M.R. Kukrit's Home, Bangkok

M.R. Kukrit Pramot was a renaissance man in modern Thai history. He founded the first political party of Thailand and became the 13th Prime Minister during 1970s. He had a keen interest in the dramatic arts and had written many short stories, novels, stage plays and poetry. He received the award of National Artist by the national culture commission in 1985. M.R. Kukrit died in 1995 at the age of 84, leaving instructions that his home be opened to the public.

The Home of M R Kukrit Pramoj, officially known as M R Kukrit's Heritage Home, consists of five teak houses, the earliest of which is more than 100 years old. It is situated in a quiet place off the busy South Sathon Road in downtown Bangkok. All these houses have been dismantled, transported and painstakingly reassembled in the present location from various parts of Central Thailand. It took twenty years for the whole house to complete to its present state.

R. Kukrit's deep interest in Thai culture and his efforts at preserving it is reflected from his house. The main five buildings are constructed in a very typical Thai fashion on an elevated platform around an open courtyard. These houses are actually made without any nails and are movable. A sixth building, a large open-sided pavilion with a stage, is separated from the main house group by a small garden decorated with small bonsai plants.

A reception hall is present on the right side of the main gate. This hall, used for religious ceremonies, official receptions and banquets, is added afterwards. A raised platform in the centre is meant for the traditional Thai Khon dance. The ornate masks for the dancers are arranged in shelves. The homes contain artifacts, such as a Chinese altar given by Deng Xiaoping as a gift and old Buddhist scriptures dating back to the early Rattanakosin period.

King Rama II’s old wooden bed, his personal library and his other belongings are on display. The largest building was used for entertaining special guests. The smaller buildings on either side of the reception room houses many Buddha images given to or collected by M.R. Kukrit over the years.

A man of many talents, M R Kukrit is a very prominent personality in the history of Thailand. Visiting his home is a way of paying homage to his remarkable deed. The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm