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Sightseeing Sightseeing Overview The sprawling city of Bangkok is full of interesting attractions for tourists, however, the heavily congested traffic means that it is difficult to cover a lot of ground in a single day. Sightseeing should be selective if time is short or restricted to one area per day, although the new Skytrain does help visitors travel across town quicker. An excellent way to appreciate the layout of the city is to go to the observation deck on the 77th floor of the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, the second tallest hotel in the world, after the Grand Hyatt in Shanghai. Many of the main places of interest, such as the Royal Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the National Museum, are to the east of the Chao Phraya River (west of the north–south railway line) in an area called Rattanakosin Island, which is also home to many hotels. However, some visitors may stay to the east of the railway line in the Sukhumvit Road area, where there is excellent shopping, nightlife and tourist sights, such as Suan Pakkard Palace Museum and Jim Thompson Thai House. Apart from the major sights (see Key Attractions), which are all ‘must-see’, there are numerous other attractions, including over 400 temples. To the north of the Royal Grand Palace is Sanam Luang, which is a huge public area, surrounded by old tamarind trees, used for many ceremonies throughout the year, such as the Ploughing Ceremony, as well as being a popular place for kite-flying and just passing the time. The 19th-century Wat Suthat on Bamrung Muang Road is renowned for its murals depicting the lives of Buddha. In front of the temple is Sao Ching Cha (Giant Swing), which was the site of a Brahmin ceremony until the 1920s. Only the posts of the swing remain. Chinatown is a lively area located between the river and Hualampong railway station. The area is fascinating for its maze of narrow lanes and open-fronted shops selling a cornucopia of items. On Yaowarat Road, Wat Trai Mit houses a gleaming solid gold Buddha, three metres (ten feet) high and weighing over five tons. Close to Chinatown is Phahurat, the main Indian area, crammed with colourful fabric shops and excellent Indian restaurants. On Si Ayutthaya Road, in an elegant area full of government buildings and the current royal residence, is Wat Benjamabopit, mainly built with Italian marble and a mix of European and Thai architecture. Lumphini Park is a haven of tranquillity in the heart of the city, dotted with pavilions and two small lakes. For visitors who do not have time to travel in the rest of Thailand, the Ancient City is an open-air museum with full-size and scaled-down replicas of famous buildings, monuments and temples from all over the country. It covers an area of 112 hectares (280 acres) and is 33km (20 miles) southeast of the city centre. Well worth a visit is Bang Pa In, 60km (37 miles) north of Bangkok, the former summer residence of the royal family in the 17th century, which is a collection of buildings reflecting Oriental and European influences. Whether visiting palaces or temples, it is important to dress respectfully. Entry can and will be refused if this rule is not followed. Tourist Information Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Le Concorde Building, 10th floor, 202 Ratchadaphisek Road Tel: (02) 694 1222. Fax: (02) 694 1220. E-mail: center@tat.or.th Website: www.tat.or.th Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1630. There is another office at 4 Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Pomprab (open daily 0830-1630). The Tourist Service Centre on Khao San Road (in front of Chana Songkram Police Station) is open daily 0800-2400. The tourist police provide 24-hour assistance for complaints and emergencies from their an office on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue or through the toll-free hotline (tel: 1155). |
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