Rating: 3.4/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Daily (visitors are encouraged to call or email in advance)

Opening Hours: 09:00–16:00

 

The Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders in Chiang Mai is a small yet remarkably rich natural history museum located at 72 Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 13. Despite its modest scale, the museum holds a vast array of insects, fossils, minerals, and biological specimens collected over decades. It is one of Chiang Mai’s most unique private museums, especially loved by visitors interested in insects, biodiversity, and prehistoric life. Set quietly within the lively Nimmanhaemin neighborhood, the museum feels like stepping into a different world—one where the beauty of nature’s smallest forms becomes astonishingly clear.

 

The museum was founded by entomologist Dr. Rampa Rattanarithikul, a specialist in mosquitoes and medically important insects. She began collecting insect specimens around 1959, obtaining samples through her own fieldwork, academic exchanges, international museum donations, and research trips. Over time, the collection grew to a size and scope that naturally shifted into a public exhibition. In 1999, Dr. Rampa opened the museum to share her lifelong work with visitors of all ages, allowing the scientific and educational value of the collection to continue beyond research circles.

 

The three-story museum contains more than a hundred glass display cases arranged with scientific precision. Each case is labeled with common names, scientific names, regions of origin, and ecological notes. Visitors can observe beetles with iridescent shells, dragonflies with transparent wings, rare butterflies, aquatic insects, mantises, and numerous other species. Some displays highlight insects that play essential roles in pollination, decomposition, or disease transmission. The museum’s globally respected mosquito collection—over 400 species—is the result of more than 40 years of research and has been used extensively in medical entomology studies.

 

Beyond insects, the museum includes an impressive fossil and mineral section. Here, visitors can see ancient leaf imprints, shells, petrified wood, ammonites, mammoth tusk fragments, minerals of various colors, and occasionally dinosaur-era remnants. These fossils span hundreds of millions of years, allowing visitors to experience deep geological time on a scale difficult to comprehend without seeing it firsthand.

 

Despite the density of information, the museum feels warm and personal—more like entering the home of a passionate collector than a formal institution. Signage is written in clear, accessible language suited to both children and adults. The environment encourages curiosity: children often stop in awe at the colorful butterfly walls, while adults linger over details of evolutionary adaptations that reveal the complexity of life.

 

Getting There is simple due to the museum’s central location in the Nimmanhaemin district. From Chiang Mai’s Old City, red songthaew taxis or rideshare services can reach the area in 10–15 minutes. Visitors enter Nimmanhaemin Soi 13 and walk a short distance to find the museum on the right. Those driving can navigate easily using the digital pin “The Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders.” The area is also close to MAYA Shopping Center, One Nimman, and Chiang Mai University, making it convenient to integrate the museum visit into a half-day walking trip.

 

Admission Fees are modest considering the rare specimens displayed. The latest available reference lists Thai adults at approximately 120 THB, children at 100 THB, student groups at around 50 THB per person, and foreign visitors at about 200 THB. Because this is a privately run museum managed by the founders’ family, visitors are strongly encouraged to confirm fees and opening hours in advance at Tel. 0 5321 1891 or insects_museum@hotmail.com.

 

The museum remains one of Chiang Mai’s most engaging educational attractions. Whether for families, students, or travelers looking for something beyond the usual tourist paths, the Museum of World Insects and Natural Wonders offers a profound reminder of how much life surrounds us—seen and unseen—and how every tiny creature has a role in Earth’s complex ecological balance.

 

 

A: At 72 Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 13, in the popular Nimman district near Huay Kaew Road and MAYA Shopping Center.

 

A: The museum generally opens daily from 09:00–16:00, but visitors should call or email in advance because the museum is family-operated.

 

A: Thai adults ~120 THB, children 100 THB, student groups ~50 THB, foreign visitors ~200 THB (subject to change).

 

A: Insects, butterflies, mosquitoes, fossils, minerals, ancient plant remains, and medically important insect species, all labeled with educational information.

 

A: A typical visit takes 1–2 hours, longer for those who enjoy reading scientific details closely.

 

A: Yes—children often find it fascinating. Parents should supervise to ensure display cases are not touched.

 

A: Yes. Advance contact via Tel. 0 5321 1891 or insects_museum@hotmail.com is strongly recommended.