Bangkok Information

Bangkok Information

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (Chapel of the Emerald Buddha)
This inner-city riverine landmark contains several buildings with highly detailed ar-chitectural features. Wat Phra Kaeo, within the same compound, is a treasure house of Thai arts, and houses the Emerald Bud-dha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Also contained with the Grand Palace enclave is the Royal Thai Decora-tions & Coin Pavilion which features a per-manent exhibition of royal regalia, decora-tions, medals and coins and monetary units used in Thailand since the early 11th century. The complex is open daily from 8.30 AM until 3.30 PM. Proper dress is essential.

Sanam Luang (Phramen Ground)
This oval public ground in front of the Grand Palace enclave is used for various royal ceremonies, including the Royal Ploughing Ceremony each May, and is edged by several noteworthy institutions. These include the Fine Arts Department, Thammasat University, and the National Museum, which houses a superb collection of artifacts and objets d'art dating from the Bronze Age. The National Theatre regularly stages classical dance drama performances, the National Gallery houses a collection of traditional and contemporary paintings by leading Thai artists, and Lak Muang (City Pillar Shrine) on the south-east corner of Sanam Luang, contains a stone pillar placed there by King Rama I as the foundation stone for his new capital of Bangkok. Lak Muang is believed by many to have the power of granting wishes. Admission to the National Museum is 20 Baht. The museum is open every day ex-cept Monday and Tuesday, 9.00 AM until 4.00 PM. The National Theatre can be contacted at 224-1342 on weekdays (8.30 AM-4.30 PM) for details of current programmes. Admission to the National Gallery is 10 Baht, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9.00 AM- 4.00 PM.

Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha)
This large and extensive temple neighbours the Grand Palace enclave and contains a gigantic gold plated Reclining Buddha some 46 metres long and 15 metres high, and with inlaid mother-of-pearl soles.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
This famous Chao Phraya riverbank land-mark, diagonally opposite the Grand Pal-ace, is best known for a porcelain encrusted 79-metre central pagoda (phra prang) which sparkles in the sun.

Vimanmek Palace (The Celestial Residence)
Located behind Bangkok's National As-sembly, this is the world's largest golden teak building. The 3-storey palace con-tains 81 rooms, halls and ante-chambers containing fin de siecle royal memorabilia.

Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha)
Located at the end of Chinatown's Yaowarat Road, near Hualampong Railway Station, this temple houses an ancient solid gold seated Buddha image, three metres in height and weighing five and a half tons.

Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
Located in Si Ayutthaya Road, near Chitralada Palace, this unique marble tem-ple was constructed during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910), employs European ecclesiastic details, such as stained glass windows, and contains a su-perb cloister collection of bronze Buddha images.

Wat Suthat & The Giant Swing
Located on Bamrung Muang Road, this temple is noted for its superb 19th-cen-tury murals in the main chapel. The dis-tinctive Giant Swing outside the temple was once used in Brahmanic ceremonial long since discontinued.

Wat Saket (The Golden Mount)
Wat Saket's major feature is the Golden Mount, dating from the 1800s, which over- looks Ratchadamnoen Avenue. The golden chedi houses relics of Lord Bud-dha and offers a panoramic view of his-toric Bangkok. Other inner-city temples that merit visits include Wat Mahathat, a Buddhist univer-sity edging Sanam Luang, Wat Ratchabophit on Ban Mo Road, Wat Intharawihan on Wisutkasat Road, with its 32-metre-high standing Buddha image, and Wat Ratchanatdaram, behind the Rama III Memorial Park on Ratcha-damnoen Avenue, with its pink Loha Prasat. Royal Barges Thailand's ornately carved and decorated Royal Barges are displayed in boatsheds on Khlong (Canal) Bangkok Noi, just off the Chao Phraya River near Phra Pin Klao Bridge. The boatsheds are open to the public every day from 8.30 AM until 4.30 PM. Ad-mission fee is 10 Baht.

Jim Thompson's Thai House
This collection of traditional Thai-style houses, fashioned into one dwelling, be-longs to the man who helped restore the Thai Silk industry after World War II, and, today, preserved as a museum, contains a priceless collection of Asian objets d'art. The canalside museum is located in Soi Kasemsan 2 on Rama I Road, opposite the National Stadium. Admission fee is 100 Baht. Open Mon-days through Saturdays, 9.00 AM until 4.30 PM.

