An Outing at Chula?  Architecture, Museums, and Music Await

To promote the preservation of cultural heritage and lifelong learning among the public, and cultural tourism among visitors, Chula’s Office of Arts and Culture Administration is recommending activities and learning resources available at the University access to everyone, be it a stroll around the campus to admire the architecture, and museums, or enjoy Thai and international music performances.

The Bangkok Metropolis has recently been ranked by the World of Statistics as the most visited city in the world for 2024, with as many as 22.78 million visitors! When asked about what constitutes the charm of Bangkok, many people often mention a combination of differences and diversity that work together seamlessly which help make Bangkok a vital and colorful city.  For example, Bangkok’s city center, Chula, Bantadthong, Samyan, and Siam Square offer a blend of both modern and old architecture with colonial-style buildings, contemporary and traditional Thai cultural activities as well as delicious international cuisine alongside Thai street food, etc.  Unsurprisingly, tourists from all over the world like to shop, taste, and experience the activities and urban lifestyles in this area.  One of the charming highlights is Chulalongkorn University which is not only Thailand’s first university but also the premier institution of higher learning.  Being more than a campus, Chula offers visitors a chance to learn more in various aspects. 

 “Chula is rich with Thailand’s cultural heritage and way of life.  Its architectural beauty makes walking around the campus a delightful experience.  It is an art space with performances ranging from Thai classical music to Western-style musical performances alongside art exhibitions by students and renowned international artists.  Museums with exhibits on a wide range of subjects offer you so much to learn from.  A few steps away from the main campus one finds all sorts of Thai-style street food in the Bantadthong area along with galleries, cafes, trendy shopping malls, Buddhist temples both of the Mahayana and Theravada sects, churches, and a Chinese shrine,” Kunchit Jitratan, Director of the Office of Art and Culture, Chulalongkorn University describes this colorful area and its surroundings while inviting visitors both Thai and foreign to experience all there is to offer here. 

In his role as the administrator of the Office of Arts and Culture Administration, Chulalongkorn University, whose mission is to preserve arts and culture, create and disseminate knowledge on the arts and culture, Mr. Kunchit expressed his views on preserving cultural roots that “This is not simply a matter of registering antiques and ancient sites, but of making Thai art and culture blend and co-exist to become a part of people’s way of learning. Chula is therefore ready to open its doors to welcome everyone to visit and take part in preserving Thai cultural heritage.”  He also recommends the types of activities for visitors:

• Architectural highlights 
• 16 Museums to learn from 
• Melodious music both Thai and foreign 

Architectural highlights

As an institution of higher learning that prides itself on being Thailand’s first university founded and established 107 years ago, Chula features several noteworthy structures old and new some of which have received awards for outstanding architectural conservation and are now listed as heritage buildings.  These buildings are open to the public who wish to appreciate their aesthetic beauty and learn more about them.      

But before embarking on this tour Khun Kunchit invites our visitors to first pay their respects to the royal monument of King Chulalongkorn and King Vajiravudh.  The statues dedicated to the two monarchs are placed on a high platform in front of the University’s Main Auditorium and the flagpole. 

“A large number of students and their parents often visit the monument to ask that their wishes be granted especially during exam times.  They usually choose to come on a Tuesday since it is the day of the week that coincides with the birth of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn and bring with them roses as an offering.”  Khun Kunchit describes how Thai people feel connected to their beloved past monarchs.  

The royal monument was erected in 1987 to commemorate 70 years of the establishment of Chulalongkorn University as well as to express profound respect and appreciation to the University’s founders. 

The monument now provides a venue for special occasions like the tradition of freshmen paying respects as part of the initiation rites on becoming a Chula student and many other activities. 

Chulalongkorn Auditorium behind the monument of the two monarchs was designed by the architect Phra Sarotrattananimman and constructed from 1937-1939.    The reinforced concrete structure with a layered roof is surrounded on three sides by a balcony and has a stairwell both within and outside the building.  With this unique design, it has been listed as an ancient monument and received the ASA Architectural Conservation Award in 2002. 

