Wat Ratchabophit The temple is located on Fuang Nakhon Road near Wat Pho. Built by King Rama V in 1869, it was in keeping with tradition that each monarch constructed a temple to mark his reign. The temple is a mixture of local and western styles, showing an awakening interest in new ideas and a desire to experiment with them. The exterior of the chapel is in the Thai style, but the interior is decorated in the European style.
The temple is located on Fuang Nakhon Road near Wat Pho. Built by King Rama V in 1869, it was in keeping with tradition that each monarch constructed a temple to mark his reign. The temple is a mixture of local and western styles, showing an awakening interest in new ideas and a desire to experiment with them. The exterior of the chapel is in the Thai style, but the interior is decorated in the European style.
Open : Daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission : Free Tel : 0 2221 0904, 0 2222 3930
Wat Ratchaburana, Bangkok
This temple is located at the foot of the Rama I Memorial Bridge on the Bangkok side. Built in the late Ayutthaya period by a Chinese merchant, it is otherwise known as Wat Liap and is one of the 3 principal temples of the capital which include Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Ratchapradit and Wat Mahathat. It had been regularly restored since the reign of King Rama I through to the reign of King Rama VII, except in the sixth reign. Some of the temples principal buildings, especially Phra Ubosot the ordination hall which houses mural paintings by Khrua In Khong, were badly damaged by bombing during World War II. The buildings were later restored to their good condition as they appear today. Location : Chakkraphet Road, Wangburapha Subdistrict, Phra Nakorn District, Bangkok Open : Daily from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission : Free Tel : 0 2225 1595 Nearby places/attractions: Pak Klong Talat, Memorial Bridge (Saphan Phut)
Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram, Bangkok
Situated to the north of Saran Rom Park, the temple is relatively small and covers a total area of approximately 2 rai. It was built in the reign of King Rama IV who intended it to be a temple in the Dhammayutika Sect as well as to be one of the 3 major temples as required by an old tradition to be situated within the capital. The place was originally a royal coffee plantation in the reign of King Rama III. With his personal donation, King Rama IV bought the plantation and had a small temple constructed there, naming it Wat Ratchapradit Sathitthammayutikaram. Later, he had the name changed to Wat Ratchapradit Sathitmahasimaram. A place of interest in this temple is Phra Wihan Luang - the royal image hall - which houses mural paintings depicting The Royal Ceremonies over 12 Months and legend of the solar eclipse phenomenon.
Open : Daily from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Admission : Free Tel : 0 2222 08
Wat Trai Mit, Bangkok
Have you ever seen five and a half tons of goldω Wat Trai Mit, near the Bangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong, is home to the famous Golden Buddha which is 3 metres high.
The Golden Buddha is believed to be 700 to 800 years old as it is in the Mara attitude, typical of the Sukhothai era. It was installed at Wat Phrayakrai in the Yannawa area of Bangkok during the reign of King Rama III where it stayed until 1931.
The temple had fallen out of use and was abandoned so the Ecclesiastical Commission had it relocated at Wat Trai Mit. At this time, no one seemed to know that it was made of pure gold.
Then in 1955, Reverend Phra Visutha-thibordee, the presiding abbot at the temple had supervised the construction of the temple building to house the Buddha. When it was being moved into its new position, the covering plaster was damaged revealing what was inside - Buddha image cast in 18 carat gold.
It is believed that the original Golden Buddha was disguised under the plaster covering to hide it from enemies during the Ayutthaya period. Photographs of different stages of the plaster removal are displayed in the Wihan.
Location: near Chinese Gate, Chinatown area, Yaowarat road How to get there : take Metro to Hua Lamphong MRT Station and continue walking for 300 metres or Bus routes 4, 7, 21, 25, 501 Open : Daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission : 20 baht Tel : 0 2225 9775
Wat Bowon Niwet, Bangkok
Wat Bowon Niwet This temple is located on Phra Sumen Road in the Bang Lamphu area. Built in 1829, it is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinnasi, a very beautiful Buddha image which was molded in about 1357. This is one of the most important temples of Bangkok, whose one-time chief abbot was King Rama IV before he ascended the throne. King Rama IV and King Rama VII, as well as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had resided here during their monkshood.