Suan Pakkard Palace
Located on Si Ayutthaya Road, this com-plex of five Thai-style houses occupies a beautiful garden and houses an important collection of Asian antiques. A lacquer pavilion is decorated with sumptuous late Ayutthayan period (1350-1767) gold-leaf murals. Admission fee 50 Baht. Open Monday through Saturday, from 9.00 AM until 4.00 PM.

Pasteur Institute Snake Farm
Located near Chulalongkorn Hospital, on the corner of Henri Dunant and Rama IV roads, the Snake Farm contains a col-lection of poisonous snakes which are 'milked' daily for their venom in order to produce invaluable anti-snakebite serum. Admission fee is 40 Baht. Venom is ex-tracted from the snakes every day, at 10.30 AM and 2.00 PM on weekdays, and at 10.30 AM on public holidays.

Dusit Zoo
Located beside the Royal Plaza, Bangkok's oldest zoo contains a collection of popu-lar African and Asian mammals and birds in an ornamental garden. Admission fee is 10 Baht. The zoo is open every day from 8.00 AM until 6.00 PM.

Ban Kamthieng
Located in the garden of the Siam Society on Sukhumvit Soi 21 (Asoke), this 200-year-old northern Thai-style house contains a collection of traditional imple-ments used by Thai farmers and ricefield fishermen. Admission fee is 20 Baht. Open daily, ex-cept Sundays and Mondays, from 9.00 AM until 12 noon, and 1.00 PM until 5.00 PM.

Bangkok Doll Museum
Located on Soi Ratchataphan, off Ratchaprarop Road, this exhibits dolls made by the local factory. The museum is open daily, except Sundays, from 8.00 AM until 5.00 PM.

King Rama IX Park
This 200-acre botanical garden-cum-pub-lic park is located deep inside Sukhumvit Soi 103 (Udomsuk) and was opened in 1987 to commemorate the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Admission fee is 10 Baht. The park is open daily from 6.00 AM until 6.00 PM.

Siam City Park
Located in suburban Minburi, some 30-min-utes east of the Lat Phrao flyover, this water amusement park contains a man-made sea with artificial surf, whirlpools, fountains, waterfalls and towering sliders. Satellite attractions include a children's playground, aviaries, open zoo and botanical garden. Admission fee is 200 Baht for adults,150 Baht for children. Open daily from 10.00 AM until 8.00 PM.

Safari World
This 300-acre complex is also located in Minburi, via Km 9 on Raminthra Road. The complex is divided into four sections, namely a Safari Park populated by African and Asian mammals, a Bird Park, a Macaw Island, and a Games Corner. Admission fee is 400 Baht for adults, and 300 for children. The complex is open daily from 9.00 AM until 5.00 PM.

The Chao Phraya River & Bangkok's Canals (Khlongs)
Nineteenth-century Bangkok was laced with canals, giving the capital the desig-nation 'Venice of the East'. Surviving ca-nals, and the Chao Phraya River (River of Kings) provide memorable vignettes of a traditional waterborne way-of-life that has remained essentially unchanged over the centuries. The river and canals may be conveniently explored by public transport.

Express Boat Trip/Bangkok-Nonthaburi
An express boat service on the Chao Phraya River connects Bangkok with the northern neighbouring province of Nonthaburi, starting from the Wat Ratsingkhon Pier near Krung Thep Bridge. The fare is 7 Baht. Major sights include the Memorial Bridge, Wat Arun, the riverine Grand Palace and Thammasat University. The most convenient boarding points areTha Chang Pier near the Grand Palace, and Tha Phra Chan Pier near Thammasat University. The express boat service operates daily from 6.00 AM until 8.00 PM.

Khlong Mon
Boats leave every 30 minutes, daily, from 6.30 AM until 6.00 PM, from Tha Tian Pier behind Wat Pho. The single fare is 4 Baht. Picturesque sights include canalside tem-ples, orchards, orchid farms and perpetu-ally fascinating vignettes of waterborne life.