 “The Chula Auditorium is an important landmark that has long been a part of the University.  Members of the Chula community all feel a sense of connection to the place from the time they enter the University as freshmen until their commencement ceremony when they are about to leave.   It is also a venue to hold activities on various occasions with stage dramas, musical performances, and academic conferences.  The auditorium is also where the University has welcomed visits by distinguished Thai and foreign guests on several occasions.”

The Devalai cluster of buildings is another symbolic landmark of the university that frequently provides a backdrop for students and visitors alike to take photographs with what many people say has an imposing and majestic beauty resembling that of a Buddhist temple.    

The Devalai Cluster comprises two buildings – the Maha Chulalongkorn Building which is now reserved for special occasions and the Maha Vajiravudh Building which is used by the Faculty of Arts for its offices and a library.  

Maha Chulalongkorn Building, the University’s first building built in 1914, is the work of German and English architects Dr.Karl Dohring and Mr.Edward Healey who applied the traditional architectural style of Sukhothai and Sawankhalok to their unique design.  

Initially, King Vajiravudh had intended that the building serve as the headquarters of King Chulalongkorn’s Civil Servants School but he later considered it appropriate to upgrade the Civil Servants School to “Chulalongkorn University” and that the building be used by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for its classrooms.   The name of the building was subsequently changed from “the Headquarters Building” to “Arts Building I”.  With its outstanding history and stunning architecture, the Maha Chulalongkorn Building received the Association of Siamese Architects’ Architectural Conservation Award in 1987.  

Maha Vajiravudh Building Construction took place during 1953-1956 of what many regard as a twin structure of Maha Chulalongkorn Building designed by Professor Boonyong Nikrodhananda with differing features like a loft, attic, and glass gable ends that permit natural light to shine into the attic.  The building is decorated with a lotus flower stucco pattern since the lotus in Buddhism is a symbol of wisdom.  Education enables the lotus flower (metaphorically the student to bloom and soar above the water. 

Pharotracha House was completed in 1927 during the reign of King Rama VI to be used as residences for school administrators and foreign lecturers and later as classrooms for the Faculty of Architecture.  It now serves as a venue for receiving guests of the University.   

Located on Phaya Thai Road, the two-and-a-half-storey Colonial-style stilt house is built partially of teak wood and brick, with large brick pillars.  The roof is gabled-hip also known as the Manila style roof with fretwork at the eaves’ boards.  Another distinctive feature is the stacking-louvered awning windows made of wood and the tower-like top-floor room.  This wooden stilt house received the Outstanding Architectural Conservation Building Award in 1997 from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage.

Chula Narumit House was built as an annex to Ruean Pharotracha to hold conferences and receptions.  The grounds of the two houses are connected with surrounding gardens and a connecting walkway.    

The University Memorial Hall or Chakrabongse Building.   Originally built for student clubs and activities the building later became the University Memorial Hall to house and exhibit historical artifacts and memorabilia connected with the history of Chula like a replica of the Phra Kiew coronet, collections of photographs, graduation gowns, archives, and commemorative coins. Construction of the building took place from 1930-1932 with funds donated by members of the Chakrabongse family hence the gables of the building on all four sides have exterior stucco carvings of images of the chakra and the staff which represent the royal house of Chakrabongse.  

The Chulalongkorn University Thai House commonly known as Chula Thai House is situated between the student dormitories and Chamchuri 10 Building.  It is a cluster of traditional Thai houses representing central Thai architecture along with a Thai-style pavilion built on water.  The main structure houses a Buddha image and there is also a room for storing traditional musical instruments and other antiques and artifacts along with a collection of basketware.  For more details, one can access https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/services/reun-thai/)

Chamchuri Buildings I and II ivory colored twin buildings next to the main gates on Phaya Thai Road on the side of the Office of the President were built in 1967.   

