The Best Bangkok Attractions
Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Temple
Bangkok AttractionsWith so many seemingly endless Bangkok attractions to keep you on your toes for days on end, you may not know quite where to begin. If you are coming over to this part of the world for the first time and in particularly Bangkok, you'll in all probability, be completely overwhelmed but then that's a fairly normal reaction.I have travelled to many south eastern countries including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Cambodia and was totally overwhelmed on arrival. I still continue to be amazed. I am in absolute awe of all things eastern but my love of Thailand, is still my all time favourite. I hope you too will marvel at all the splendor here too. In particular I have a love affair with Bangkok with it's vibrant atmosphere and cheerful people despite the pollution, excessive heat and crowds. Oh! and did I mention the dirty streets. Please do not be alarmed by all this as this is exactly what gives Bangkok it's alluring charm. There is just something about this place that keeps drawing me back year after year. I have made many friends including a Thai girlfriend and hope to someday settle in this mad crazy part of the world. Anyway once you have unpacked your bags you will probably want to take a good look around. The best place to start is perhaps a visit to the Royal Palace. The photo below will give you an idea of what you would be looking forward to.
Grand Palace in Bangkok
Bangkok AttractionsTemplesWhether big or small, temples in every part of Thailand play a very vital role in all communities. Most of them are home to the ever growing monk population and for many visitors, they rank amongst the most memorable sites in the country. There must be close to a thousand temple or temple complexes in Bangkok alone.They say when in Rome, one must do as the Romans do, so when in Bangkok, your trip would not be complete without a visit to at least one of the temples. I have compiled a comprehensive list of the most important temples in Bangkok. They are probably the most popular ones too. Some you may have heard of such as the
Grand Palace Complex
and there are others that are not quite as well known yet equally as good if not even more unusual such as
Wat Rachanadda
Buddhist Temple. I shall leave it up to you to decide which temple best suits you.
View of Wat Pho Temple
Bangkok AttractionsMonuments and ShrinesThe Democracy Monument occupies a traffic circle on the wide Rajadamnoen Boulevard only a short walk from the backpackers hangout on Khao San Road in central Bangkok. It serves as a focal point during pro-democracy demonstrations of which the city has had it's fair share. Features at the monument were put in place to commemorate Thailand's transition to a constitutional monarchy and to serve as a reminder to those who had died here during violent times in Thailand.The Erawan Shrine occupies a site outside the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel on one of the busiest and noisiest corners of downtown Bangkok. The shrine is dedicated to the ancient Hindu creation god Brahma and his elephant mount. Local residents as well as some foreigners come here to try and improve their fortunes such as winning the lottery or successfully passing an exam or to express gratitude for having achieved their dreams. Jim Thompson House Museum
Bangkok AttractionsMuseumsJim Thompson House Museum in downtown Bangkok is a must see Thai-style home that was timelessly constructed using material collected from several homes brought in from central Thailand. The American born owner Jim Thompson came to the country at the end of the second world war where he revived the Thai silk industry until his mysterious disappearance in Malaysia during 1967.Kamthieng House is a one hundred and sixty year old traditional Thai-style teak house that has been converted into a lovely folk art museum. The house was set up by the Siam Society to research, rediscover and preserve Thai Lanna Culture for future generations. It is also the country's only genuine ethnological museum. Items on display show life during the nineteenth century in northern Thailand. The Royal Barge Museum is situated on the north bank of Khlong Bangkok Noi just off the Chao Phraya River in the Thonburi area of Bangkok. Housed within a huge warehouse-like structure is a fascinating collection of eight superbly crafted regal boats displaying magnificent mystical creatures on their prows. The most important barge at the museum is the Sri Suphanahongsa exclusively reserved for the king. If you love boats, then you are sure to be in awe to the ones here.
Lacquer Pavilion at Suan Pakkad Palace
Bangkok AttractionsPalaces and MansionsSuan Pakkad Palace is a group of traditional Thai teak houses assembled on what was once a cabbage patch and now converted into an impressive museum. The grounds are considered to be amongst the finest landscaped gardens in Bangkok with many exotic plants collected from around the world and the jungles of Thailand. The renovated Lacquer Pavilion may be the highlight here but there are also an amazing collection of art and artifacts to be seen in the museum.Vimanmek Palace is situated on Ratchawithi Road behind the National Assembly and is considered the largest golden teak building in the world. It's an 81 room mansion containing a splendid collection of antique furniture, famous artifacts such as Faberge jewellery, ceramics and other objects d'art from around Europe.
Democracy Monument in Bangkok
Bangkok AttractionsChao Phraya River CruiseTo get a real glimpse of everyday Thai life in Bangkok you need to take a leisurely cruise on the Chao Phraya River where you'll be able to stop over at any one of the many piers to view a number of historic sights. The Chao Phraya is known as the Venice of the East and for very good reason too. Many of the attractions are easily assessable on or near the water front. With so many organized river tours to choose from, you will get to see famous places such as the Grand Palace and Wat Arun to name but a few, as well as many more fabulous places of interest.View over the Chao Phraya River
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