Lumphini Park

Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on August 5th, 2011 filed in Living here, Sightseeing

Visitors to Bangkok looking to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life will discover there are several public parks here that offer a pleasant respite. One of the better known and longest established is Lumphini Park which was founded by King Rama VI in the 1920s on former royal estate land.

The tree boasts around 2.5kms of walking paths which are shaded by lofty trees and go around a lake in the middle of the park. Paddle boats can be rented for 30 minutes for a small fee and offer different aspects on the park, and also glimpses of the monitor lizards swimming in the lake.

At dawn, and also just as the sun sets, locals head to the park to perform various different dance or exercise routines. In the evenings a large group of mostly Thai women do aerobics to the accompaniment of music blasted out from a loudspeaker. During the daytime people of all ages perambulate the paths, taking advantage of the peace and quiet.

Near several of the park entrances there are lots of vendors selling quintessential Thai snacks including deep-fried meatballs, dried squid and spicy papaya salad. Those with young children may find the kiddies’ playground will keep their youngsters amused while they eat the snacks.