Khlong Bang Waek
Boats leave the Memorial Bridge Pier every 15 minutes from 6.00 AM until 9.30 PM. The single fare is 10 Baht. Scenic attractions include canalside temples and orchid farms.

Khlongs Bang Khun Wiang & Bang Yai
Boats leave Tha Chang Pier near the Grand Palace every 20 minutes between 6.15 AM and 8.00 PM. The single fare is 10 Baht. Scenic attractions include canalside tem-ples, the Royal Barge Boatsheds, Thai-style houses and the early morning Khu Wiang Floating Market which operates be-tween 4 and 7.00 AM.

Chao Phraya River Dinner Cruises
Riverine Bangkok offers some of the capi-tal's most arresting sights, particularly at night when the weather is cooler and light reflections bestow the Chao Phraya River with flickering magic and romance. An ideal way of combining dining with riverine en-chantment is to enjoy a river dinner cruise. Reservations, current prices, conditions and departure times may be obtained from the Loy Nava Co. Ltd. (Tel: 437-4932, 437- 7329), the Yok Yor Restaurant (281-1829), the Khanab Nam Restaurant (433-6611, 424-8453-4), River Sightseeing Ltd. (437-4047), Ban Khun Luang (243-3235, 241-2282, 241-0928) or Riverside Co. Ltd. (434-0090-4).

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SPECIAL INTERESTS

Thai Boxing
This unique martial art of 'Muay Thai' can be seen in its commercial form throughout the week at two major boxing stadiums, Lumphini, on Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and Ratchadamnoen, on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Pro-grammes generally feature eight bouts, and commence at 6.00 PM.

Cultural Performances
Thai and international cultural perform-ances, including orchestral performances, ballet, mime and jazz and pop concerts, are frequently staged at the National Theatre (Tel: 224-1342 ) at Sanam Luang, the Thai-land Cultural Centre (Tel: 247-0028) on Ratchadaphisek Road, and the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (Tel: 299-3000-9 ) on New Ratchadaphisek Road. Details of current events can generally be found in Bangkok's major English language newspapers.

Traditional Thai Massage
This therapeutic and highly soothing form of massage purportedly evolved from rishis (forest-dwelling Brahmin hermit asetics) who relieved the physical stress of ex-tended periods of meditation by adopting certain postures.

Thai Cooking
The Thai cuisine gains increasing interna-tional favour. Visitors wishing to learn how to cook Thai food can contact the Thai Cooking School at the Oriental Hotel (Tel: 437-6211, 437-3080), the Modern Housewife Centre (Tel: 279-2831-4), or the UFM Food Centre Co. Ltd. (259-0620-30) for full details.

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OUT OF CITY

Attractions
Provinces neighbouring Bangkok contain certain popular attractions. These include :

NONTHABURI
This 'market garden' riverine province north of Bangkok was formerly famous for its durian orchards. The province contains several historic temples, including the pro-vincial capital's riverside Wat Chalerm Phra Kiat-- which features exquisite por-celain- decorated gables, a castellated en-closure and excellent mural paintings -- and a traditional floating market at Khlong Ban Khu Wiang where, every morning farmers congregate in produceladen sampans to offer a glimpses of a rapidly disappearing way of life.

PATHUM THANI
Wat Phailom
This riverside temple is a sanctuary for open-billed storks which, from December through June, nest in their thousands within the temple complex.

SAMUT PRAKAN
The Ancient City
Essentially an open-air museum, this more than 200-acre complex contains scale rep-licas of religious complexes, monuments and buildings found throughout Thailand. The complex is located at Km 33 on Sukhumvit Highway and is open daily from 8.30 AM until 5.00 PM. Further details may be obtained by telephone (224-1057, 222- 8145-9).

Crocodile Farm
The complex contains some 30,000 fresh-water and marine crocodiles and a mini-zoo. Daily shows featuring crocodiles are staged at hourly intervals between 9.00 and 11.00 AM, and 2.00 and 4.00 PM. Further details may be obtained by telephone (387-0020, 387-1166, 387-1168, 387-2375).

SAMUT SAKHON
This coastal province is best known for its salt production, the coastal fishing com-munity of Mahachai where excellent na-tive- style seafood can be enjoyed, and for bird-watching opportunities on coastal mudflats. A daily floating market is fea-tured at Khlong Pho Hak.

