Thailand with its 76 provinces is a collage of different shades that also comprise of the bustling modern Bangkok – its capital city, crowded with motorbikes and tuk tuks (auto rickshaws), skyscrapers, Buddhist shrines and ancient monuments, lush green landscapes and coastlines, mouth-watering Thai cuisine and a rich history of art and culture By Joy Roy Choudhury
Whenever there is a reference to Thailand, the one name that comes to our mind is that of Bangkok, the bustling capital of the country. Bangkok, also known as ‘Krung Thep’ closely meaning the ‘City of Angels’, is a sprawling metropolis known for its ornate shrines, vibrant streets and nightlife. The city has rows of massive buildings, shopping malls and almost all the leading hotel brands. In the past, Bangkok was often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’ because of its intricate system of natural and man-made canals or ‘klongs’ as they are called in Thai. The Chao Phraya river which meanders through the city feeds these network of canals. A sizable section of the population live on these canals or in little huts along the banks, transacting business on the waterways. Another feature of the city is that it still carefully preserves the rich traditional arts, architecture, religion and other aspects of the Thai culture. From the tranquil Lumphini Park in the heart of the city, to the majestic Royal Grand Palace and the sacred Emerald Buddha temple, to the Democracy Monument and Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, to the captivating Siam Niramit show and the Art in Paradise 3D Museum, to the dinner cruise along river Chao Phraya and the famous night market, there are multitudinous attractions to be explored in Bangkok.
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Art in Paradise, an illusion and three-dimensional museum on the fourth floor of the Esplanade entertainment complex in Ratchadapisek Road in Bangkok, comprises of six permanent exhibition zones with different concepts. Spread over two floors covering over 2,500 square metres of space, this museum houses 150 paintings drawn by 15 professional artists over a period of two and a half months. A cruise along the city’s Chao Phraya river especially at night is an experience to cherish for a lifetime. Check in at the River City Pier and book a place in any of the luxury cruise ships available. The Wonderful Pearl cruise, with a capacity to accommodate upto 500 pax, takes passengers upto the Rama VIII Bridge – the engineering marvel across the river. While guests wine and dine on the cruise, brightly illuminated historic temples, the ornate Royal Grand Palace, swanky shopping malls, and skyscrapers slowly unfolds all around. This cruise is ideal for hosting private parties, wedding receptions, meetings and incentive groups.
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From Thai dishes served at roadside stalls to haute cuisine at high-end restaurants, Bangkok has something to suit everyone’s palate. Methavalai Sorndaeng, a classic fine dining restaurant set up in 1957, is one of the oldest in Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen Avenue overlooking the majestic Democracy Monument. From Thai appetisers, salads, curries, soups to main course dishes and desserts, its gastronomic offering is worth experiencing. Another place to try out authentic Thai cuisine is the famous Nahm Restaurant at the high-end Metropolitan Hotel in the city’s Sathorn Road.
A mix of history and nature
Kanchanaburi, the third largest province in Thailand, is known for its history and natural beauty. It is here where the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers converge into the Mae Klong river. The province is also famous for its natural attractions such as forests, mountains, caves, jungles and waterfalls. Here, tourists can hike through jungles to see elephants, explore temples and war museums, take a kayaking trip on the Mae Klong river or hike through national parks, caves and waterfalls. Kanchanaburi is popular for short excursions and various picturesque picnic spots like the Sai Yok Waterfalls and the Lava Cave. Bamboo rafting and elephant riding at Sai Yok Elephant Village are other leisure options. Then there are the floating markets to visit on river Kwai. The Wat Tham Seua Temple on the hill-top with a 18 metre tall statue of Buddha is another attraction that should not be missed. The floating hotels on the river Kwai provide excellent accommodation options along with various adventure sports and entertainment facilities.
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Some of the famous historical sites like the Bridge over the River Kwai and the Death Railway built during World War II by the British, Dutch, Australian and Asian prisoners of war held hostage by the Japanese army are worth visiting. It is estimated that 100,000 oppressed labourers as well as 16,000 allied prisoners of war lost their lives due to torture, starvation, overwork and malaria while constructing the railroad. The Bridge over the River Kwai made famous by David Lean’s film of the same name stands tall bearing testimony to the World War II. Its centre was destroyed by bombing of the allied forces in 1945 and nothing remains of the second wooden bridge the Japanese built downstream. Across the river, there is a beautiful temple on the right, and the famous Khiri Tara restaurant is just a stone’s throw from the bridge. Visitors can explore the popular train ride, which is one of Thailand’s most scenic and popular train rides.
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The JEATH (Japan, England, Australia/America, Thailand and Holland – named after the warring countries of World War II) War Museum, Chong Kai War Cemetery at Don Rak (the resting place of nearly 7000 allied soldiers), Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, and the Three Pagodas Border (near the border with Myanmar) are other famous tourist spots of the province. The JEATH War Museum is a unique museum which preserves correspondence and artwork from former prisoners of war that detail their inhuman living conditions, their personal belongings and the relics of the war including the bomb dropped by the allied forces to destroy the bridge but which didn’t explode. One of the main galleries of the museum is housed in a bamboo structure in the style of the shelters the prisoners of war used to live in. The War Cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is right in the middle of the town. Of the 6981 soldiers buried at the cemetery, almost half were from Britain and the rest from Australia and The Netherlands. As one enters the cemetery, the right hand side has the graves of British army personnel, while the front left is for Australian army men and the Dutch soldiers were buried at the back. There is also a grave of the ashes of those unknown soldiers who were cremated.
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