This temple is located on Phra Sumen Road in the Bang Lamphu area. Built in 1829, it is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinnasi, a very beautiful Buddha image which was molded in about 1357. This is one of the most important temples of Bangkok, whose one-time chief abbot was King Rama IV before he ascended the throne. King Rama IV and King Rama VII, as well as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had resided here during their monkshood. Open : Daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission : Free Tel : 0 2281 2831-3 Nearby Places/Attractions: Khaosan Road., Democracy Monument, Phra Athit Road
Wat Intharawihan, Bangkok
It is an awesome feeling to stand before this Buddha image that reaches to the sky at 32 metres tall.
During the reign of King Rama I he suppressed a rebellion in Laos and brought members of the Lao royal family to settle in this area. One of these was Chao Inthawong, who was a devout Buddhist, helped to restore the local temple which is now Wat Intharawihan.
In 1867, Somdej Phra Buddhachan started the construction of this giant Buddha called Luang Pho To, logs and structural steel were used as alternate abutments. After his death in 1872 construction continued until completion in 1927. This spanned the reigns of King Rama IV to King Rama VII.
Luang Pho To stands 32 metres tall and is 11 metres wide. As it faces east, it is best photographed in morning light.
On two occasions, in 1964 and 1967, Their Majesties The King, The Queen and their children covered this statue of Buddha at the Topknot and forehead with gold leaves.
The Topknot contains relics of The Lord Buddha which were donated by the Government of Sri Lanka and placed there in 1978 by H.R.H The Crown Prince Vachiralongkorn.
For Bangkoks Bi-Centennial Celebrations in 1982, the then Abbot, Phra Khru Woraphattikhun carried out restoration including decoration with 24 K golden mosaics from Italy.
Devotees believe that Luang Pho To can bless everyone with success, particularly if they present the head of a mackerel fish, a boiled egg and a lei of flowers.
Location: Wisutthikasat Road near Bank of Thailand, Phra Nakorn District How to get there : Bus routes 10, 49 Open daily : 8.30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Admission : Free Tel : 0 2628 5550-2 nearby places/attractions: Banglamphu area, Thewet area and Bank of Thailand
Jim Thompson's Museum, Bangkok
This exquisite collection of traditional Thai house stands as a museum to the man who revived the Thai silk industry after the Second World War.
The story of James H.W. Thompson is one upon legends are made. After serving in the U.S.A. armed forces, Jim Thompson settled in Thailand and found the tremendous opportunity to re-establish the Thai silk industry. In recognition of his services to the country, he was bestowed the royal award of The Order of the White Elephant.
The company he founded, Jim Thompson Thai Silk, is recognized worldwide for its brilliant creations.
He was an avid collector of Asian artifacts and antiques and The Jim Thompson’s House is possibly the epitome of his collection.
Before his mysterious disappearance in the Cameron Highland in Malaysia in 1967, his house was the talk of the town where he entertained his friends and visitors including the like of Somerset Maugham.
The house sits on approximately a half acre of land on Mahanak Canal. Ban Khrua village where his silk weavers lived and worked. Is just on the other side of the canal. To build the house he gathered 6 original traditional teak structure from different parts of the country and brought carpenter from Ayutthaya who completed the house in 1959.
The gardens are equally impressive with a lush tropical jungle imitating nature’s haphazard beauty right in the center of the city.
Jim Thompsons connoisseur collection of antiques and artifacts is on permanent exhibition, making this a magnificent museum of the lifestyle of the legend.
