Saturday, October 8, 2011

Giant Three-Headed Elephant

Alongside and peering over the outer ring road elevated highway, is the Erawan museum - a five story, three-headed elephant.  After driving past it for the last 3 years, (click here for a previous blog post) I finally found some time to pay it a visit.   In addition, it was probably the only tourist attraction that my mom had not seen over the last 10 years.

Here it is as you come through the park entrance.






It's impressive enough from the outside, but you can also go inside where there is a museum filled with ancient pottery and artifacts, along with a Buddhist temple housed inside the elephants belly.
Here's my mom and I inside the base of the statue.


The roof of the base has an ornate skylight with a map of the world.



Apparently Gabon, Africa is the center of the world in this artist's rendition.



To get to the Buddhist temple, you had to climb up an elaborate staircase to the top of the statue's base, then take a narrow, spiral staircase up one of its rear legs.

Inside the belly of the elephant.



Back outside, there are several small gardens and mini-temples.  Here, Nuch is paying respect to the Ganesh shrine.  (click here for more details on Ganesh - the elephant boy)

Overall, a worthy expedition.  I'd even go back again.  Here are some more pics from our visit.


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