The Erawan Museum Has a Most Unusual Location

Erawan Museum Mike Behnken (cc by 2.0)

Erawan Museum smithore / depositphotos.com

Inside the Erawan Museum Mike Behnken

The Erawan Museum. Ddalbiez (cc by-sa 3.0)

The Erawan Museum. THE Jimkuroy (cc by-nd 2.0)

The Erawan Museum. neajjean (cc by-sa 2.0)

Statues in the garden of the Erawan Museum timbrk / depositphotos.com

Inside the Erawan Museum Ddalbiez (cc by-sa 3.0)

Buddha image inside the museum. WitthayaP / depositphotos.com

Inside the museum. smithore / depositphotos.com

Inside the museum. saiko3p / depositphotos.com

AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)

The stairwell AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)

Inside the Erawan Museum Mike Behnken (cc by 2.0)

The stairwell AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)

The ceiling AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)

AdOYo (Atlas Obscura User)

To reach this unique three-headed elephant museum in Bang Muang Mai, Thailand, and the treasures it holds, you start with a walk through the gardens filled with statues of mythical Thai creatures.

Three stories high, the 250-ton body of the elephant is scaled by climbing an intricately carved stairway lined with ornate pillars. Featuring all major religions and a fantastic stained glass ceiling, the magnificent interior leads into one of the heads, where there is a temple and ancient Buddha statues on display.

Below ground is a museum of Thai pottery built by Lek Viriyaphant, the same man behind the Sanctuary of Truth and Ancient Siam Park, who sought to preserve Thai cultures and arts for future generations.