For access to maps of the various buildings on campus, visit https://www.chula.ac.th/contact/map-and-directions/

16 Museums that are a treasure trove for learning outside the classroom

On the vast area of Chula’s campus, there are as many as 16 museums that the Office of Arts and Culture Administration has undertaken the task of repair and renovation and are now open to the public.     

The Arts and Cultural Zone

The Arts and Cultural Zone has three museums namely  

Chulalongkorn University Museum is a venue for the exhibition of the history of “Chulalongkorn University” and how the University, Thailand’s first institution of tertiary education came into being in the form of a modern and narrative museum (For details check out https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/213/)

Nitassathan Exhibition Hall is where artistic creations of renowned artists are displayed along with those from various embassies, guest artists, and members of the Chula community as a rotating exhibition throughout the year and is open to the public for free viewing. (For details check out https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/701/)

Traditional Thai Music Library is an invaluable museum for musical instruments that provides services in music search service and more than 16,000 songs, over 400 music and dance information videos, reading corners, and more than 1,500 books and research on music-related subjects. (For more details check out https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/705/)

The Faculty of Arts Zone

Faculty of Arts Zone has two museums:

The Tipitakha Hall is an international Tipitaka collection of the Tipitaka Buddhist scriptures written in different languages and their accompanying doctrines of over two thousand volumes.  Also, various activities and special lectures and discussions on topics related to Buddhism are offered to the public.  (For further details search https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/711/)

The Tai-Kadai Museum is a place for displaying clothing, embroidery, woven fabric, and accessories used in the daily life of the Tai-Kadai ethnic group, one of the world’s largest linguistic families.  (Find out more at https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/712/)

The Faculty of Science Zone

Faculty of Science Zone with eight museums

The Natural History Museum is a large exhibition room that displays specimens of land animals, aquatic animals, amphibians, and reptiles.  Each specimen has been preserved using appropriate methods, including displays of skeletons, stuffing, and embalming in alcohol or formalin. This museum is considered one of the most complete and systematic collections of biological knowledge in Thailand.  (Find out more about the museum at https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/757/)

The Thai Snail Museum is the first and only land snail museum in Thailand. The museum has put together many interesting snails, such as Pupilid Microsnails, which are so small that they must be viewed with a magnifying glass, along with other rare snails like Amphidromus classirius, and tiny snails in the Carychium family (Information can be found at https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/758/)

The Turtle and Tortoise Museum is considered the most complete turtle and tortoise museum in Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. It displays examples of land turtles, sea turtles, freshwater turtles, and all types of tortoises found in Thailand, as well as samples of turtles from around the world. (Check out https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/759/ for more information). 

The Insect Museum features a collection of over 5,000 insects and mites, categorized according to their taxonomy.  It also simulates the habitats of various insects in nature, such as beehives, ant nests, and the habitat of natural stingers.  (For more information, visit https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/760/).

The Invertebrate Museum features an exhibition room with the most outstanding display of Giant Mountain Crab (Potamonbhumibol Naiyanetr) — the largest freshwater crab in Thailand. There are also exhibits of other invertebrates, including shrimp and crabs that are rare in Thailand, poisonous crabs, freshwater crabs, a new type of freshwater crayfish found in Thailand, the longest earthworm in Thailand, cuttlefish, the largest splendid squid in the Gulf of Thailand, etc. (Read more about it at https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/761/)

The Geology Museum exhibits samples of rocks, minerals, fossils, and meteors, as well as  an exhibition on the origin of the earth, petroleum exploration, and gold mining (Find out more at https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/762/)

Professor Kasin Suvataphan Plant Museum hosts approximately 22,650 plant specimens, including more than 16,000 flowering plants, as well as ferns, bryophytes, lichens, and algae. In addition, economically valuable plants and traditional botanical specimens are on display.  (For further information, visit https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/763/)

The Museum of Imaging Technology is the first exclusive camera and photograph exhibition in Thailand and the Asian region. It showcases the evolution of cameras. and photography from the past to the present (For more details check out https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/764/)

The Living Plant Museum is a lifelong learning source that conducts plant research in an evaporative cooling system inside a glasshouse building. It showcases the diversity and evolution of plants while they are still alive. There are at least 200 species of plants, both domestic and foreign, divided into 6 display formats, consisting of an exhibition on the diversity of plants in rainforests or tropical rainforests, drought-resistant plants, aquatic plants, pteridophyte plants, gymnosperms, and the evolution of flowering plants. (Access https://shorturl.asia/mgUNH for further details.)

