The Erawan Museum

This three headed elephant, Airavata, was born of Khun Lek Viriyapant's ideas and imagination. It was inspired by his wish to preserve his collection of antiques as a contribution to Thai cultural heritage. Many of these were priceless objects of art; they were also held as sacred objects for people of ancient cultures. According to ancient traditions, they were believed to bring blessing and prosperity to the land and its people, and therefore must not be lost to outsiders. It had been Mr. Viriyapant's concern to find a way that would keep these objects safe and that would also be suitable to their traditional functions. One day he had a visit from a Westerner who, during the course of the conversation, suggested the idea of constructing the most important building in the town in the form of an apple which, according to Western traditions of belief, played a crucial part in the shaping of human destiny. This suggestion was warmly welcomed by Mr Viriyapant. He nevertheless thought it more appropriate to adhere to Eastern traditions and thus decided on the heavenly elephant Airavata of Hindu mythology. In addition, he wanted this three-headed elephant to be more than just the vehicle of the god Indra. The elephant would be a symbol of the centre of the universe and, as such, the building would function symbolically as the spiritual heart of the land where sacred objects of the land were housed and revered. He then designed the building and gave the design to Mr Pagpean Viriyapant, his eldest son, to begin construction.

Already during the construction, the building attracted people who came to worship. Thus it fulfilled Mr Lek Viriyapant's wish to preserve sacred objects for the country. Although both Mr Lek and Mr Pagpean passed away before the construction was completed, their heirs continued their wish to create a place where ceremonies and festivals of Thai traditions might be held, and that would also serve as a museum to keep the memory of Mr Lek Viriyapant's life and work alive for future generations.

The height of the elephant 29m.

The height including the building 43.60 m.

The width of the elephant 12 m.
The length of the elephant 39 m.
The weight of the elephant's body 150 tons.
The weight of the elephant's head 100 tons.

Basement or Underworld (Naga World)
There presents the exhibitions concerning the background and the establishment of Erawan Museum, in addition to antique displays such as furnitures, Chinese and Thai utensils etc.

Hall or Human World

Both eastern and western antiquities are exhibited here. Interior decoration is the art melange of various styles, including western stained-glass ceiling featuring the world map and zodiac, stucco works of Phechaburi craftmanship standing by the staircase and the elegant shrine housing Guan Yin, and the four pillars with tin sheets repousse depicting religious stories and the benign moral principles supporting world peace.

Tavatimsa Heaven
Here houses Buddha's relics and Buddha images from different periods. The walls and ceiling are decorated with the tempera paintings depicting the solar system.

Around Erawan museum lies the botanical garden noted in Thai literary and the sculpture of animals of Himavanta forest such as kinnara, kinnari, naga, rajasingh inside this lush and shady garden.