Most of the people travelling to Bangkok think of either visiting Pattaya or Phuket or Krabi.
Thailand is majorly known as a destination for sex tourism however there are many beautiful paces in Thailand.
I have already visited Thailand twice and in both of my journeys I was surprised to see the diversity Thailand offers as a travel destination.
Bangkok - known as shopper’s paradise where you can find all kind of fashionable clothes at throw away prices and while returning I can assure you will have bagful of clothes. But wait don’t spend your hard earned money on clothes which will not last for long but save it for going to interesting places in and around Bangkok to have memories which will last for a lifetime.
Let’s look at the 7 most interesting places you can visit from Bangkok
Distance from Bangkok: 193 Kms
Travelling Time: 2hrs 40 mins to 3hrs 30mins depending on traffic
How to go & Cost: Book a Daily tour to Erawan Waterfall for 1750THB – 2500THB depending on your negotiation skills.
The Erawan waterfalls is a Seven Step waterfall each with its own character and shape. None of the waterfall steps resemble each other and this characteristics make it really unique.
Swimming here is a must and don’t forget to carry your swimsuits.You can skip the first 2 steps, 3rd & 4th Steps are really great for swimming. Best part, you get free fish spa here in the waterfalls.
The pools of the waterfalls will mesmerize you with its blue water surrounded by greenery.
If you are interested in hiking then you can try the 5th,6th & 7th step but be aware that the route is slippery and steep at the same time.
Maeklong Railway Market
Distance from Bangkok: 80 Kms
Travelling Time: 1hr to 1hr 30mins depending on traffic
How to Go & Cost: You have to go to BTS Victory station and you get lots of vans going to Maeklong Railway station. The fare is 70THB and the bus is direct
Bangkok has its lots of shopping complex but nothing matches the charm of Maeklong Railway Market. Here you will find shops just on the railway tracks and the best part the train goes on these tracks 4 times a day. So how does shopkeepers sell their stuff on the tracks ? They have foldable shops , yes read it right. Before the train arrives the train blows a horn and on hearing the same the shops fold their main entrance so that the train can pass and it happens within few minutes and as the train passes by they again reopen the shops.
Unless you see the same it’s really tough to explain how immaculately the things are done here.
Tip: Before going to Maeklong Railway Market ensure you check the timetable or else you have to wait a long so experience it.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Distance from Bangkok: 86 Kms
Travelling Time: 1hrs 15 mins to 1hr 45 mins depending on the traffic
How to Go & Cost: Public buses leave from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal to Damnoen Saduak.The buses start from 6am and there is a bus every 40minutes. By suggestion is take the first bus so that you can reach early when the tourists are little less. Fare is around 50 Baht one way.
Kindly note that the bus will drop you about 1km away from the main Damnoen Saduak Market. From here, you will need to hire a boat to get to the market – you must bargain hard to get a good price.
Best way to travel : My suggestion is to take a Full day trip from Bangkok for Floating Market and Kanchanaburi. This is easier and you don’t have to go through the hassle of bargaining everywhere and you can cover a lot in a single day. The cost of the tur will vary between 1500 THB to 2000 THB per person
Here you will find people selling everything on longtail boats. The entire market is on water and all transactions takes place on water. This place has become touristy and prices of all the items are really high , however though its touristy you will still find this place unique. You can hire a boat which will cost you around 2000THB for one hour which will take you to not so touristy areas of this place and a good choice.
The Death Railway of Kwai, Kanchanburi
Distance from Bangkok: 125 Kms
Travelling Time: 1hrs 50 mins to 2 hr 30mins depending on the traffic
How to Go & Cost : The best way to travel here is by a Day tour. Buses need many changes and the train has a 3rd class compartment. The cost of Day tour to only Kanchanburi is approx. 1000 THB however as mentioned above combine it with Floating market for additional 500 THB.
This is the infamous bridge on the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners of war (POW) during World War II. There is a cemetery nearby which includes the graves of an estimated 9,000 Allied soldiers who died while building the bridge and constructing the notorious -Death Railway. The Bridge over the River Kwai was immortalised by the French author Pierre Boulle and made into a major movie. The bridge covers eleven spans and was brought in pieces, by the Japanese all the way from Java to be reconstructed here.
Wat Bang Phra Temple(Sak Yant Tattoo)
Distance from Bangkok: 44 Kms
Travelling Time: 45 mins to 1hr depending on the traffic
How to Go & Cost : You can hire a taxi which will charge around 500THB one way. My suggestion book the taxi for a return journey also. They might charge between 1000-1500THB. Book a return taxi as you will not find much taxis while returning back.
Alternatively you can take a Nakhon Pathom bound minibus from Victory Monument and ask to be dropped at the town of Nakhon Chaisi, from where you can hire a motorbike taxi or tuk tuk to take you the rest of the 15 kilometres to the temple.
In this temple you will see Buddhist monks doing Yantra Tattoo or called as Sak Yant Tattoos using long bamboo sticks. The tattoos are supposed to have magical powers which gives mystical power , protection or good luck to the person.You cannot choose the tattoo design. The tattoo design and where it will be placed is decided by the monk based on your aura.
Master Luang Pi Nunn is the most famous Sak Yant practicing monk who stays here.
So hw much you have to pay for getting the tattoo done ? Well you just have to buy a pack of cigarettes,incense sticks,flowers for 75THB which is given to the Buddhist monk. There is a donation box also just in case you want to donate some additional amount.
Reach there early in the morning by 8am as there will be a queue of people waiting to get tattooed and the monks don’t entertain more than 40-50 people in a day. Even if you don’t want to get tattoo you can watch the tattoo making process which is very unique and is followed for last 2000 years.
Ayutthaya
Distance from Bangkok: 82 Kms
Travelling Time: 1hr to 1hr 15mins depending on the traffic
How to Go & Cost: You can take a minibus from Bangkok to Ayutthaya which will cost you around 60-70 THB. You will get minibuses from the Victory Monument roundabout (close to Mac Donald’s).
One you reach Ayutthaya you can hire a Tuktuk for 200-300 THB for the tour of the temples.
Visit this place if you want to see the magnificent temples and Buddha statutes from the Siamese Kingdom.
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spaniards, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the capital, also called Ayutthaya.
In the sixteenth century, it was described by foreign traders as one of the biggest and wealthiest cities in the East.
Phallic Shrine : Shrine of Goddess Tubtim
Distance from Bangkok: 5 Kms
Travelling Time: 10mins to 15mins depending on the traffic
How to Go & Cost: It will cost you 100 THB to reach this place in a taxi
Well this is a very quirky temple. I have seen many temples in my life but this is completely different. You want to know what is this temple all about. It’s a Phallic shrine to honour the female fertility goddess Chao Meu Tubtim. You will be surrounded by Penis statues of all different sizes from few inches to 6-7 feet. Few penises are intricately painted.
So you wondering why people worship Penises ? Well this is fertility shrine. If a women’s wishes come true then she is supposed to bring a statue of a penis and erect it here.
Let me know if you have visited or are willing to visit.
Also let me know if you need any help regarding visiting the place.