SAMUT SONGKHRAM
This petite coastal province is laced with canals that irrigate fruit orchards and support traditional floating markets at Bang Noi, Tha Kha and Amphawa.

NAKHON PATHOM
Phuttha Monthon
This Buddha's Precinct & Botanical Garden is located approximately 16 kilometres west of Bangkok. The more than 1,000-acre complex commemorates the Buddha's en-lightenment more than 2,500 years ago, and is dominated by a bronze walking Buddha image some 15 metres high.

Human Imagery Museum
Located at Km 31 on the Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisi road, the museum houses life-sized fibreglass sculptures of former monarchs, ecclesiastics and rural folk. Further de-tails may be obtained by telephone (01- 211-6261).

Rose Garden Country Resort
32 kilometres west of Bangkok, beside the Tachin river, this artfully landscaped re-sort complex is open daily to the public from 8.00 AM until 6.00 PM for an admis-sion fee of 10 Baht. A Thai Cultural Village within the complex presents a daily afternoon shows featuring folk dances, martial arts demonstrations and the like. Further details may be obtained by tel-ephone (253-0295-7, 253-2276).

Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo
Located just one kilometre from the Rose Garden, this 22-acre complex features many different wild animals and thousands of crocodiles, including the world's largest al-bino crocodile. Open daily from 9.00 AM until 6.00 PM, the complex stages daily shows featuring crocodiles and elephants. Further information may be obtained by telephone (284-1873, 294-5211, 284-0273).

Phra Pathom Chedi
This bell-shaped, orange-tiled chedi, lo-cated in Nakhon Pathom provincial capi-tal, some 56 kilometres west of Bangkok, is the tallest Buddhist monument in the world, and marks the spot where Buddhism was introduced to the Thailand-to-be some 2,300 years ago.

RATCHABURI
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Located some 80 kilometres southwest of Bangkok, this market sees the daily morn-ing congregation of produce-laden boats as farmers and smallholders trade in agri-cultural produce.

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SHOPPING

Shopping is one of Bangkok's major attractions. Favourite purchases include Thai silks and cottons, modern and traditional jewellery featuring precious gemstonessuch as sapphires, rubies, emeralds and diamonds, semi-precious stones including opals, jades, topazes, turquoises and ziricons,silverware,nielloware, pew-terware, bronzeware, ceramics, specially high-fired celadon, leather goods, wood-carvings, paintings, custom-tailored cloth-ing and any of the one thousand and one items produced by skilled Thai artisans. Bangkok is one of the most competitively priced cities in Asia. Friendly bargaining in most stores and markets ensure favour-able prices and service. There are six clearly defined city shopping areas:

Phatphong/Suriwong/Silom Area
Major hotels include the Montian and Dusit Thani. Numerous shops, and de-partment stores, sell jewellery, gemstones, antiques, ceramics, leather goods, men's and women's clothing, handicrafts, Thai silks and cottons, electrical and photo-graphic goods. The area comprises Bangkok's major com-mercial and nightlife centre.

Mahesak/Silom/New Road Area
Principal hotels include the Shangri-la, Ori-ental and Sheraton Royal Orchid. The area is a major gemstone dealing and jewellery manufacturing area. Boutiques, art galler-ies, department stores and shopping arcades, including the River City complex, sell a wide range of items, with particular emphasis on antiques, tailored clothing, and contemporary Thai and Asian paint-ings.

Phloen Chit /Pathumwan Area
Principal hotels include Le Meridien, the Hyatt Erawan, Arnoma, Regent, Imperial and Siam-Intercontinental. The area en-compasses several department stores and shopping centres, such as the World Trade Center, Siam Square, Siam Centre and Mahboonkrong. Almost everything the shopper needs may be found within this area. Thailand's principal duty-free shopping outlet is located on the 7th floor of the World Trade Center.

Sukhumvit Area
Principal hotels include the Landmark, Am-bassador and Sheraton Grande. Concen-trated largely between Soi Nana (Soi 3) and Soi Asoke (Soi 21), several shops, shopping centres and department stores offer a broad range of Thai and imported items. The Nana Entertainment Complex on Soi 4 is one of Bangkok's favourite nightlife areas.

