Ancient Siam

For other uses, see History of Thailand.

Ancient City
The Ancient City
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Location
Location	Bangpoo
Country	Thailand
Architecture
Creator	Lek and Praphai Viriyahphant

Ancient Siam (also known as Ancient City)(Thai: เมืองโบราณ, Mueang Boran) is a park constructed under the patronage of Lek Viriyaphant and spreading over 200 acres (0.81 km²) in the shape of Thailand.

The founder's original idea was to create a golf course with miniatures of Thailand's historically significant structures spread around the course. During his research he found most structures being severely damaged over time and decided instead of creating new miniatures to save the original structures when possible or re-creating them full size or scaled down.

Ancient Siam is dubbed as the world's largest outdoor museum. Situated close to the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakan province, the 320-hectare city features 116 structures of Thailand's famous monuments and architectural attractions. The grounds of Ancient Siam correspond roughly to the shape of the Kingdom, with each of the monuments lying at their correct places geographically. Some of the buildings are life-size replicas of existing or former sites, while others are scaled down.

The replicas were constructed with the assistance of experts from the National Museum to ensure historical accuracy. Outstanding works include the former Grand Palace of Ayutthaya (destroyed in the Burmese invasion of 1767), Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Wat Khao Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border.

History

Lek Viriyaphant has been interested in art since his childhood, which inspired him to establish the Ancient City. Initially, he intended to build a Thai map-shaped golf course where miniatures of important national ancient sites were placed in certain spots within the area, which aim to serve tourism and educational purposes only.

Lek started doing research on the establishment of the Ancient City by himself. He found that many ancient sites have been left in decay. Thus, he changed the concept of the Ancient City from being a tourism attraction and relaxation to an open-air museum for educational purpose to benefit newer generations who would be proud of their national heritage.

Through times, Lek has continually been creating artwork in the Ancient City as well as “The Sanctuary of Truth” in Pattaya and

“The Erawan Museum” in Samut Prakan until the end of his life on November 17, 2000.

Important Events

In 2549, America's Next Top Model Season 6, the famous reality shows from the US, has led the contestant race to the finals here by using the Pavilion of the saint as a runway which regarded as a model platform is which is the largest in the show's history. Also within the area, Sanphet castle model is the place to decide the winner, too.

September 29, 2552

A total of 500 people of People's Alliance for Democracy protest at a model of the Preah Vihear Temple in the Ancient City. They claimed that the temple belongs to Thailand although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague ruled that the temple belongs to Cambodia in 1962.

Architecture by Historical timeline

To collect cultural and art work of Thailand to be a learning source, the Ancient City emphasizes on the distinguished and unique pieces of art from different periods, the representatives of folk cultural cultivation. Some periods were overlapping in time as the rise of one community could take place anytime without the decline of the existing one. Hence, it is found that each community developed its civilization within the similar time frame, but its peak was different depending on who was the strongest and most flourishing at a particular time. The most outstanding at the period could manifest its superior prosperity before others, yet as the leading kingdom began to decline, the rising one would replace the former at once with its own manifestation. The periods accumulated here are arranged in order of their distinct revelation.

•  Pre-historical

•  Dvaravati (11th - 16th BE)

•  Srivichaya (13th - 18th BE)

•  Khmer or Ancient Khmer (16th-18th BE)

•  Lanna (16th-25th BE)

•  Lan Chang (16th-21th BE)

•  Hariphunchai (17th 19th BE)

•  Sukhothai (17th-20th BE)

•  Authong (17th-20th BE)

•  Ayutthaya (19th-24th BE)

•  Thonburi (24th BE)

•  Rattanakosin (25th BE)  

