Bangkok is a metropolitan city and is also the capital city of Thailand. It is one of Southeast Asia’s most thriving commercial centers. More than anywhere else in the country, Bangkok tops the list in expressing the culture’s uncanny ability to blend the old with the new. This lends a thrilling sense of discovery to one’s sightseeing choices and daily activities. Bangkok embraces modern technology to the bone, be it faster trains, cheaper tickets, metro stations and a host of other architectural wonders.
What makes Bangkok intriguing is its energy, which dances a frenetic pace between the ancient and the new. It is a city that loves both the past and the future. It has the world’s third largest dams, the world’s highest cable wire and is preparing to host the world’s largest maritime festival. This, coupled with its spiritual nature, makes Bangkok a destination of uniquealli.
The historical journey is incomplete without visiting themarkers of Bangkok’s reign. Exhibits in the Military Museum, Sir Monami Viswa, include a wide variety of uniforms, weapons, statues, sculptures, and items which are representative of the Byodo-Thesian period of Thai history. The Viswa Highway is theinskiy of Bangkok’s web of alleyways and lanes and is a major artery of Bangkok’s kudapoker commerce.
If you venture inland, you will find yourself in the mausoleum of Napa, Thailand’s most famous son. The teak building known as the Cypress groves of Napa is a known part of Bangkok for its tranquility. It was here in 1885 that the princely state of Thailand established itself by creating a new capital. The capital was then moved here, and still pigeon-free streets are being paved.
Bangkok is a sleepy capital. After the morning influx, which usually takes from 10am to 3pm, the streets in Bangkok never seem to empty. A traveler can take a relaxing stroll along the numbly paved roads and eat a sandwich for a change.
Things to See
Buddhist temples are the characteristic feature of Bangkok’s landscape and can be seen in abundance. Western Buddhist temples stand on the hills or at the occasional lower level, adjacent to the rivers or waterfalls. The richly ornamented temples are an excellent tourist attraction.
The ruins of the capital are numerous. Starting from the Mausoleum of King Rama, the main structures are the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thephrat on the west and the one immediately south of it, the Temple of the Buddha’s mortal remains and the one east of it, the Pim Baroudah temple. The other main ruins are those of the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi.
The one site that should be visited without fail is the National Museum of Thailand. It should be reached via the funicular railway in quick time. The museum was established in 1866, has Thais been living there ever since. There are 60 rooms, divided into specialized sections on such matters as ethnography, Hakka art, military antiques, gardening, marionettes and Thai handicrafts. Here the royal treasures of the kings of the Chakri era are displayed chronologically.
The walking distance to the museum is a walk through the garden in the Asian civilization, the sunset viewing platform. The museum is interesting in that it offers a trip back in time to see how the Thai monarchy was organized before. It was through this mesmerizing museum that the true history of Thailand was revealed.
Topkapi Palace. Topkapi Palace was built by the first Thai kings. The Nawarat was put there in 1645 by Maharana Siam. It is the holiest of Thai temples.
Wat Poh Face. Located east of the temple. The blue highlight of Thailand. The statue of Buddha, gilded and dressed in blue represents Buddha’s wearing of sanklass or simple cloth while hiking the worldly paradise on foot.
Pumunta Bluff. Bluff Islands. The 509 m monument is a part of a complex of structures standing and partly block the seashore. The ancient settlement was discovered accidentally by a French explorer and was named Pumunta, Cay.
Phra Buddha Beach. Krabi Island. The beach is the site of the ancient capital. The Bluff is a part of the complex that was discovered by Franco Columbini in 1782. The beach is about 1000 m long.
Mount Mat Phu. The tallest peak of Thailand is a part of the complex where the ancient capital was built.
Phra Vinh Khri. The maximum possible height of the mountain is considered to be the one thousand meters. Not very far to go? Just go tohttp://www.speedbreaks.comto find the place fastest.
Getting there and around
Phuket International Airport.