Pratunam/Petchaburi Road Area
Principal hotels include the Amari Watergate and Indra regent. The area is best known for its inexpensive readymade clothing, which is sold partly in a street market, where determined bargaining is required for best prices.

Banglamphu
This riverine section of Bangkok is fa-voured by back-packers for its budget ac-commodation. The area offers inexpensive items, especially readymade clothing, leather goods, footwear, cosmetics and curios. Bargaining is recommended.

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PRINCIPAL MARKETS

Chatuchak Weekend Market
An approximately 35-acre public park on Phaholyothin Road, opposite the North-ern Bus Terminal, and known locally as Suan Chatuchak, is the site of a popular weekend market which sells at least one thousand different local products includ-ing pets, handicrafts, plants, fresh fruit, antique reproductions, shoes, toys, cloth-ing and domestic utensils. The weekend market is open on Saturday and Sunday from dawn to dusk, or approxi-mately 7.00 AM until 6.00 PM.

Bang Rak Market
Located on New Road, between Silom and Sathon roads, this market offers a particu-larly large selection of cut blooms and or-chids. Lovely garlands made principally of jasmine are a specialty.

Thewet Market
Lining the bank of Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem off Samsen Road, this market is best known for potted plants.

Lang Krasuang Market
Facing Khlong Lot, on Atsadang Road, between the Royal Hotel and Interior Minstry, a row of shophouses sell moderately priced second-hand goods, including antique cameras and typewriters, musical instruments, radios, and all manner of electrical goods. Bargaining is essential.

Woeng Nakhon Kasem
Better known as 'Thieves Market', located between Yaowarat Road and New Road, near Phahurat, this area sells antiques, in-cluding Thai and Chinese objets d'art, por-celain, brassware, copperware and furni-ture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Bargain-ing is essential.

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DINING / NIGHTLIFE

Simply stated, Bangkok is one of the best eating places in the world, for gourmet and gourmand alike. Almost every major cui-sine in the world is represented in specialty restaurants located throughout the city. Quality Thai and Chinese food is ubiqui-tous in outlets as diverse as coffeeshops and street front restaurants, markets and food centres found in shopping arcades, department stores and hotels. Several com-plimentary English-language tourism guides, available at hotel reception desks, provide comprehensive listings of choice eating places. The classified advertisement pages of Bangkok's most popular English-language newspapers are another reliable source of information for good dining. Bangkok's nightlife is almost legendary. Nightlife outlets are found citywide. Be-yond hotels, the most popular nightlife areas are the Phatphong area between Silom and Surawong roads, the Soi Nana and Soi Cowboy areas on Sukhumvit Road, and the New Phetchaburi Road area be-tween Sukhumvit Sois 21 and 71. Afore-mentioned complimentary English-lan-guage tourism magazines list the most popular outlets, such as bars, disco-theques, restaurants featuring Thai classi-cal dance and cocktail lounges.

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MAJOR EVENS

Besides nationally celebrated events on public holidays, including Buddhist holy days and the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran, cel-ebrated each April, Bangkok hosts a number of important annual events. They include :

New Year's Celebrations
Generally celebrated on January 1, located around Sanam Luang, and marked by early-morning Buddhist merit-making, and after-noon and evening folk entertainment.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Staged every May at Sanam Luang, and presided over by H.M. the King, to mark the official commencement of the rice-planting season.

H.M. the Queen's Birthday
Celebrated each August 12. Public build-ings, particularly in the Ratchadamnoen and Grand Palace areas are illuminated at night.

Chulalongkorn Day
Celebrated each October 23, principally be-side the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn (reign: 1868-1910), the mon-arch generally credited with saving Thailand from western colonialisation, and who modernised his country, besides abol-ishing slavery.

Trooping of the Colours
Celebrated each December 3, preceding H.M. King Bhumibol's birthday, the elite Royal Guards swear anew their allegiance to their monarch in a colourful ceremony in the Royal Plaza.

H.M. the King's Birthday
Celebrated each December 5 with Buddhist merit-making, spectacular evening illumi-nations in the Grand Palace and Ratchadamnoen areas, and public enter-tainment principally in the form of folk dra-mas and open-air filmshows at Sanam Luang.

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Information provided by T.A.T (Tourism Autority of Thailand)