From world-class food to nature parks to party places to palaces and centuries old temples – this city leads in everything and if your travel itinerary wants to include all of the above – then Bangkok or the City of Angels is the place to be.
Sometime back I had the privilege of visiting the city during my Thailand tour and enjoyed it thoroughly. Bangkok draws travellers from every corner of the world. The very name conjures up exotic images of street markets filled with spices and food, and ancient temples whose golden spears sparkle in the sun.
We reached our hotel late evening and wrapped up the day after a spicy Indian dinner. The next day after an amazing breakfast at the hotel, we went on to explore the city. Bangkok – the biggest city in Thailand can turn out to be overcrowded and sometimes even noisy. But, that shouldn’t be a problem for us Indians. Once you get settled a bit, you can enjoy the beauty of the city to its fullest.
We began with the temples first. Bangkok is home to a multitude to temples. Many dating back to the 18th century. I would recommend maximum three temples that you would explore throughout the day.
The Grand Palace is a breathtaking symbol of Bangkok’s must-visit attractions and showcases the city’s rich history and culture. It was the former residence of Thai kings and is home to Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the country. This sprawling complex is awe-inspiring, but the experience can be overwhelming without preparation.
From the Grand Palace we headed towards Wat Pho that houses the giant reclining Buddha statue. This is yet another more popular tourist attraction of the city where people love to get clicked alongside the reclining Buddha. And as per rules, tourists have to cover their legs before entering the premises. Oddly enough, the area was spacious despite the crowd.
The real treat, however, was at the Wat Pho Thai Traditional Massage School, which is inside the complex. After a day of walking in Bangkok’s intense heat, the foot massage I had here was transformative. It felt like walking on air afterward.
Our next stop was Wat Arun, the temple of dawn. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, it is one of the most iconic landmarks of the city and must see among all Bangkok travel guide. Its towering spires, intricately decorated with colorful porcelain and seashell mosaics, make it a photographer’s dream. Visit at sunrise or sunset for magical views.
After a tour of Wat Arun we headed towards the Lumphini Park. It is one of the biggest parks in the city and comes along with a pristine lake. As we stepped into the park, it was a shot of relief from the crowded spaces we visited beforehand. One of the main attractions of the park are the monitor lizards. Well, while I am shit scared of lizards, I did spot a few but only from a long distance. Few other wildlife that I spotted included herons, large fish and turtles in the water.
By sun down we went on to explore Bangkok’s Chinatown. The streets are vibrant and colourful the street welcomed us with some great nightlife. Needless to say, it offered some lip-smacking delicacies in the form of street food. And well, of course there were some unique food items for the brave and adventurous. While I gorged on pork satay, and a few seafood items like snail, octopus and squid, didn’t have the courage to try the insects or even the crocodile meat. A riverside walk by Talat Noi area peppered with coffee houses and art galleries, added some more zest to the evening.
Next day we visited Thonburi, Bangkok’s neighbourhood only to be delighted by the canals. The entire area and the hours spent there, transported us back in time. This is the oldest part of Bangkok and having escaped much of the modern city development, many people live their lives here in much the same way as they have for generations.
And after spending some time shopping at the Indra Market, we left for our evening cruise dinner at Chao Phraya River. Cruising down the Chao Phraya River is an absolute must when you’re in Bangkok, and doing it as an evening dinner cruise is easily one of the best ways to experience the city.
The cruise departs from the pier in front of IconSiam, and as soon as you board, you’re shown to your table (I’d recommend sitting on the top deck if you can for the best views) while a traditional Thai dance performance gets things started. From there, you’ll glide past some of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, including Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, all lit up beautifully at night.
The breeze from the top deck was heaven-sent. Bangkok can still feel very hot in the evening, but being on the water makes it so much more comfortable. The entertainment surprised me too, with singers belting out everything from ABBA to Lady Gaga, as well as cabaret-style dance performances. You can even take photos with the beautiful performers afterwards. But I opted not to.
The next morning we explored a lesser-known gem of the city – Wat Sam Phran or the Dragon Temple. The architecture of the temple is quite unique and I couldn’t help but click photos of the same. After a stop-over at one of the beautiful cafes of the city, we headed towards Suvarnabhumi Airport, bidding a farewell to our trip.
By Sampurna Majumdar
Sampurna Majumder is a communications professional born and raised in Kolkata. Fascinated by creativity from a young age, she has a deep love for music, literature, and world cinema. An avid reader and traveler, she holds a Master’s degree in Literature from the University of Delhi.
