National Museum of Myanmar

The national collection sits in a large purpose-built block on Pyay Road, and its centrepiece is the Sihasana or Lion Throne, the surviving throne of the Konbaung dynasty, over eight metres tall in gilded and carved wood, on show in the national museum since 1957. Around it the museum runs through prehistory, the Pyu city states, epigraphy and scripts, court regalia, costume of the country's ethnic groups, musical instruments and Buddhist art. The building is dim and the labelling is uneven, but the objects are the real thing.

History

The museum first opened in June 1952 in the Jubilee Hall on Shwedagon Pagoda Road, and the Lion Throne was moved here in 1957. It moved to Pansodan Street in 1968, opening there on 8 February 1970, and to its present building in 1996, opening on 18 September that year (Wikipedia, National Museum of Myanmar (Yangon)).

What to look for

• The Lion Throne - the surviving Konbaung throne in gilded wood, over eight metres tall.
• The regalia gallery - court dress, jewellery and objects from the royal household at Mandalay.
• The epigraphy hall - inscribed stones and manuscripts covering the development of the script.
• The ethnic costume floor - dress and craft from across the country's regions.

When to go

Year-round, since it is indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it a good option in the hot months from March to May. The museum closes on some public holidays. Mornings are quiet.

Practical notes

Lighting is poor throughout and many cases are hard to read. Labelling in English is inconsistent and there is little interpretation, so the collection rewards prior interest more than curiosity. Cameras and bags are left at the entrance.

Nearby

The Shwedagon Pagoda is a short drive east, and Inya Lake is further north on the same road.

Key facts