Location: Soi Kasemsan 2 , Rama 1 road, opposite National Stadium, Pathum Wan How to get there : taking Skytrain to National Stadium BTS Station or taking bus routes 15, 47, 73, 204 Open daily : 9.00 am. to 5.00 pm. Admission fee : Adult 100 baht, Child 50 baht. Contact : Tel. 0 2216 7368 Website :www.jimthompsonhouse.com Nearby places/Attractions: Mah Boon Krong (MBK) Shopping Plaza, Siam Square Area , BTS National Stadium Station.
Khon Masked Dance at Sala Chalermkrung T..., Bangkok
Khon is Thailand’s classical masked dance that is regarded as one of the most refined of performing arts. It was originally limited to the royal court. Performances are extremely expensive to produce, requiring lavish costumes, elaborate masks and headgear, and stage accessories that require highly skilled craftsmen to create. The scenes performed in the traditional Khon are taken from the Ramakien, a series of significant episodes in Thai literature based on the Indian epic of classical mythology the Ramayana that greatly influenced the literature of almost all nations in Southeast Asia.
Khon at Sala Chalermkrung is performed every Friday and Saturday at 07.30 pm. Tickets cost 1,000 baht and 1,200 baht. Call Sala Chalermkrung at Tel: 0-2623-8148-9, 0-2225-8757-8 or Thaiticketmaster at Tel: 0 2262 3456 or visit www.thaiticketmaster.com for reservation. For more information about the performance and Sala Challermkrung visit www.salachalermkrung.com
How to get there: taking bus routes 12, 48, 508 Nearby places/attractions: Wat Suthat, Giant Swing
Siam Niramit, Bangkok
Siam Niramit
Situated on Thiam Ruammit Road off Ratchadaphisek Road, about 100 metres from the Thailand Culutral Center.
Siam Niramit is a one-of-a-kind cultural theme complex offerring a world-class spectacular performance in a 2000-seat theatre.
The 80-minute show features 3 stories of Thailand’s cultural heritage: Journey Back into History, Journey Beyond Imagination: The Three Realms and Journey Through Joyous Festivals, with the magic of state-of-the-art technology and special effects.
The show starts nightly at 8 pm. but visitors should arrive at 7 pm. to join a free guided tour to a Thai village in the compound. Restuarants and souvenir shops are also available.
Tickets cost 1,500 baht per person.
Contact Siam Niramit at Tel: 0 2649 92222 Fax: 0 2649 9200 for reservations. Click www.siamniramit.com for details and click www.thaiticketmaster.com for online booking till 30 december 2005.
How to get there: taking MRT or subway to Thailand Cultural Centre MRT Station or taking bus routes A/C73 and continue walking for 400 metres
Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok To stand at the main gateway and look upon the Monastery of Five Kings is a sight to behold. The perfect symmetry and proportions must inspire admiration of this architectural masterpiece.
Wat Benchamabophit Dusitvanaram is known to foreigners as The Marble Temple as its exterior is clad in Carrara marble. Very talented The Prince Naris, a son of King Rama IV , designed the main building which was completed during the reign of King Rama V.
The interior crossbeams are decorated with lacquer and gold. The walls of the spacious inner courtyard are lined with a large collection of bronze Buddha images. The canal in front and to the left hand side has ornate bridges.
It is advisable to come in the early morning to see local people offering alms to the monks as they do not go outside as monks at other temple do. Stand at the main entrance to the compound and watch the pigeons take flight. If you cant be there at this time, go at sunset when the main doors are illuminated. This is another sight well worth witnessing.
How to get there : Bus routes 72, 503 Open : Daily from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission : 20 Baht Tel : 0 2281 2501, 0 2628 7947
Suan Lum Night Bazaar, Bangkok
The Suan Lum Night Bazaar is a great place for an inexpensive night out that offers fabulous shopping, restaurant or food court dining, live entertainment and a superb choice of beers.
