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Overview
Located in a fertile basin, the Central Region stretches from
the mountains in the north west bordering Burma around Kanachanaburi,
to Nakorn Sawan in the north and around the Gulf of Thailand,
south to Prachuap (Hua Hin) where Thailand narrows into a peninsula.
The main rice growing area of Thailand, the central region is
also famous for its tourist attractions which focus on the natural
landscape and ancient historic remains. Trips to lush forests,
waterfalls, caves and beaches can be easily combined with visits
to ruined temples, palaces, waterways and historic sites. These
include Nakhon Pathom, 60 kilometres west of Bangkok,
site of the 380-foot Phra Pathom Chedi, the world's tallest Buddhist
monument; Damnon Saduak Floating
Market, 40 minutes south of Nakhon Pathom;
Kanchanaburi, 130 kilometres west of Bangkok,
site of the infamous "Death Railway" and the "Bridge
over the River Kwai". Ayutthaya,
70 kilometres from Bangkok, the Siamese capital from 1350 to 1767,
with extensive ruins evoking medieval splendour; Bang Pa-in
Palace, summer residence of later Bangkok monarchs, and the
popular beach resorts of Cha Am and Hua Hin on the Gulf of Thailand.
The region also contains Thailand's incredible capital city,
Bangkok with its fabulous temples and palaces, museums,
fascinating river and canal scenes, excellent shopping and nightlife.
Any visit to this region should start with Bangkok.
Bangkok
Thailand's exuberant and exhilarating, capital city is home to
nearly 10 million people and one of the most amazing cities you
will ever encounter. Over the last 20 years the city has expanded
rapidly presenting a kaleidoscope of contrasts, moods and colour.
The glittering temples and Royal palaces, the gleaming glass office
blocks, the hustle and bustle, the traffic, the tropical heat........
Founded in 1782, the the charm and peace of Old Bangkok can still
be seen in teak houses, the busy Chao Phraya river - the heart
of the city, and the canals and traditional markets which still
reflect a lifestyle evident before air-conditioned shopping malls
arrived.
 One
of the great attractions of Bangkok is that traditional and modern
still manage to sit side by side in this incredible and vibrant
city. The choice of things to do is overwhelming, you can plan
your own tours of the different sights. Ride a local boat on the
river, or travel on the new "Skytrain." Learn Thai cooking
or traditional massage, study meditation at some of the greatest
places of Buddhist learning, bargain at noisy sprawling Asian
markets or stroll through upmarket shopping malls. Not an obvious
place to visit for a rest! Yet Bangkok offers great food, great
nightlife, superb shopping and the best value hotels in the world.
It's unforgettable Bangkok.....
Where to Stay?
Shopping, business, or pleasure? Check out our location guide.
Where to Go?
It's a tough choice.....
Where can I go from Bangkok? - day trips to Ayutthaya, or Kanchanaburi
Just over a one hour flight away....Chiang
Mai, Phuket
Kanchanaburi
 More
a small town than a city, only 120km west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi
is famous as the historical site of the bridge over the River
Kwai, part of the infamous railway built by allied prisoners under
the Japanese occupation. There's more than just the bridge though,
it's a gateway to a region of rugged natural beauty. Jungle covered
hillsides, waterfalls, mountains and fertile river valleys (the
Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi) have inspired the development of hydro-electric
power and expanded tourism into the countryside and along the
river. Trips along the river and around the area are available
with accommodation in raft houses and river lodges. Adventure
activities like rafting, are also becoming very popular. Take
a day trip from Bangkok or stay in one of the river raft houses.
What to do - Look at the bridge, of course. There's
also the JEATH war museum, which starkly brings home the horrors
of the Japanese occupation of this part of Thailand during W.W.II
and Kanchanaburi's two prisoner-of-war cemeteries. There are thousands
of graves are laid out neatly in rows among the pristine lawns
and flower gardens. Hire a boat and take a trip along the river,
stopping at caves and temples, or, take a trip to the waterfalls
in the Erawan National Park, 65km northwest of the town.
Ayutthaya
Founded in 1350 , the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya was the dominant
power in the Menam or Chao Phraya Basin for 417 years. An island-city
situated at the confluence of three rivers, the thriving markets
of Ayutthaya traded merchandise from all corners of Asia, attracting
traders from France, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. Continually
at odds with its Burmese neighbours, Ayutthaya was eventually
destroyed during the 1760's, the Burmese armies inflicted severe
defeats on the Thais, who had been somewhat too fortunate and
complacent in having enjoyed over a century of comparative peace.
In April 1767, after a 15-month siege, Ayutthaya finally succumbed
to the Burmese, who sacked and burnt the city, thus putting an
end to one of the most politically glorious and culturally influential
epochs in Thai history.
The ancient ruins are extensive and the spendour of the place
can still be seen. Day trips operate regularly from Bangkok and
usually incorporate a trip to the Bang Pa-in Palace, summer
residence of later Bangkok monarchs.
Hua Hin & Cha Am
(Prachuap Khiri Khang)
Hua Hin - Is a favourite of many Bangkok residents for
a quiet weekend away from the city's hustle and bustle. This small
sleepy resort favoured by H.M. King of Thailand, is the oldest
beach resort in the country and is still popular with local Thais.
The construction of a railway station here in the reign of King
Rama VI (1910-1925) and a summer palace of King Rama VII in 1926,
transformed this quiet fishing village into a resort town for
Thai high society.
Cha Am, another small resort just 20 minutes drive away
is now replacing Hua Hin as the destination for the upper echelons.
Good seafood restaurants and some excellent hotels including the
Dusit Resort and Polo Club and the Sofitel Central Hua Hin. Formerly
the Railway Hotel, the Sofitel was built in 1923 and still retains
some of the elegance of the past. Hua Hin, a sleepy seaside town,
offers quiet beaches and lots of local colour.
Khao Yai National
Park
"Gateway to the north east" Khao Yai National Park,
can be reached from Bangkok in about 2 - 2.30 hours by car. A
popular park with local visitors and tourists, it offers a huge
diversity of wildlife from birds and reptiles to elephants and
buffalo. Set against a picturesque landscape of mountain range
and rich forest the park is ideal for bird watching, camping,
sightseeing or hiking. Several short and long tracks are provided
past beautiful waterfalls, grassland and woods. There's also a
bike-riding track for cyclists. Busy at weekends and school holidays.
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