Tribal Museum

The Highland People Discovery Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์เรียนรู้ราษฎรบนพื้นที่สูง), formerly known as ''Tribal Museum'' is an ethnographic museum in the Mueang Chiang Mai District of Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, showing the life of Thailand's minority Hill tribe (Thailand), hill tribes.

Exhibits

The museum highlights the history and culture of the Hill tribe (Thailand), mountain tribes of north Thailand, including the Akha people, Akha, Karen people, Karen, Khamu, Lahu people, Lahu, Lua people, Lua, Lisu people, Lisu, Hmong people, Hmong, Mien, and Thin peoples. The museum has three components:Rough Guides: Thailand Guide
Retrieved 31 October 2011

* Indoor exhibits of tribal clothes, jewellery and other artefacts
* A video presentation of tribal life in northern Thailand
* A large garden with exhibits of tribal huts, reconstructed in an attractive waterside setting.

In addition, the Tribal Museum hosts a monthly tribal market, selling handmade clothes, craft goods and food, from a different hill tribe each month.

Tribal museum outside part Akha3 P1260110.jpg, Akha
Tribal museum outside part H'tin2 P1260102.jpg, H'tin
Tribal museum outside part Hmong2 P1260090.jpg, Hmong
Tribal museum outside part Karen3 P1260100.jpg, Karen
Tribal museum outside part Khamu3 P1260095.jpg, Khamu
Tribal museum outside part Lahu3 P1260120.jpg, Lahu
Tribal museum outside part Lisu2 P1260122.jpg, Lisu
Tribal museum outside part Lua2 P1260105.jpg, Lua
Tribal museum outside part Mien3 P1260116.jpg, Mien
Tribal museum outside part Mlabri1 P1260124.jpg, Mlabri

Reviews

''The Rough Guide'' notes that the Tribal Museum ''"enjoys a superb location behind the artfully landscaped Ratchamangkla Park. Overlooking a tree-lined lake, the very pretty and peaceful setting makes a visit worthwhile, as does the opportunity to learn something about the various hill tribes before heading off on a trek."'' The "useful wall chart" explains life in a village around the year, ''"giving a month-by-month picture of the agricultural activities, ceremonies and festivals of the tribes featured"'', while the photographs and models of village houses give "a good idea of the different styles of architecture, and a display of hill tribe instruments accompanied by taped music".

''The New York Times'' quotes ''Frommer'' on the Tribal Museum: ''"Formerly part of Chiang Mai University's Tribal Research Institute, this small exhibit showcases the cultures and daily lives of the hill tribe people of Thailand's north. It is recommended as a good introductory course for those who plan to visit many northern villages."''

''Thailand's World'' recommends the Tribal Museum, writing ''"A visit to the Tribal Museum is strongly recommended as an introduction to the cultures and practices of the current hill tribes of northern Thailand. This museum serves as an extensive resource centre for the tribal cultures, and the visitor will certainly leave with a better understanding of each hill tribe. It is unique and compact, and together with the nearby National Museum of Chiang Mai, can be viewed in half a day."'' Thailand's World
Retrieved 31 October 2011

References

Further reading

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External links

Website of the museum

Bangkok Post: Travel

Thailand's World

{{coord, 18, 49, 17.06, N, 98, 58, 29.10, E, type:landmark_region:TH, display=title

Museums in Chiang Mai
Tribal art
Ethnographic museums in Asia