The shopping area is well laid out with neat streets lined on both sides with shops selling clothes, handicrafts, souvenirs, and a myriad of other items. There are alleyways between the main streets, which are crammed with smaller stalls offering great bargains. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you might find here. Spread throughout the complex, are many restaurants and bars. The range of cuisine is quite extensive including Thai and Chinese seafood, Indian, Japanese and German.
As you wander along the main street, you’ll see The Joe Louis Puppet Theatre. This is truly unique. This is a puppet theatre presenting performances of the Ramakien. With three puppeteers manipulating each puppet. They are in full view of the audience and even come off the stage.
The main attraction at Suan Lum Night Bazaar is the huge beer garden and food court covering an area about the size of two football fields. On three sides there are stall selling a delicious variety of food cooked before your eyes. There are also beer stalls on the right hand side offering all the local beers, many imported brands and some local brews from micro breweries in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. The center piece is a large stage where the latest local and foreign hit songs are performed by a variety of singers with their back up dancers. Great entertainment for free. All the food and drink stalls operate on a coupon system so it is easy to keep track of your spending.
How to get there : Suan Lum Night Bazaar is on the corner of Wireless and RamaIV Roads. It can be reached by Subway at Lumpini MRT Station or taking skytrain to BTS Saladaeng station and connects MRT for Lumpini MRT Station. . Bus routes 4, 13, 14, 17, 22, 43, 45, 46, 47, 50, 62, 76, 109, 115, 116, 149, 173
Nearby Places/Attractions: Lumpini Boxing Stadium, Lumpini Park, Silom area
Chatuchak Park, Bangkok
This is located at the junction of Phahonyothin and Vibhavadi Rungsit roads. There are nine pieces of ASEAN sculptures that enhance the character of the park.
Open : Daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission : Free Nearby places/attractions: Chatuchak Weekend Market, Central Ladprao, BTS Mochit Station
China Town, Bangkok
The largest outside of China Chinatown is a bustling, crowded area where you can buy just about anything day or night.
The main thoroughfare through Chinatown is Yaowarat Road, which is approximately 1.5 kilometres in length. It was built during the reign of King Rama V. On each side of the road, there is a network of streets and alleys lined with shops selling all sorts of things. In many of these streets, you’ll find shops side by side selling the same items.
There is an old fresh food market called Trok Isarnuphap where leading chefs from all over Bangkok shop for the finest and freshest ingredients for their restaurant menus. The largest outside of China Chinatown is a bustling, crowded area where you can buy just about anything day or night.
The main thoroughfare through Chinatown is Yaowarat Road, which is approximately 1.5 kilometres in length. It was built during the reign of King Rama V. On each side of the road, there is a network of streets and alleys lined with shops selling all sorts of things. In many of these streets youll find shops side by side selling the same items.
There is an old fresh food market called Trok Isarnuphap where leading chefs from all over Bangkok shop for the finest and freshest ingredients for their restaurant menus. A visit at night will take you to a food street where you sit on stools watching your meal being prepared, then enjoying the delicious cuisine washed down by tea or a cold beer.
How to get there : taking subway to Hua Lamphong MRT station then continue walking for 700 metres to Yaowarat Road or taking bus routes 1, 4, 7, 25, 53, 501
Victory Monument, Bangkok
The monument is situated on Phahonyothin Road. It was constructed in 1941 under the premiership of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkhram in order to praise the heroic deeds of soldiers, policemen and civilians who sacrificed their lives in a dispute between Thailand and France on the demarcation between Thailand and other Indochinese nations. The dispute ended with a compromise being agreed by the two parties, and 59 casualties. Victory Monument was, therefore, established as a memorial to their bravery.
Open : Daily Admission : Free
The Museum of Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok The source of knowledge which can easily be accessed, the museum of Thai Red Cross Society is the place where gathers all stories about its roles in domestic and international operations.
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhron, Executive Vice-President of Thai Red Cross Society urges to build te museum of the society so as to celebrate the 72nd birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, who is the president of Thai Red Cross Society. The princess's desire is to establish a living museum as of the museum of international Red Cross Society situated in Geneva, Switzerland.
