The Most Visited Places

Bangkok, known to the Thais as "Krungthep", which means the City of Angels, was established in 1782 by King Rama I as capital of Siam. Over the past two centuries, it has developed into a great metropolis with a population of over eight million. Like other modern cities in the world, Bangkok boasts lots of massive buildings, numerous luxurious hotels, shopping centres, and a modern international airport. But Bangkok has also retained its traditional charm. It is a mixture of East and West, the ancient and the modern. Its surface has taken on the look of the present time, while underneath the old ways are much alive in Thais' everyday life. So, despite its modernization, Bangkok is still best suited for a glimpse of the traditional arts, architecture, religion, and other aspects of the culture of the Thai people.

If you want to visit these places with a travel agent.

City Pillar Shrine

According to an old Thai tradition, a city pillar had to be built upon the establishment of a new city. King Rama I had the Bangkok city pillar erected near the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on Sunday, 21 April, 1782, with the citys horoscope inside. The original pillar was made of cassia wood known as Chaiyaphruek, measuring 75 cm. in diameter and 27 cm. high. In the reign of King Rama IV, the old dilapidated pillar was replaced by a new one made of the same kind of wood, measuring 270 cm. high and standing on a base of 175 cm. wide, sheltered by a Prang-shaped shrine as it appears today. The shrine also houses images of protective deities including Thepharak, Chaopho Ho Klong, Phra Suea Mueang, Phra Song Mueang, Chaopho Chetakhup and Phra Kan Chai Si.

Open : Daily from 07.00-18.00 hrs.

Admission : Free

Floating Market : Damnoen Saduak

This large and popular floating market is about 80 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province. Photos of this vibrant market featuring many small boats laden with colourful fruits and vegetables and paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats, are among the most often published in travel magazines and brochures of Thailand.

The Damnoen Saduak canal was ordered to be built in 1866 by King Rama IV of the Chakri Dynasty to facilitate waterborne travels between Ratchaburi and Samutsakhon Provinces. It was finished and opened to the public in 1868.

Nowadays, apart from providing transportation, Damnoen Saduak canal also provides local farmers with adequate water for agricultural purposes. A number of canals were dug to connect with it by local peasants to get water to splatter their land. As the excellent quality soil along the canal is very fertile, the area has a high potential for producing various kinds of fruits and vegetables.

The Floating Market is routinely crowded with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats selling and buying agricultural products and local food, which are mostly brought from their own nearby orchards. Therefore, it is a very attractive place for tourists to see this old style and traditional way of selling and buying goods.

Around this area, boat trip services are available for sightseeing along smaller canals branching off from the Damnoen Saduak canal. Visitors can observe Thai traditional houses and the way they live as well as tasting exotic fruits, local food and refreshing drinks along the waterway.

There are bus services to Damnoen Saduak from the Southern Bus Terminal on Borommarat Chachonnani Road starting at 6 a.m. You'd better get there as early in the morning as possible to escape a crowd of visitors.

Open daily at 07.00-12.00 hrs

Bike 300 bath / 8 people

Boat Hagyaw 400 bath / 8 people

Parking costs 20 bath / vehicles (private)

Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo

The zoo boasts an elephant theme show which includes elephants training by mahouts, elephants at work, dancing, playing football and scenes of ancient elephant-back battle. The zoo also includes a crocodile farm with more than 10,000 crocodiles, where daily crocodile wrestling shows are held.

Information Tel. 0 2429 0361 to 2

Duration of visit About half day

Open Daily, 08.00 - 17.00 hrs.

Accessibility By Phetkasem Highway about 40 min. drive. Daily coach service from the Southern Bus Terminal.

Snake Farm (Pasteur Institute)

Located at the corner of Henri Dunant Road and Rama IV Road, the Snake Farm is the second oldest in the world. A foreigner who realized the dangers of snakes’ venom established it in 1923. Since imported serum was no match for serum produced by Thai poisonous snakes, this snake farm was purposely built to extract serum from their venom.

At present, the farm is also used for providing knowledge about venom for interested people and medical students, as well as raising non-poisonous snakes, which are beneficial to our ecosystem like the Indochinese rat snake, and the copperhead racer, which is kept for educational purposes.

After refurbishing, the Farm now features multimedia facilities that offer exhibitions such as snakes’ life cycle and their evolution. On weekdays, the extraction of venom is demonstrated at 11.00 hrs. To feel a shiver of excitement, let’s watch a daily show between an experienced handler and deadly reptiles at 14.30 hrs.

In addition, the Farm provides activities for kids such as how to do the first-aid for a snakebite victim and a quiz on snakes’ venom.

