Wat Khlong Thom & Museum

Klong Thom Museum is situated on the grounds of small Wat Klong Thom in Tambon Klong Thom Tai, Krabi. You will find it between kilometers number 69 and 70 on Thanon Phet Kasem, Highway 4 leading to Trang, about 30 km south-east of Krabi International Airport. In this relatively small and obscure temple museum, is on display an impressive and varied collection of artefacts dating back thousands of years. The various artefacts were discovered during the excavations on the site situated behind Wat Khlong Thom and known in Thai as "Khuan Luk Pat", literally translated as "A Mound of Beads". The discoveries include stone and bronze tools, metal coins, pottery, fragments of ancient ceramic, stone and ceramic ornaments in animal shapes, religious coloured droplets and beads. Some of the artefacts are reputedly to be more than 5000 years old. The excavations suggest evidence of ancient settlements dating back to the Dvaravati period, from the 4th to the 9th century, when the production of pearls was flourishing in the area and Khlong Thom was a trading port with seafarers doing their trade from India to China. Traders avoided the Strait of Malacca during the monsoon season, crossing the Kra isthmus from Klong Thom to the old town of Nakhon Sri Thamarat and then continuing their journey sailing to ancient China. Since 1966, artefacts and antiques have been looted or smuggled from the Khuan Luk Pat site. The abbot at Wat Khlong Thom, the Venerable Phakru Arthron Sungworakit, was afraid that the treasures would be lost, and has started collecting the objects and beads ever since and has displayed them in the temple. Many of these beads appear to have been made in the area, while others are most probably imported. In 1992, HRH Princess Sirindhorn presided over the official opening ceremony of the museum. The province provided a 10 million baht budget for the renovation of the museum. The museum is a two-storey building with the first floor displaying antiques on iron shelves. The second floor is divided into two sides. The right side displays bangles, rings and stone axes of different sizes and shapes in glass cabinets. The display on the left side is more interesting and systematic. The objects on exhibition include human-faced beads presumed to be the Sun God, multi-color glass and melted glass. The beads are inscribed with Pallava script, aged between the 6th and 8th centuries. The museum also houses Greek & Roman coins, Indian and Chinese crafts. Monks act as curators showing visitors the museum and the actual site where beads were unearthed. In addition to the exhibition, the museum organizes outdoor exhibitions and other activities for students to raise their awareness about preserving antiques in the community.
Opening Hours: the museum is open daily from 8.30 to 16:30.
Getting there: Klong Thom Museum is situated within Wat Klong Thom area in Tambon Klong Thom Tai, between kilometers number 69 and 70 on Thanon Phet Kasem, Highway 4 leading to Trang, about 30 km south-east of Krabi International Airport. Read More