The basement of 3-storey building of Thai Red Cross Society has two floors and there is a 6-storey supportive building located aside, all of which provides 11,500 square meters. As to interior maker, Nithi Sathapitanon, the national artist of the nation, designs the building's interior. The overall area comprises administration and exhibition sections. In the area of exhibition, there is a history of international and Thai committee of Thai Red Cross Society including its achievements. The area is composed of 7 rooms. Each room shows a principle of Dharma Mercy in which the philosophy is to help the people who lack opportunity or encounter with troubles. Moreover, each room is set to give children an area of activities of learning based on the concept edutainment. As for the stories shown in the areas, there are representing colors used to indicate the meanings of each exhibition as follows:
Red for Satapana Santiham Room: the color is used to represent Unalom, which is the ideology of Thai Red Cross Society. The exhhibition shows origin, history and emblem of Thai Red Cross Society.
Red-Orange for Booranakarn Satarn Suksa Room: the color represents the sun of treatment. The exhibition in this room illustrates mission of Thai Red Cross Society regarding doctor, nurse and medical education.
Yellow for Osot Borirak Room: the color of softness shows the organization's mission in producing serum and vaccine.
Green for Apiban Darun Room: the color represents the growth of next generation in the future. The exhibition shows achievement of Thai Red Cross Society's foundation made of support children who lack opportunity.
Blue for Boon Kasem Room: the color represents giving. This room exhibits mission of department of donation of Thai Red Cross Society.
Light Blue for Bam Pen Ku Na Korn Room: the color represents help. This is to show the organization's mission in helping people when circumstances required.
Purple for Amornsatukarn Room: this color represents Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. In this room, there are stories of the princess who assists and benefits Thai Red Cross Society. In addition, there are also badges that are provided to whom support Thai Red Cross Society.
The living museum of Thai Red Cross Society is, therefore, regarded as the museum for youth and general people in which they can learn more about the organization in the past and present deeply.
Interested people can visit the museum without charge: the museum opens Monday to Friday at 8.30-16.30 hrs. For further information please contact: 0 2256 4014, 0 2256 4043-4, Fax: 0 2252 7795 or http://museum.redcross.or.th
Nang Loeng Market, Bangkok
Nang Loeng is an old market by Krung Kasem canal, just 10 mininutes walk from Ratchadamnoen boxing Stadium. A variety of Thai foods and sweets are daily sold in this market. Behind the market is an old wooden building once used as a cinema called Chaloem Thani. In front of the market are two-storey row-houses built in King Rama V’s period, dating back over 100 years ago.
Siriraj Museum, Bangkok
The museum is situated in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok Noi Distirict. King Rama V founded Siriraj Hospital to provide modern medical treatment for Thai people. During the time when the hospital was being built, HRH Prince Sirirajgaguthapan, the first son of Queen Sri Bajarindra, fell ill and died of cholera. The King donated the wood used in the Prince’s cremation ceremony to the building of the hospital and gave it the name Siriraj in the Prince’s memory.
The hospital was Thailand’s first medical school, with books and medical specimens collected in several museums that were established in the hospital to help medical students with their studies and research projects. Congdon Anatomical Museum: (3rd floor Anatomy Bldg.) This two-room museum was founded in 1927 by Prof. Dr. Edgar Davidson Congdon, who was sent by the Rockefeller Foundation to improve Thai medical studies. lt contains over 2,000 exhibits, including skeletons, figures of humans and animals, the bodies and organs of Siamese twins preserved in ethyl-alcohol, and most importantly a display of the peripheral nervous system and the blood system, both of which are very difficult to dissect.
Sood Sangvichien Prehistoric Museum & Labostory: (1 st fl. Anatomy Bldg.) The evolution of life froms from 500 million years ago to the beginnining of primates 70 million years ago are displayed here as well as recent material on pre-history and evolution.
