Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

Call it the Black House, and most people will nod in agreement, much like with the White and Blue Temples. But this estate is something entirely different. It is the life's work of the national artist Thawan Duchanee, who died in 2014: a complex of over 40 dark wooden buildings spread across a large garden and filled with bones, horns, furs, and enormous, carved furniture arranged like works of art. Northern Thai forms, interpreted here in a completely new and unusual way. The main hall, black and red inside, is the work that has stuck in most people's minds.

It is not a temple, although it incorporates temple forms. Baan Dam means "black house" and was Thawan's residence and studio before it was opened to visitors. Therefore, there are no monks or rituals here, only the buildings and their contents.

Plan for one and a half to two hours. Those who rush will quickly lose track of 40 buildings; the reward is leisurely wandering and discovering each one individually. A word of warning: there's a room with taxidermied alligators that disturbs many visitors. If taxidermied animals and skulls aren't your thing, you probably won't enjoy this place. Some visitors find the exhibition monotonous after a while, which I believe is intentional.

Entry costs 80 baht; children under 12 enter free. The park is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. According to the Thai Holiday Guide, there is a lunch break from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. A morning visit is therefore recommended, as it is more pleasant then and the heat is less intense. The paths are almost entirely outdoors and vary in surface from flat to slightly uneven. The park is located about 13 km north of the city on Route 1. The Grab ride takes 20 to 25 minutes and costs approximately 200 to 300 baht each way. Alternatively, a comfortable scooter ride is possible. Directly behind the park is the Green Farm House, an organic restaurant with farm-fresh cuisine. It's a good place to stop for lunch.