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Home - City Guide - Bangkok - Sightseeing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sightseeing Sightseeing 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 or restricted to one area unless staying in the city for any length of time. 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. Apart from the major sights, which are a 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 a popular place for kite-flying and for passing time. The nineteenth-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 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 Sri 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 from Bangkok, The Ancient City is an open-air museum with full-size and scaled-down replicas of famous buildings, monuments and temples from all around the country. It covers an area of 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 seventeenth 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. In the attractions that follow, transport routes have not been included, as it is best for tourists to use one of the various forms of taxi. Tourist Information Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Le Concorde Building, 10th Floor, 202 Ratchadaphisek Road Tel: (02) 694 1222 or 1155 (free English information line for visitors). Fax: (02) 694 1361. Web site: www.tourismthailand.org or www.amazingthailand.th Opening hours: 0830-1630 Mon-Fri. There are other offices at 4 Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, Pomprab, Bangkok, and at the Tourist Service Centre on Khao San Road (in front of Chana Songkram Police Station). |
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