Travel guide to flights & holidays in Bangkok.
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Bangkok Holidays Overview
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. Its teeming population of 11 million makes it one of the largest cities in the area. Busy, modern and having earned a risqué reputation that it only partially deserves, the real Bangkok is complex, exciting and an integrated mix of everything modern and traditional. With its heavy traffic, sleazy nightlife and high rise buildings, Bangkok may give most people a bad impression at first look but don't be misled. There's much more to Bangkok. Siam Square is the commercial core of the city with modern hotels and malls while the old Bangkok lies in the densely packed streets of Rattankosin where some of the best sights in the city like Wat Pho and the Grand Palace are located. Khao San is the backpacker district of Bangkok while Sukhumvit is an upper class locality with nightclubs, restaurants, quality hotels and naughty entertainment. Bangkok is a city of contrasts where the old coexists with the new. The streets of Bangkok are where all the action is. The morning flower markets, food carts and packed streets of Chinatown are very rewarding for those who take time to explore them. Bangkok also has a very dynamic and sophisticated side that is revealed in its nightlife, its mega malls and high end restaurants. An important part of exploring Bangkok is experiencing its food scene. Strewn around in every part of the city are food stalls and carts where steaming bowls of noodles spiced with chillies are served. The food in Bangkok is the perfect balance of salty, spicy, sweet and sour. For food lovers, there can be no other city as exciting as Bangkok. Bangkok is truly diverse and unexpected. It offers adventure and entertainment in every possible way.
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Bangkok
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
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What is it? The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is an
escape from the Western-style shopping malls of Bangkok and a
glimpse into the past, revealing the centuries' old way of life of
the residents whose stilt-houses perch on the canals. Visitors can
explore the market with boat trips and sample the wares of local
farmers as they do so. They can also enjoy the experience of
floating through one of Thailand's many river
villages.
Hours of Operation: Daily 6am to 11am
Phone:
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2. Royal Grand Palace
Na Phralan Road, Phra Nakhon
www.palaces.thai.net |
What is it? Construction of the palace began in 1782 and
was completed in time for the coronation of King Rama I, and opened
in 1785 to signify the end of the Burmese invasion of Thailand. The
palace itself is made up of a complex array of smaller buildings,
most notably the Wat Mahatat (the Palace Temple) and the Wat Phra
Keow (the Royal Chapel), which houses the famous Emerald Buddha
sculpted from a single piece of jade, and one of the most revered
objects in the Kingdom.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8.30am to 4.30pm
Phone:(0)2 623 5500
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3. Royal Barges National Museum
Arun Amarin Road, Bangkok Noi
www.thailandmuseum.com |
What is it? The Royal Barges National Museum houses
several decorative royal barges, the earliest of which dates back
to 1357. Most of the barges served as War Vessels at one point, and
were subsequently used on royal or state occasions on the Chao
Phraya River. Due to their age the barges are now rarely used, but
their intricate designs reflecting Thai religious beliefs and local
history are of great importance to the country's heritage. The
barges were last used at the end of 1999 to celebrate the king's
72nd birthday.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 5pm
Phone:(0)2 424 0004
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Bangkok
holidays - Top Events
1. Songkran Festival
From 2007-04-13
To 2007-04-15
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What is it? The traditional rites of Songkran involve
dousing everyone around you in water as a symbol of cleansing and
purification at the start of the Thai New Year. Songkran is
celebrated nation-wide around Thailand with great gusto, and
equally enthusiastically in the capital city, Bangkok. The
fun-filled festival is held for about three days, centred on wats
and temples where images of Buddha are bathed and the elderly in
the community symbolically washed by the youngsters. After the
ceremonials, most people take to the baking hot streets for a
merry, wet free-for-all. In Bangkok the best places to experience
the festivities are on the square in front of the Grand Palace
where the Phra Buddha Sihing is bathed; the Wisutkasat, where a
Miss Songkran Beauty pageant is held; and Khao San Road in
Banglampoo where jovial water-throwing reaches new heights in
battles between locals and tourists.
Where is it? Citywide in the streets, temples and wats
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2. Ploughing Ceremony
From
To
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What is it? A Thai traditional ceremony that is popular
with tourists and attended by the King is the annual Ploughing
Ceremony, which draws many of the country's farmers to Bangkok to
usher in the start of the new rice-growing season. The ceremony is
held in the heart of the city and dates back more than 2,500 years.
The chief event is a procession in which a red and gold sacred
plough is drawn by flower-bedecked bulls, followed by drummers in
green costumes, and others blowing conch shells or carrying baskets
filled with rice-seed. After the ploughing and ritual feeding of
the bulls, rice seed is scattered and the watching crowds rush onto
the field to gather some grains for good luck, and a good
harvest.
Where is it? Phramane Ground, near the Grand Palace
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3. Thailand International Swan Boat Races
From 2007-09-08
To 2007-09-09
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What is it? Racing the graceful oriental Swan Boats has
become an international sport with more than 20 teams, including
England, Australia and the United States, participating in the
annual world championships held in November in Bangkok, on the
river near the ancient capital of Siam, Ayutthaya. The elegant swan
boats are long, narrow round-bottomed boats with upturned bows
intricately carved that resemble swan heads, while the stern
represents a flowing tail.
Where is it? The Bangsai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre on the Chao
Phraya River
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