Songkran Niyomsane Forensic Medicine Museum : (2nd fl. Adulayadejvikrom Bldg.) This room displays various methods of murder, with skeletons and evidence from past murder cases.
Parasitology Museum : (7th fl. Adulayadejωvikrom Bldg.) Here, various kinds of parasites such as whipworms and roundworms are exhibited, with models of their life-cycle. Ouay Ketusinh Museum of History of Thai Medicine: (1st fl. Physiological Science Bldg.) The history and development of Thai traditional medicine the treatment of disease and old age, Thai herbal medicines, Thai massage, and other disciplines can be seen here.
EIlis Pathological Museum : (8th fl. Adulayaωdejv turn Bldg.) Shows the evolution of medicine, and organs infected with diseases which can be detected with the naked eye or seen only under the microscope.
Veekit Veeranuvati Museum : (1st fl. Paob Building) Medical equipment and books collected over 40 years by Dr.Veekit Veeranuvati, the founder of the Gastroenterological Association of Thailand are , pt here. Subjects include examination and diagnostic methods and equipment and research Work.
The exhibition ’The Heart and Soul of the Nation’ :(2nd fl. Adulyadejvikrom Building) the new exhibition about King Bhumiphol Adulyadej’s 80th yrs-birthday anniversary with audio guide player. Audiovisual devices in both Thai and English will be available at the Guest service desk at the entrance to help narrating all guests on all exhibit’s information. Admission fee 40 baht. 200 baht deposit is required for the audio guide device together with your identification.
The museums are open Monday to Friday from 9 am. to 4 pm. Close on Sunday and national holidays. For any further information tel. 0 2419 6363 Website: www.si.mahidol.ac.th/museums/th/index.htm
How to get there : visitors can take either bus or ferry. ordinary bus : 19, 57, 81, 83,146, 149 Airconditioned Bus: 91 Ferry from Tha Chang/Tha Phrachan pier to Wang Lang Pier (Siriraj Hospital)
Benchasiri Park, Bangkok This compact park on Sukhumvit Road near Soi 24 was built to commemorate the 60th birthday of HM Queen Sirikit in 1992. It features a huge sculpture of commemorative coin illustrating an image of HM Queen Sirikit and 12 pieces of contemporary sculptures including childrens works.
Open : Daily from 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. Admission : Free
The temple is located on Fuang Nakhon Road near Wat Pho. Built by King Rama V in 1869, it was in keeping with tradition that each monarch constructed a temple to mark his reign. The temple is a mixture of local and western styles, showing an awakening interest in new ideas and a desire to experiment with them. The exterior of the chapel is in the Thai style, but the interior is decorated in the European style.
Have you ever seen five and a half tons of goldω Wat Trai Mit, near the Bangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong, is home to the famous Golden Buddha which is 3 metres high. 
This temple is located on Phra Sumen Road in the Bang Lamphu area. Built in 1829, it is the shrine-hall of Phra Phutthachinnasi, a very beautiful Buddha image which was molded in about 1357. This is one of the most important temples of Bangkok, whose one-time chief abbot was King Rama IV before he ascended the throne. King Rama IV and King Rama VII, as well as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had resided here during their monkshood.
This exquisite collection of traditional Thai house stands as a museum to the man who revived the Thai silk industry after the Second World War. 
Khon is Thailand’s classical masked dance that is regarded as one of the most refined of performing arts. It was originally limited to the royal court. Performances are extremely expensive to produce, requiring lavish costumes, elaborate masks and headgear, and stage accessories that require highly skilled craftsmen to create. The scenes performed in the traditional Khon are taken from the Ramakien, a series of significant episodes in Thai literature based on the Indian epic of classical mythology the Ramayana that greatly influenced the literature of almost all nations in Southeast Asia.
Situated on Thiam Ruammit Road off Ratchadaphisek Road, about 100 metres from the Thailand Culutral Center.
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