Inside Ancient Siam

Replica from Original	Reconstructed Original	Creative Design
The Royal Stand	A Monk's Residence	Khun Chang Khun Phaen Garden
Phra That Chom Kitti, Chiang Rai	The Hall of Wat Nimit, Trat	Dvaravati Wihan
The Fruit Shape Tower (Prang Mafuang), Chai Nat	The Shrines	The Information Pavilion
The Wihan at Wat Phumin, Nan	The Thai Hamlet from the Central Plains	The Garden of Sacred Stupa
The City Wall and Gate	The Shrine housing the City Pillar	I-Nao Garden
The Footprint of the Lord Buddha, Saraburi	The Old Market Town	The City Sala
Phra Chedi Sri Song Rak, Loei	The Scripture Repository	The Yamaka Patiharn
Prasat Sadok Kok Thom, Sa Kaeo	The Bell Tower	The Manohra Garden
The Mondop housing the standing footprints of the Lord Buddha, Uttaradit	The Palace Garden	The Garden of Phra Aphaimani, Rayong
The Ancient Theatrical Pavilion	The Floating Market	The Courage of the people of Bang Rachan
Prang Sam Yod, Lop Buri	The Anthropological Museum	The Krai Thong Garden
The Wihan of Wat Pho Kao Ton, Sing Buri	The Wihan at Wat Phrao, Tak	Sala of Ten Reincarnations
Phra That Bang Phuan, Nong Khai	The Meditation Retreat	Sumeru Mountain
The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Nakhon Si Thammarat	The Thai-Songdam Village	The Garden Of The Gods
The Old Sea Wall at Chachoengsao	Wat Chong Kham, Lampang	The Reclining Buddha
The Pallava Group of Images, Phaug-Nga	The Wihan at Sa-Moeng, Chiang Mai	Sala of 80 Yogi
The Garden of Pha Daeng-Nang Ai (Rocket Festival characters)	The Wihan of Wat Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai	Mondop of Bodhisattva Avalokitesavara (Kuan-Yin)
The Red Block Fort, Chanthaburi	The Water Hall	Bodhisattva Avalokitesavara (Kuan-Yin) performing a miracle
The Stupa of Phra Maha That, Chaiya, Surat Thani	The Northern Thai Village	The Buddha Image of Dvaravati Period
The Gateway of Wat Pho Prathap Chang, Phichit		The Lotus-Bud Flower
Phra That Narai Cheng Weng, Sakon Nakhon		Sala of Ramayana
The Lan Chang styled Scripture Repository and Wihan		Phra That Mondop
The Tiger King's Palace, Phetchaburi		The garden of the Prince of the Golden Conch
The Prang of Wat Chulamanee, Phitsanulok		The Botanical Garden of Thai Literature
Phra That Phanom, Nakhon Phanom		The Great Battle of Yuthahathi
The Giant Swing and Brahmin Temple		Pavilion of the Enlightened
The Sukhothai Wihan		Monument of Krom Phra Ratchawang Boworn Maha Surasinghanat
Prasat Phra Wihan (Preah Vihear), Preah Vihear province, Cambodia		An Image of Hindu Deity with a Mitred Crown
The Audience Hall of Thon Buri		The Rainbow Bridge
The Dvaravati House		Phra Lo's Garden, Phrae
The Bench of Public Appeals, Sukhothai		Pavilion of Recallection
Prasat Hin Nong Ku, Roi Et		The Buddha image being protected by the seven headed Naga
Phra That Ya Khu, Kalasin		Thai Junk
The Grand Hall of Wat Maha That, Sukhothai		Sala 24 Katanyu (Pavilion of the Icons of Gratitude)
The Prang at Si Thep, Phetchabun		Sala Kong Beng (Zhuge Liangs Pavilion)
Ku Khu Maha That, Maha Sarakham		Mondop Phra Si Thit
Khun Phaen House		The Ramayana Garden
Noen Prasat, Sukhothai		The Octagonal Sala
The Main Chedi of Wat Maha That, Sukhothai		The Churning of the Ocean
Three Pagoda Pass, Kanchanaburi		The Phra Kaew Pavilion
Dusit Maha Prasat Palace (The Grand Palace)
Ho Kham, Lampang
Rattanakosin Dwelling
The Chedi of Cham Thewi, Lamphun
The Wihan at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Ayutthaya
The Stupa of Wat Phra That Sam Muen, Chaiyaphum
Sanphet Prasat Palace, Ayutthaya
Chedi Chet Yod, The Seven Spired Pagoda, Chiang Mai
The Phanom Rung Sanctuary, Buri Ram
The Chom Thong Palace Hall, Ayutthaya
The Kam Yaad Palace Hall, Ang Thong
Prasat Sikhoraphum, Surin
The Phimai Sanctuary, Nakhon Ratchasima

Ancient Siam is located on the old Sukhumvit Highway, about 33 km south-east of central Bangkok. Golf carts and bicycles can be hired for moving around the park, and private vehicles are also allowed at a fee.

Travel

By Car or Taxi 

Take the Express Way as far as the Samrong-Samut Prakan Exit. Turn to the Samut Prakan Intersection. Turn left along the old Sukhumvit Road (towards Bangpoo) until you get to km. 33. The Ancient City is on the left.

By Bus 

Take air-conditioned bus No. 511 (Pinklao-Paknam) to the end of the line. From here, take the mini-bus No. 36. It passes the entrance to the Ancient City.

Timetable for transportation pick-up

Date	Departure time	From	Destination
Saturday - Sunday	11.00 a.m.	BTS Bearing station	Erawan Museum
Saturday - Sunday	12.00 p.m.	Erawan Museum	Ancient City
Saturday - Sunday	03.00 p.m.	Ancient City	BTS Bearing station

References

Muang Boran, In the Ancient City (Bangkok: Muang Boran Publishing House, 1980).

Muang Boran, Muang Boran: A Nostalgic Look (Bangkok: Muang Boran Publishing House, 1988).

Penny Van Esterik, Materializing Thailand (Oxford: Berg, 2000), pp. 114–118.

ยุคสมัยทางศิลปะ. (n.d.). Retrieved February 03, 2017, from http://ancientcitygroup.net/ancientsiam/th/historical-timeline/

About us. (n.d.). Retrieved February 03, 2017, from http://ancientcitygroup.net/ancientsiam/th/acontent/21.html

Related links

• Official website