For more information: Tel. 0 2252 0161

Open Weekdays, 8.30-16.30 hrs.

Weekends, 9.30-13.00 hrs.

Admission fee 200 baht

Buses 4, 21, 25, 29, 34, 46, 73, 109

Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo

This is the most famous place that is a must for all tourists. It is a large compound located near Sanam Luang in the very heart of Bangkok. The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were built after King Rama I ascended the throne as the founder of the Chakri Dynasty on 6 April 1782 and have undergone several repairs and renovations.

The Grand Palace consists of several buildings with different styles of architecture. Wat Phra Kaeo is renowned as the most beautiful and important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It houses Phra Kaeo Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), the most highly revered Buddha image carved from a single block of fine jade.

Scattered in the temple grounds are numerous interesting sculptures of artistic value, including the fanciful animals in mythology, the fierce-looking giants standing guard at the gates, the six pairs of Cambodian-style bronze lions and the stone figures from China.

On the inside walls of the temple's compound, there are extensive mural paintings depicting scenes from the famous epic "Ramayana". It is the longest wall painting in the world as well as one of the Unseen Bangkoks. A distinctive characteristic of this temple is that there are no monks living in it like other temples.

Royal Barges Museum

The Royal Carriage Museum contains 23 royal horse-drawn carriages mostly imported from Europe in the reign of King Rama V.

Besides, cultural shows are presented in the mansion compound every day at 10.30 and 14.00 hrs. A tram service is also available at a fee of 50 baht per person. For more details, contact Tel. 0 2628 6300.

Note : Proper dress is required. Women visitors must wear long skirts or long pants. Men in short pants are not allowed to enter.

Open Daily, 09.30 - 16.00 hrs.

Admission fee 100 baht

Buses 10, 18, 27, 70, 28, 108

Samutprakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo

Here is the world's largest crocodile farm with over 60,000 crocs in stock. Visitors can also view a crocodile wrestling show and elephant shows which are presented several times daily. Besides, there is a modest sized zoo with some rare animals such as tigers, chimpanzees, lions, leopards, pythons, camels, etc. See ad

Information Tel. 0 2703 4891 to 5

Duration of visit About half day

Open Daily, 08.00 - 18.00 hrs.

Accessibility By road 28 km from Bangkok by Highway No. 3 about 30 min. drive.

By bus: Take a No. 8 or 11 air-con bus to Samut Prakan and then take a local minibus

Vimanmek Mansion

Located in the Dusit Palace area behind the old National Assembly Building, this three-storey European style mansion is the biggest golden teakwood building in the world. It was originally built in 1868 by command of King Rama V as a summer house on the island of Ko Si Chang off Chon Buri province. It was moved to Dusit Palace compound in 1901 and used as a royal residence.

After having been deserted for decades, it was renovated by order of H.M. Queen Sirikit in 1982 and opened to the public as the private museum of King Rama V with 31 exhibition rooms in total. Some rooms such as the bedrooms, the throne room and the bathrooms, are kept in the original condition, while the others are used to display art works.

The collection consists mostly of photographs of royalty and other personages. Also displayed are antique furniture, elegant Thai ceramics, precious china, European porcelain, splendid gift items from abroad and many other invaluable memorabilia.

There are several other buildings in the compound that are worth visiting. Most of them display a variety of artefacts and precious art objects. Some interesting ones are:

Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall Built in a harmonious Euro-Thai style, this throne hall is a one-storey building decorated with intricate fretwork known as the floral design, coloured glass and stucco motifs on the gable. It is now used as a museum exhibiting art works and handicrafts of great value, especially those of the SUPPORT Foundation under the royal patronage of HM the Queen.

Suan Farang Kangsai Residential Hall It was originally the residence of Princess Dara Rasmi, a royal consort of King Chulalongkorn. It now displays oil paintings by members of the royal family and various royal paraphernalia, such as an insignia of the king, royal sedan chairs and the Grand Butsabok or movable throne.

Suan Hong Residential Hall This two-storey building was the residence of Queen Sawang Wattana from 1902-1910. Now it houses collections of pictures of royal ceremonies. Moreover, it also houses photographs of activities of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Suan Bua Residential Hall This building was formerly the residence of HH Princess Saisavali Bhiromya, the royal consort of King Rama V. Today, it exhibits the precious art objects which were presented to His Majesty the King on his birthday and other occasions.

Suan Si Rue-du Residential Hall This building was originally the residence of HM Queen Saovabha, and HRH Princess Valaya Alongkorn, HM King Bhumibol's aunt. Presently it displays gifts and art objects presented to His Majesty King Bhumibol on the auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne in 1996.