancient artifacts from the era of H.R.H. Prince Paribatra Sukhumbandhu, son of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, Rama V and Her Majesty Queen Sukhumala Marasri.

Suan Pakkad means 'cabbage patch' owing to the fact that the area was nothing more than that in the past. Suan Pakkad museum consists of these eight traditional Thai houses surrounded by exotic tropical garden with calm ponds. Each house contains items of fine arts, antiques and oddities belonging to Prince and Princess Chumbhot. For the first time in the history of Thailand, any Thai Royal family has converted their traditional private residence to a museum in order to share their belongings with others.

Suan Pakkad Palace encompasses four Thai teak houses which were transported here from their original location in Chiang Mai. These masterpieces are like traditional two storey Thai houses. Each house is connected by platforms so that people can go from one house to another without going up and down the stairs. House one contains musical instruments. Collections including drums, xylophones, gongs, etc. of Prince Chimbhot's father, a successful Thai composer, are on display downstairs. Upstairs is an assorted collection of relics from various periods of Thai and Southeast Asian history. Houses two and three contain things for decoration and furniture from their daily lives. House four contains a collection of Buddha images from different eras of Thai history. It also has a balcony through which beautiful gardens of the palace can be seen.

Four more houses were added later containing many beautiful masterpieces. This collection of traditional Thai houses was brought together by Prince and Princess Chumbhot in 1952. The buildings and the collections became a museum after their death.

Originally located at a temple near Ayutthaya, 17th Century Lacquer Pavilion was a birthday gift for the princess by Prince in 1959. The house was in a very shabby state when it was bought but today after full restoration it serves as an exquisite example of rich Thai architecture.