Bangkok Travel Guide
Exotic City of Golden Spires
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A superb, exhilarating city that has everything the traveller to the exotic east could wish for. Bisected by the Chao Phraya River a boat journey reveals riverside palaces and golden temples. Mixing old and new it’s the perfect introduction to SE Asia.
Taking over from Ayutthaya the city of Bangkok was established on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River by King Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty in 1782. As the new capital of Thailand, Bangkok’s position on the flood plain of the Chao Phraya River was at that time a natural defence against enemies as well as being in close proximity to the sea for trade.
Today it is an eclectic mix of the hyper-modern and the traditional: it’s not unusual to see, in the early morning, monks walking with bowls collecting alms beneath towering skyscrapers or the new Skytrain rail link. There are countless attractions from superb museums to the temples (wats) and palaces, Chinatown, river journeys, walking and bike tours and much more.
Attractions in Bangkok
The main sights are to be found in the city centre itself. First on the list and rightly so are Wat Phra Kaew, the Grand Palace and Wat Pho – all conveniently clustered together near Sanam Luang, the open park where Thais fly kites. If you are dead on your feet (or not…) you simply must take a massage in Wat Po, where experienced Thai masseuses skillfully ease away any tension.
Other must sees are Jim Thompson’s House, where history has been captured in what was his teak house, the National Museum and Wat Saket and the Golden Mount. Another highlight is the solid gold Buddha image housed in Wat Tramit – all 5.5 tonnes of it!
Head onto the river for a journey across to Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn and Thonburi, then cross back to Chinatown before spending an evening in the bright lights of Patpong.
Activities in Bangkok
A guided bike or walking tour is a great way to explore and see more of the city, and for those short of time a city sightseeing tour over one or, better, two days will give a good introduction to the main sights.
Relaxing
Where to start! There are so many places to chill out in Bangkok, how about a wander around (in)famous Khao San Road – the backpacker district or one of those massages in Wat Pho. There are upmarket restaurants too, such as Vertigo in the Banyan Tree Hotel from where there are incredibly views.
Getting Around
If not on a guided tour in which case transport will be provided for you, take to your feet or hire a bike. The city is manageable on foot with a judicious mix of tuk tuk, river travel and Skytrain thrown in.
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