The Faculty of Dentistry Zone

The Faculty of Dentistry Zone with two museums displaying Thailand’s rare and valuable items

Vach Vidyavaddhana Museum (Museum of Dentistry) presents the history of Thai dentistry dental equipment, and characteristics of Thai people’s teeth, dental materials, and methods of treating patients by dentists in the early years.  Moreover, other valuable treasures of this museum are on display along with the tube of toothpaste used by the late King Rama IX, a dental unit, and an amulet containing King Rama IX’s tooth relic. (For further details read https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/765/)

The Human Body Museum is one of the 11 museums in the world. and is the first in Southeast Asia to display bodies and human parts in a 3D format using plastination techniques that replace water and fat in tissues with liquid plastic which does not result in bad odors or decay and can maintain the body’s condition for a long time.  (Find out more at https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/766/)

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Zone

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Zone has an Herbal Museum that collects, preserves, and displays samples of both Thai and foreign herbs, medicine recipes, and tools for producing medicine from ancient times to the present to serve as a source of reference and study.  (Access https://www.chula.ac.th/museum/767/ for further information).

Most of the museums on the Chulalongkorn University campus are open Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are also some of Chula’s museums located upcountry such as the Daraphirom Palace Museum in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai or the Chollatassathan Museum and Chudhadhuj Ratchasthan Palace Museum at Koh Sichang, Chonburi Province.  Both these museums are open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Music at Chula from traditional Thai to international orchestras

Regardless of how much technology evolves throughout the eras – from listening to music on vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs, and websites, to streaming applications — buying tickets to watch a live performance is still always attractive for music lovers, and at Chula, there are live music performances to enjoy every month. Whether it be Thai music, classical music, contemporary Thai music, chorus to special performances by foreign musicians.  (For more information on musical activities at Chula https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/activities/)

“The Music Hall at Chula’s Art and Culture Building offers a venue with international audio-visual standards for watching musical performances with as many as 240 seats.  On the first Friday of every month there are live performances and other musical activities are held 3-5 times per month” Khun Kunchit tells us. 

Aside from the various musical performances Chula also hosts annual special events known as the grand CU Symphony Orchestra concerts held twice a year at the Chulalongkorn University Auditorium and the Thai classical musical ensemble performance that takes place annually on March 26 to commemorate the anniversary of the founding of Chula.  It is open to the Chula community and the general public free of charge.   

“The Thai traditional music performance ‘Piphat Dukdamban’ is very rare these days. But it is available at Chula and I would say it is an opportunity that you should experience at least once in your life,” said Mr. Kunchit.  He also explained the special characteristics of this type of music performance, “The ancient Thai Piphat band began in the reign of King Rama V, but it hadn’t been performed for so long that it has almost disappeared. Chulalongkorn University has conducted research and invited the maestros who used to take part and are still alive to continue upholding the nation’s musical heritage to teach a new generation of students.  A course is now offered at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts for students to learn more about this form of the nation’s musical heritage.”

A myriad of learning activities is being offered around Chula.  Check out https://www.cuartculture.chula.ac.th/ or call 0 2218 3621 and follow us on Line: CU ART CULTURE,  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuartculture

“Just by walking around and visiting various buildings and museums, listening to music, and enjoying and appreciating these cultural heritages, we can consider ourselves a part of the continuation of Thai culture. This will lead to the development of sustainable arts and culture in the future,” Khun Kunchit concluded.

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