Wat Rangsi Sutthawat Museum

Rating: 3.8/5 (5 votes)

Open Days: Open for visits by advance appointment with the museum caretakers and the Ban Luang Tai community (dates and times are subject to change)

Opening Hours: According to the time arranged in advance with the community coordinators

 

Rangsee Suthawas Temple Museum (Mueang Luang Tai) is located within Wat Rangsee Suthawas in Ban Luang Tai, Choeng Doi Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai Province. It is a compact local museum that systematically collects stories of the way of life, livelihood, work, and wisdom of the Tai Lue people of Mueang Luang Tai, all set within the peaceful atmosphere of a rural temple that still reflects the community’s simple lifestyle and traditional faith.

 

The Tai Lue people of Ban Luang Tai are an ethnic group with roots in Xishuangbanna, who migrated to settle in Lanna several hundred years ago. Their way of life is closely tied to the land, fields, rivers, and streams, along with a delicate system of beliefs and traditions. Rangsee Suthawas Temple Museum was therefore established as a center of knowledge about the Tai Lue of Mueang Luang Tai, covering settlement history, lifestyle, economy, culture, and local traditions.

 

Many of the objects on display in the museum are old items donated by elders and villagers from their own homes. Numerous pieces have been used for decades and have become part of their family memories: farming tools, household utensils, weaving equipment, Tai Lue textiles, traditional clothing, as well as objects associated with village beliefs and rituals.

 

One of the core elements of the museum is the exhibition on the settlement history of the Tai Lue community in Ban Mueang Luang Tai—how this village came into being, from migration from the original homeland, choosing the site for their homes, building the temple, developing annual traditions and festivals, until it became a Tai Lue community that continues to preserve its identity amid modern social change.

 

Visitors can gain a picture of Tai Lue life through the tools used for making a living, such as hoes, spades, wooden rakes, small rice mills, fishing gear, and bamboo weaving tools. There is also a traditional firewood kitchen, earthenware pots, rice jars, wooden trays, and household items that reflect a simple lifestyle based on respect and careful use of the surrounding natural resources.

 

Another highlight is the display of textiles and traditional clothing of the Tai Lue of Mueang Luang Tai, including old-patterned tubular skirts, shawls, and local garments, as well as handwoven cloth that still retains motifs from their place of origin. Seeing the real textiles while listening to stories about the origin of each pattern, who wove it, and on what occasion it was used helps visitors understand that textiles are not just clothing, but also a language of Tai Lue culture.

 

Rangsee Suthawas Temple Museum also presents knowledge related to the beliefs and traditions of the Tai Lue of Mueang Luang Tai, such as annual merit-making festivals, traditional attire for religious ceremonies, Tai Lue dances, ceremonial food offerings, and rituals associated with the temple and ancestral spirits. Visitors therefore do more than just “look at old things”—they also gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between the temple, the community, and the villagers’ way of life.

 

This museum was designed to be a knowledge hub for the Tai Lue of Mueang Luang Tai for students, university learners, youth, the general public, and anyone interested in local culture. Local schools often bring students here for study visits, to listen to talks by community elders, see real objects, and join activities about the Tai Lue way of life so that the younger generation can appreciate the value of their homeland and cultural roots.

 

In addition to permanent displays, the museum grounds and the open area in front of the temple are regularly used as venues for cultural events that preserve Tai Lue traditions in Ban Luang Tai. These include wearing traditional costumes, Tai Lue dance performances, and festivals that connect Ban Luang Tai with neighboring Tai Lue villages. This keeps the museum “alive” and prevents it from becoming just a static display behind glass.

 

Getting to Rangsee Suthawas Temple Museum (Mueang Luang Tai) From Chiang Mai city, take the Chiang Mai–Doi Saket route (Highway 118), then turn onto local roads heading toward Ban Luang Tai, Choeng Doi Subdistrict. Once you enter the village, look for Wat Rangsee Suthawas, which is located at the heart of the community. You can ask local residents for directions to the Tai Lue museum or “Ban Tai Lue, Ban Luang Tai,” or simply search for “Wat Rangsee Suthawas” on your phone’s map for convenience.

 

 

A: This is a community-run museum of the Tai Lue people of Ban Luang Tai. It is open for visits by advance appointment with community leaders or caretakers and does not have fixed daily opening hours like large public museums. Visitors should always contact the community in advance before coming.

 

A: Exhibits include everyday items of the Tai Lue community, tools used for making a living, kitchen utensils, a traditional firewood kitchen, Tai Lue textiles and clothing, ritual objects, as well as information and visual materials about the settlement history of the Tai Lue in Ban Luang Tai and the community’s major traditions.

 

A: Very much so. The museum serves as a knowledge hub on the Tai Lue way of life. Children and youth can see real objects, listen to stories from community members, and understand their cultural roots through direct experience. Local schools often arrange study trips here by coordinating with the community beforehand.

 

A: Without a private car, you can take a bus or songthaew (shared pickup truck) from Chiang Mai to Doi Saket, then transfer to a local vehicle or hire a songthaew/taxi to Ban Luang Tai. Once in the village, you can easily ask locals for directions to Wat Rangsee Suthawas and the museum.

 

A: Besides the museum within Wat Rangsee Suthawas, Ban Luang Tai also features “Ban Tai Lue” and a rural village atmosphere where traditional Tai Lue clothing and lifestyle are still preserved. Visitors can walk around the village, talk with residents, and admire old wooden houses. If visiting during cultural events, you may also see Tai Lue dance performances and traditional costumes up close.