Pavothai Local Museum
Pavothai Local museum or Local Wisdom Park is located in Suan Phueng District of Ratchaburi Province. Standing on land of 19 Rai, the museum consists of Thai-styled buildings surrounded by lovely peaceful gardens, Tanao Sri Mountain and Phachi River that gives cooling atmosphere to all over the area. Pavothai means the Dawn of the Land or the Dawn of Glory. The place was established from the love and determination in conserving Thai ancient artifacts and valuable species of plants and flowers of Thailand such as Montho flower.In front of the museum, there is a big sign saying Pavothai which imitated laterite of ancient Khmer art. The museum consists of 2 buildings. The first is a large 400 square wa Thai traditional house made from various hardwoods such as golden teakwood, Makha wood, Padauk wood and Xylia kereii craib wood. The house has 2 storeys with ancient styled Pakhon walls and 94 posts. The other is a Thai traditional house called “Reun Song Thai Moo” made of teakwood collected from over 10 houses. It features lifestyle and daily utensils of people in the past. Most of the objects displayed in the museum are the belongings of Thai aristocrats imported from Europe and China in the reign of King Rama V. They are displayed in glass cabinets which divide them into categories. The items include plates, bowls, chinaware, porcelains, Thai Benjarong porcelains, teapots, holy water chinaware pots, Mon bowls, Rong Mafuang jar, Rooster bowl, silverware, Victorian ceramic tray and glassware. Rare items that are organized to exhibit individually are ceramic tray with white elephant flag paint, King Rama V and the Queen’s portrait painting, glassware in various colors and Victorian ceramic trays with flowers and landscape paint. Moreover, the place is also a resort with Thai authentic restaurant recommended by many newspapers and magazines such as in Thairath’s Tiew Pai Gin Pai column, written by Gen. Opas Photiphat and in O So Tho magazine in 1998. Recommended dishes are fried mussels with herbs, Pavothai’s recipe hard boiled eggs and pork in sweet brown gravy, fried green curry with fish balls, stir-fried black Chinese mushrooms in oyster sauce and deep fried dried pork. For room and restaurant reservation, call 032-221-189 on Monday-Thursday, 032-395-192-4 on Friday-Sunday and 086-171-8400 and 081-225-4547 every day.Opening hoursOn weekends and holidays, the place opens from 8.30 a.m. to 17.00 p.m. Entrance fees are 20 baht for adults and 10 baht for children. Students in uniforms have to have letter sent in advance to access the museum. Taking photos in the museums are not allowed.For more information, contact 032-221-189 and 081-486-9804.How to Get TherePavothai Museum and Resort is located on the same route as Kaeng Som Maew, about 3 kilometers from the main road. From Suan Phueng Police Station, go on about 2 kilometers, passing Wat Suan Phuend and then turn right. Cross the bridge and you will see the museum on your left.
