About Bangkok – A Tourist’s Heaven

  Thailand has a heart named Bangkok. And according to almost every travel and tourism guide, this awesome place is one of the top tourists’ heavens in the whole world. Bangkok has every thing that a tourist may aspire for. From shopping malls to traditional authentic temples, from tall towers and architectural wonders to old palaces and parks, Bangkok is a basket full of well, every thing! According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, almost 15 million tourists had visited the city last year, a whopping rise of 3.4 million since 2005. Thailand’s most visited tourist hot spots are situated in Bangkok. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun are the most popular palaces and temples (Wats) situated in Bangkok.
    The Grand Palace, the official residence of the king, and the abode of Thailand’s monarchs since 1782, is one of the most visited and most popular sites in Thailand today. Bangkok has opened up this site which before the 1932 Revolution had been a key figure in the administrative and military system of Thailand for ages.
  Among the numerous Wats or temples in Bangkok, only a few are noteworthy. The Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, is one of the most impressive. Contrary to the name, it looks the most beautiful at sunset. It stands out not only as a religious structure, but also as an epitome of wonderful architecture in the whole of Thailand. It is one of the most ancient and ‘impressive skyscraper’ temple in Bangkok. It is believed to have inspired the asphalt jungle of modern day skyscrapers in Bangkok today.
  Wat Pho, houses the Reclining Buddha, a larger than life statue of Lord Buddha measuring up to 46 meters in length. The feet of the Buddha are 3 meters long, giving you a fair idea of the magnitude of the statue. Other temples include Wat Suthat that is one of the oldest temples in world and is home to the original Giant Swing. Wat Saket, built outside the new city walls, is an unconventional temple that acted as the city’s crematorium during the reign of King Rama I.
  Other places to visit in Bangkok are Lumpini Park and Chinatown. The former is one of the very few yet a vast open park that is open to all. The latter is one of the best among its contemporaries in Southeast Asia as far as the food, shopping and cultural fiesta is concerned. Pahurat or Little India, that is home to numerous people from Indian-origin inhabitants and holds one of the largest Sikh temples outside India is also a place worth a visit. You also may visit Jim Thompson’s house. Thompson, a former CIA agent is said to be the father of the modern silk industry in Thailand. His mysterious vanishing act in 1967 from Malaysia also makes the visit a bit more exciting.
  With affordable food and accommodation, Bangkok is truly and deservingly one of the hottest tourist attractions on the planet today.