Lumpini Park
Rama IV Rd., Wangmai, Pathumwan
Situated in the very heart of the Bangkok business district, Lumpini Park is the largest recreation area in the capital. It provides fresh, green lungs for the city and is an oasis of quiet, calmness and peace in the center of a busy metropolis for its residents. Once in the park, it is possible to forget that one is surrounded by the crowded capital with its gigantic skyscrapers, tropical heat waves and wild traffic. Despite its non-touristic status – or possibly because of it, few non residents ever make it this far – Lumpini Park remains a favorite recreation place for the Bangkok locals and the handful of guests who strive to temporally escape the sometimes suffocating embrace of the endlessly busy mega city.
This unique green zone was created for Bangkok in the 1920s. At first it was a garden belonging to the King Rama VI, but in later years the monarch passed these lands into city ownership. The idea behind this was to create a public park, where the capital’s residents could walk, rest, take part in more active recreation and visit various concerts, exhibitions and festivals. A grandiose monument to Rama VI, who remains to this day one of the most loved and honored rulers of Thailand, adorns the main entrance to the green area.
Lumpini Park was named after the Nepalese town of Lumbini, where the great Buddha is said to have been born. Today it is the most popular place for walks, recreation and sporting activities in Bangkok. It covers an area of 57 hectares, as well as housing a huge manmade lake where guests can enjoy boating or riding on a catamaran, as well as jogging and cycling tracks, tennis courts and numerous grassy glades with gymnastic apparatus and fitness equipment. Additionally there are a number of children's playgrounds. Furthermore, it is home to the primary public library and a palm tree garden, where music evenings, naturally with participation of a full orchestra, are held every year from February until March.
Lumpini Park is also famous for its monitor lizards, some of which are an extremely impressive size. These live in the local lake together alongside the giant turtles and sheat-fish.
Getting there. There are two ways of reaching the park. The first is to take the Skytrain to the station Sala Daeng and then walk 2-3 minutes to the park. The second option is to take an underground train to the station Silom or Lumphini.
