Lumpini Park, Bangkok

Lumpini Park is located in the heart of Bangkok, at the junction of Rama IV and Ratchadamri roads.

In front of the park is the monument of King Rama VI, built in 1941.

You will pass by this monument if you take a walk from Sala Daeng to Suan Lum Night Bazzar.

Early morning (7-8am) this huge "green island" in the middle of Busy, busstling Bangkok is a not what you might expect...

All very man made, the park has artificial lakes where you can hire pedal boats, small playgounds, huge concrete paths winding through the park, and lots and lots of grass...

The people there are also not what you expect. It seemed to be (apart from an exercise circuit) a place where people would come to feel liek they arent in the city any more.

Thai Chi classses are amazing to watch.
Numerous groups of joggers, old women talking....lots of expats of tourists running...
my words cant really describe it- but its huge chane from what "is " Bangkok...

Along the fences of the park are hundreds of street vendors- a perfect place to grab a delicious and hgarty breakfast while observing all around!!!

From Khao San (where i was staying) i caught a taxi for afew hundred bhat...(well worth it so i was told by an expat living there). Its also located just beside the sky train!
(The sky train is an experience in itself too... and from there can take you to Sapan Taksin where you could take the boat to Grand Palace)!

these are the things one rarely sees....

in the heart of a park in the city center are local gyms....

men and women get pumped here...opens at the crack of dawn to about eight pm...

and for as low as US$7 a month, you too can get yolked!

or even for a quick visit to the off beaten path for a nice shot to show off on your VT? it's good enough!

another one for the park....

there are a few interesting landmarks in the park and one of them is this chienese, stupa like building...

bright red and gold and some blue trimmings, this place is good for realxing, reading, it jas a few marble benches, great for the back as the cool marbles soothes your back...

check it out....

after going to the national musuem, we chanced upon the beautiful sight of the pigeons at the lumpini park...it reminded me of central park in new york...go here for a refreshing break after shopping...fresh and windy air, chirping pigeons, warm breeze..its right across the national musuem and Thammasat university

A couple of hours walking through this large park in central Bangkok was a joy and plenty to see, watch out for the gaint lizards that crawl out of the water to sun themselfs on the damp grass, Or just find a bench and people watch

BTS station of Saladaeng is only 5 mins walk away

there's a huge park right in the heart of Bangkok.

Lumpinee Park....the first public library in thailand is inside this park....

take sometime out in the park (entrance free of charge) and you will be amazed how this park is so often overlooked by travelers.....

early morning, watch chinese thais, old and young, in their uniforms of different colors resembling their groups.....

slow, classical movements taught through generations of the powerful chinese martial arts movements...also known as blood circulation excercise.

as the mid day comes, the park is almost deserted from the heat. a handful of couples and individual sit under the good old trees...reading, mesmserizing, or meditation....

come evening...play time. roller bladers showing off their K2's, bikers ridding around their mountain bikers, muscle men and women working out in the open (sorry, no Gold's Gym here), pet owners walking their dogs....and a few lakes in the parks are speckled with foot peddal boats and canoes....

it's not the usual park, but boats some of the most diversified activites and people from all walks....the park does not intimidate and is never overwhelmed with masses of people....

it's a place that one can cover themselves out of the busy life of shopping, dinning, partying, and indulging in vice.....time out under the trees.

great photo shooting site! jazz festivals (check calendar with tourism authority of thailand)

This is the biggest park in Bangkok which many of the Thai's visit this place during Saturdays' and Sundays as a bonding time and family day out's along the park, they have nice and clean fountains, comfort rooms, nice benches and lovely flowers!

When we arrived at Bangkok (our last visit July 2006) my brother handed us over a paper where he had written down the Thai name of LUMPHINI - SATHOR. Our hotel was located in that area, and we had to speak the LUMPHINI in a special pronunciation, that is not in an English or Dutch way. We got to our hotel right away ...

Did you know that the LUMPHINI PARK has been named after the Buddha's place of birth in Nepal? I didn't, and didnot know there was the station of Subway Lumphini. So we explored the LUMPHINI PARK. There are shady paths, a large artificial lake, and when walking through this park very early in the morning you'll see a lot of Chinese practising T'ai Chi. Not interested, then you may watch the miniature muscle beach on weekends where is a weight-lifting area like in Los Angelos, Venice Beach. Enjoy the early in the morning vendors who sell a lot of funny freaky curiosities like fesh snake blood ... or the night hawkers with a lot of good food dishes!