Other Tourist Attractions in Bangkok
There are a number of other attractions scattered across Bangkok that don't fit into any of the main categories.
One of the most popular is Jim Thompson's House, located on the small Soi Kasem San 2 off Rama I road.
Thompson was an American who almost single handedly revived Thailand's silk industry, and can take much of the credit for its
worldwide popularity. He had parts of various Thai style teak houses reassembled here to create the house, which now serves as a
private museum showcasing his collection of Thai and Asian art, antiques and pottery. It's relatively small though, the
National Museum is larger and better. Thompson is equally famous for his mysterious
disappearance in 1967, while on a walk through Malaysia's Cameron Highlands from which he never returned. Conspiracies theories abound,
especially as Thompson first came to Thailand as a CIA agent. A more mundane theory is that he was accidentally hit and killed by a
Malaysian truck driver, who hid the remains to avoid getting caught. The westernized shopping areas of
Siam Square and MBK (Mah Boon Krong) are just a short distance along Rama I road from Jim Thompson's House.
North of Siam Square on Sri Ayuthaya road near the Victory Monument is the Suan Pakkard Palace. This consists of 5 traditional wooden Thai houses with pristine landscaped gardens and lotus ponds, and a collection of art, pottery, sculpture and rare antiques inside. It's all owned by Princess Chumbhot, a descendant of King Rama IV. The Lacquer Palace at the rear of the pavilion is perhaps the highlight with black and gold panels showing life in the 16th century Ayuthaya era. If you are interested in traditional Thai housing, another good example is Kamthieng house, owned by the Siam Society, on Sukhumvit Soi 21. It's a 120 years old Northern Thai house that now serves a museum for artifacts, costumes and the arts of Northern Thailand.
The celebrated Erawan Shrine is not far away, but is in an unlikely location at one of Bangkok's busiest intersections (of Ploenchit, Ratchadamri, Rama I and Ratchaprarop roads). A shrine to the Hindu god Brahma, it was built after a series of disasters befell the construction of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. After it was built, the hotel was completed without any problems and the shrine has since gained a reputation for granting wishes. Iit's busy pretty much 24 hours with devotees offering flowers and incense. There are traditional Thai dancers that can be hired, normally by those that have had their wishes granted in the past.
Just
south of Siam Square is Chulalongkorn University, the oldest and most prestigious in Thailand. On the campus, there's a Museum of
Imaging Technology (showing the development of photography, and examples of modern photographic techniques and methods) and a collection
of traditional Thai houses open to visitors. Just south of here on Rama IV road is the Saowapha Institute, more often known as the
Snake Farm. Though this is not the only snake farm in and around Bangkok (there's one in
Thonburi for instance), this is professionally run and is by far the best.
It is affiliated with the Thai Red Cross, and it's primary purpose is to develop anti-venom serum for treating the victims of snakebites.
It also makes this a good place to come to if you need rabies treatment while in Bangkok. There are fascinating snake shows put on,
which are preceded by a slide show on the institute and it's work.
Southeast along Rama IV road
is Lumphini Park , the oldest, largest and most popular in Bangkok. It's best to
go early in the morning (6.00am - 8.00am), when it's busy with lots of people doing Tai Chi exercises, jogging and weightlifting.
Rowboats and paddle boats can be rented for the lakes also. In the hot season (February to April), it's a popular place for kite flying.
Lumphini park is also one of the relatively few places in Bangkok where people will still stop whatever they are doing to stand for the
National Anthem at 6.00pm.
Near Ekkamai bus station on Sukhumvit Soi 63 is the okay Bangkok Planetarium and Scientific Museum. As it sounds like, this is a museum on science and astronomy and shows are put on at the planetarium.
North of Siam Square on Sri Ayuthaya road near the Victory Monument is the Suan Pakkard Palace. This consists of 5 traditional wooden Thai houses with pristine landscaped gardens and lotus ponds, and a collection of art, pottery, sculpture and rare antiques inside. It's all owned by Princess Chumbhot, a descendant of King Rama IV. The Lacquer Palace at the rear of the pavilion is perhaps the highlight with black and gold panels showing life in the 16th century Ayuthaya era. If you are interested in traditional Thai housing, another good example is Kamthieng house, owned by the Siam Society, on Sukhumvit Soi 21. It's a 120 years old Northern Thai house that now serves a museum for artifacts, costumes and the arts of Northern Thailand.
The celebrated Erawan Shrine is not far away, but is in an unlikely location at one of Bangkok's busiest intersections (of Ploenchit, Ratchadamri, Rama I and Ratchaprarop roads). A shrine to the Hindu god Brahma, it was built after a series of disasters befell the construction of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. After it was built, the hotel was completed without any problems and the shrine has since gained a reputation for granting wishes. Iit's busy pretty much 24 hours with devotees offering flowers and incense. There are traditional Thai dancers that can be hired, normally by those that have had their wishes granted in the past.
Just
south of Siam Square is Chulalongkorn University, the oldest and most prestigious in Thailand. On the campus, there's a Museum of
Imaging Technology (showing the development of photography, and examples of modern photographic techniques and methods) and a collection
of traditional Thai houses open to visitors. Just south of here on Rama IV road is the Saowapha Institute, more often known as the
Snake Farm. Though this is not the only snake farm in and around Bangkok (there's one in
Thonburi for instance), this is professionally run and is by far the best.
It is affiliated with the Thai Red Cross, and it's primary purpose is to develop anti-venom serum for treating the victims of snakebites.
It also makes this a good place to come to if you need rabies treatment while in Bangkok. There are fascinating snake shows put on,
which are preceded by a slide show on the institute and it's work.Southeast along Rama IV road
is Lumphini Park , the oldest, largest and most popular in Bangkok. It's best to
go early in the morning (6.00am - 8.00am), when it's busy with lots of people doing Tai Chi exercises, jogging and weightlifting.
Rowboats and paddle boats can be rented for the lakes also. In the hot season (February to April), it's a popular place for kite flying.
Lumphini park is also one of the relatively few places in Bangkok where people will still stop whatever they are doing to stand for the
National Anthem at 6.00pm.Near Ekkamai bus station on Sukhumvit Soi 63 is the okay Bangkok Planetarium and Scientific Museum. As it sounds like, this is a museum on science and astronomy and shows are put on at the planetarium.
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Highlights
- Bangkok Tourist Attractions
- Wat Phra Kaew, the Emerald Buddha temple
- The Grand Palace in Bangkok
- Wat Pho, the Reclining Buddha Temple
- Wat Arun
- Bangkok's National Museum
- Other Tourist Attractions in Bangkok
Shopping
- Shopping in Bangkok
- Bangkok Shopping Areas
- Bangkok Shopping Areas - Part 2
- Bargaining for shopping
- Risks of shopping in Bangkok
- Pantip Plaza in Bangkok
Travel & Getting Around
- Bangkok Buses
- Banglamphu bus routes
- Chatuchak bus routes
- Chinatown bus routes
- Dusit bus routes
- Phaya Thai bus routes
- Phetburi bus routes
- Pin Klao bus routes
- Pratunam bus routes
- Ramkhamhaeng bus routes
- Ratchada bus routes
- Rattanakosin bus routes
- Siam Square bus routes
- Silom bus routes
- Sukumvit bus routes
