Baan Dam Museum

Very unique and unusual museum. A striking and unconventional art complex created by Thai artist Thawan Duchanee. It features over 40 dark wooden buildings filled with surreal art made from bones, horns, and animal skins. It offers a haunting yet fascinating look into themes of life, death, and spirituality. Its’s a must-visit for those seeking something bold. Not your typical temple—more like a journey into the artist’s mind. Keep that in mind before you step in. You will see very unique and unusual collections.

The Black Temple (or Baan Dam Museum) is such a cool and mysterious place, but it’s definitely not somewhere you want to rush through. Unlike the other temples, this is actually a massive art complex with around 40 different buildings scattered across a huge, lush garden. Because the area is so vast, you really need a couple of hours to wander around and see everything properly. Each building has its own unique style—mostly made of dark wood with sharp, moody carvings—and they are filled with some of the most interesting and unusual art I’ve ever seen, like animal skins, bones, and massive horn-covered furniture. The whole vibe is very different from the bright, shimmering temples nearby. It feels more like walking through a dark, creative forest where every turn leads to a new "black house" with something strange and beautiful inside. Some of the structures look like traditional Thai houses, while others look like futuristic white pods or igloos, which is a really fun surprise. Since the grounds are so big, it never feels too crowded, giving you plenty of space to take in the details and snap some amazing photos. If you enjoy exploring and want to see something truly unique, make sure you set aside plenty of time for this place—it’s a huge site that deserves a slow walk-through!

Baan Dam Museum (Black House) is a very unique and thought-provoking place. The architecture and artwork are dark, bold, and unlike anything else, making it interesting to walk around and explore. Each building has its own character and artistic meaning. It’s a great place for those who appreciate art, culture, and unconventional design. The atmosphere is quiet and mysterious, giving visitors a different perspective from typical museums. Definitely worth a visit if you’re curious about something out of the ordinary.

The Baan Dam Museum, also known as the Black House, was a nice surprise for me. I did not realize it was a museum and not a temple like the Blue or White Temples. It is actually a collection of art by Thawan Duchaness, as well as artists throughout the museum. The building and structures are sometimes daunting and always beautiful. There is an admission fee but you can roam around the grounds and I would say that it was worth it. Just be careful while you are walking around. There are smoother pathways but also some uneven terrain and grassy areas as well as you get deeper into the grounds. Totally worth the visit if you are exploring around Chiang Rai. Now for my standard comments. Location is relatively clean for being all outdoors and kind of in the woodsy area. It is very well maintained. Bathrooms on site as well. Little shops and markets around the corner.

Culturally, this place was interesting to visit and gave a glimpse into some of the older decorative styles in Thai culture. My favorite part was the art in the main building. The black and red theme felt very modern and striking, and I found that section particularly engaging. That said, some areas started to feel a bit repetitive, and a few of the rooms made me a little uncomfortable. The “lizard room,” for example, displays a large number of preserved alligators as part of the art, which personally wasn’t really my thing. I’m not much of a fan of displays involving dead animals. Overall, it was still interesting to see, but for me it probably wasn’t worth the drive since I didn’t feel a strong cultural connection to it and the 80baht entrance fee was rather high for me. That said, if you’re really into art, history, or unique museums, you might appreciate it more than I did.

It was more interesting than we thought. The museum is situated in a pleasant park. Architecture of the different buildings is impressive, and the collection is none of the typical stuff I have seen. They have small cafe where you can buy some drinks, and black ice cream.

This collection of artwork from Thawan Duchanee is stunning. The paintings depict intense representations of dangerous animals and the sculptures show off strength. The dark colours and intense stance give off a goth or maybe a Conan the Barbarian vibe. Buildings have different themes, and demonstrait different parts of Duchanee's art. The grounds are quite beautiful, though there are cows on site tending the grass so you need to watch where you step. Worth the trip out from Chiang Mai.

This museum has a very niche collection focused on animal skulls, skins, horns, paintings and other macabre or unconventional art pieces. While some visitors might find it fascinating from a scientific or artistic perspective, it definitely isn’t for everyone. The displays can feel unsettling and uncomfortable, especially for those sensitive to graphic or morbid imagery. I personally didn’t enjoy the experience and found it more disturbing than educational. If you’re expecting a traditional museum or something family-friendly, this probably isn’t the right place. Definitely Not a place to visit with kids.