Tourist Attractions In Thailand

Thailand is a rather heady mix of the old and the new- on the one hand, there are traditions which are centuries old; on the other, there are modern fashions,  flashy gizmos- virtually every convenience of the new world. This fine blend of ancient heritage and the upwardly mobile trends of present times is carried through in Thailand’s cities and towns too.

Bangkok is a city pulsating with life. There is no other way to describe it. For the culturally inclined the cities various shrines and temples provide succour and for those looking for excitement and fun, the raunchy bars and night market at Patpong  offer another view of this dynamic city. Find calm on the Chao Pyra River amidst the chaotic confusion of cars on the streets of the city. You will find the calm far outweighs the confusion. Which ever facet of Bangkok interests you, rest assured you will not regret your decision to visit!

The rich cultural heritage of Thailand is still alive in the old cities of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Palace and temple ruins are scattered all over in these ancient cities, and they have been declared World Heritage Sites; Chiang Mai in the north was, in the late 13th century, the capital of the Lan Na kingdom. Climb up the Doi Suthep peak and pay obeisance at the Wat Phra Borommathat temple. This temple, one of the holiest in all of Thailand is perched at a height of 1676 metres and watches over the city of Chiang Mai. Just an hours drive away from  Bangkok lies the oldest city in Thailand- Nakhon Si Thammarat. Here view the Phra Pathom Chedi, reputed to be the highest Buddhist structure in the world.

When you are done with history, and want to have a relaxed holiday on the sea shores of this amazing country, head straight for the beaches. At Phuket, you are not far from paradise.The beach front at Patong is dotted with sun umbrellas and people sunning themselves to a deep bronze. You can take a dip in the cool blue water or zoom on a jet scooter around the bay. The marina is lined with little shops selling their wares - mostly tee shirts and trinkets to take back home.
Phuket  The waters of the Andaman Sea are a brilliant blue and the sands a silvery white. Snorkel, swim, parasail, go deep sea diving or simply sit on a deck chair and soak in the sun.

Pattaya is just a two hour drive from Bangkok and transports you from the chaos of the city to scenic environs of azure skies and palm fringed beaches. During the day one can either laze on the beaches or play a round of golf and come sundown, go bar hopping at "the Strip".

The beach resort of Hua-Hin is only about three hours’ drive from Bangkok, and is easily accessible via train or bus (trains start from Bangkok’s Hualamphong Station, and buses can be boarded from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal). Hua Hin is a lovely place, with a clean beach, cliffs, greenery and a quaint fishing village; it’s known for its dried seafood and its delicious sweets (locally called `khanom’). It is, incidentally, Thailand’s oldest beach resort, and dates back to the 1920s when the reigning monarch, King Rama VII, built a summer palace here. The town still retains an old-world charm very different from the modernity of other beach resorts. There isn’t, admittedly, much to do- except relax and have a peaceful holiday, but the fishing port is still active, and there are some nice old Buddhist temples clinging to the seaside cliffs of Hua Hin.

If you’d like to wander further afield, you can make a visit to nearby Cha-am (another good beach resort), Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, and Phetchaburi (a historical town, which was a major settlement during the Ayutthaya period, and still retains traces of its lost splendour). There are other places too- all of them quiet and peaceful; beautiful, serene, and very Thai.

The proverbial island in the sun, Koh Samui is located by the Gulf of Thailand, lies about 560 km south of Bangkok, and is accessible either by air (there are regular flights to the mainland) or by sea: there are daily ferry services from the closest point on the mainland, which is Surat Thani. Beach bungalows, hotels and resorts are available on the island (which is actually the largest of a group of above 80 islands- all but four being uninhabited). Koh Samui is all beaches, blue seas, coral reefs, palm trees (the best coconuts in Thailand!) and paddy fields. It’s the ideal destination for water sports, or even just plain lazing around. On Koh Samui itself there are some beautiful waterfalls- notably Hin Lad and Na Muang, while on the neighbouring island of Koh Fan, there is the temple of Wat Hin Ngu, with a huge statue of a seated gold Buddha. Samui, though a wonderful holiday destination, is relatively quiet and not inundated with tourists as are many of the other resorts. It is also a good place for excursions to other nearby islands, including the Ang Thong Marine Park and Koh Phangan: both a must-see for anyone who’s interested in seas, corals, and marine life.

There are, of course, many more sights to see, many more places to visit. Throughout the country, there are palaces, temples and shrines for those who like to visit monuments; parks and sanctuaries like the Koh Samet Marine National Park, the Ao Phang Nga National Park where scenes of the James Bond movie `The Man with the Golden Gun’ were shot, and Khao Yai National Park, for nature lovers.