Thailand is famous for ancient temples and palaces, exotic floating markets and the beauty of tropical nature, stunning beaches and a variety of entertainment.
This amazing country is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- the historic city of Ayutthaya;
- Banchiang archaeological site;
- the historical city of Sukhothai and neighboring towns;
- Dongfayen-Khao Yai forest complex;
- Huaykhakheng and Thungyai nature reserves.
Thailand is a country in which everyone finds what he needs, and therefore the story about Thai sights will be very diverse. So what is the first thing to see in this unique country, what to see in Thailand?
Top 15 attractions in Thailand
Patong
Patong Beach
This is the name of the city and beach in the west of Phuket Island. The city is the center of entertainment; those who want to have fun come here. And you can spend it here in very different ways: someone peacefully sits with his family in one of the city cafes (there are a lot of them here!), And someone goes to a transvestite show; you can go shopping, buy souvenirs, you can swim in the sea … Everyone will find what he is looking for in Patong. Destroyed in 2004 by a powerful tsunami, the city and the beach are now almost restored to their original appearance and continue to attract a huge number of tourists.
Karon Beach
Karon Beach
The famous Phuket beach. One of its features is "singing" sand. There is a high content of quartz in the sand, so the grains of sand underfoot emit a specific sound, a bit reminiscent of singing. The beach is famous for its beautiful coral reefs, which tourists love to photograph. But Karon is not only the beauty of nature, but also numerous restaurants and shops … There is absolutely everything for a great holiday.
Kata Noi beach
Kata Noi beach
Cozy beach on Phuket island. The word "noy" in translation from Thai means "small". This is a place with bright white sand and clear sea water. The width of the strip of sand is fifty meters, but it can decrease (it all depends on the ebb and flow). In winter and in the first half of spring, the sea is very calm here, and the rest of the time it pleases surfers with large waves. If you just want to sunbathe, you can rent a sun lounger for 100 baht per day.
Floating Markets
Floating market
Those who want to plunge into the distant past of Thailand can be advised to visit the floating markets of this country. The most famous and colorful of them is Damnoen Saduak. Here you will see Thailand as it was centuries ago! In the floating markets, little has changed over the past few centuries: the same mountains of fresh fruit offered by merchants from their boats, the same noise and diversity. Only souvenirs have just been added. It is better to visit Damnoen Saduak early in the morning when trade is in full swing. Buses leave for this market from Bangkok South Bus Terminal. The fare is 50 baht (one way).
Mini Siam Park
Mini Siam Park
In this amazing Pattaya park, you will see small copies of one hundred world sights - the Egyptian pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, St. Basil's Cathedral … There are also many reduced copies of the sights of Thailand. Scale of copies - 1:25.
Phuket Oceanarium
Phuket Oceanarium
There are no other inhabitants of the sea here! Knife fish, cow fish, groupers, lion fish … The Oceanarium will make a vivid impression on both children and adults. For kids the entrance costs 100 baht, for adults - 180. The aquarium is open every day from 8-30 to 16-30. On weekends, sharks are fed around noon. You can get to the aquarium along the road leading to Phuket Town.
Wat Arun
Wat Arun
The temple, named after Arun, the god of dawn. One of the most interesting sights in Bangkok. The temple was built at the end of the 19th century. The height of its central pagoda is almost eighty meters. You can climb to its top using a special staircase; a very beautiful view opens from the top of the pagoda.
The temple is decorated with porcelain, which, as the legend says, was once raised from the bottom of the river. A Chinese barge carrying porcelain dishes drowned in this river. The temple is open daily from 9-00 to 17-00.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat
This Bangkok temple is not only an architectural monument, but also a famous school where those who wish can learn meditation. Classes are held several times a day. Training is conducted in Thai and English.
There is a university for Buddhist monks on the territory of the temple. There are several departments in this educational institution:
- college;
- Department of Social Sciences;
- Department of Humanities;
- international branch.
Near the walls of the temple there is a market for amulets and various medicines of Thai traditional medicine. Here you can buy talismans that bring good luck in love or in business, change fate for the better in other areas. The market is open on Sundays. The temple is open from 7-00 to 17-00 seven days a week.
Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong
The time of the construction of the temple is unknown, the first mention of it dates back to the 30s of the XIX century. Today it is one of three dozen Buddhist temples in Phuket, as well as a famous landmark of this island.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the abbot of the monastery to which the temple belonged was Luang Pho Chem. His name became widely known after the Chinese uprising in Thailand (then Luang Pho Chem was still a simple monk). The rebels killed local residents and robbed houses, they gradually approached the monastery; the monks fled, but Luang Pho Chem did not succumb to panic. He provided medical assistance to the wounded. Several other monks also worked with him, inspired by his example. Luang Pho Chem advised the locals on how best to strike at the rebels. Thanks to this advice, the victory was won. Today, on the territory of the temple, there is the dwelling of the famous abbot, restored from photographs. The monks have kept his staff, considered miraculous.
The temple contains a sacred relic - the bone of the Buddha. The temple is open from 8-00 to 18-00.
Chitralada Palace
Chitralada Palace
Bangkok residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. The king passed away in 2016, but his palace remains one of the country's main attractions. Tourists come to the walls of the residence, to the garden of stones and decorative trees, not only to enjoy the beauty of an architectural masterpiece, but also to see the palace of a great man - this is what the people of Thailand consider the late king to be like. As a billionaire, the king spent some of his personal funds to finance projects that contributed to the development of the country.
In the early 70s of the XX century, when student demonstrations were taking place in Thailand, the participants of one of them tried to hide in the territory of the royal residence and actually got shelter there; this incident increased the people's love for the monarch. Today the late king is considered a semi-divine person. His birthday and coronation day are national holidays.
Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya
This city was founded in the middle of the XIV century. It was once home to about a million people (including many foreigners). The city survived several sieges and was destroyed in the middle of the 18th century. The ruins have survived to this day. They are located in the territory of the historical park and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The modern city was built not far from the destroyed one.
Banchiang
Banchiang
Archaeological site. It is the remains of a Bronze Age settlement located in the northeastern part of Thailand.
The history of the discovery of this monument by archaeologists is interesting. In fact, it was discovered in the 60s of the XX century by anthropologist Stephen Young, who was collecting material for a dissertation in Thailand. On one of the paths, Young tripped over a tree root and flew into the mud, but the anthropologist's frustration was quickly replaced by surprise: unusual shards were found in the mud. Young donated them to the Bangkok Museum. Soon an archaeological expedition set out to the place where the shards were found and began excavations.
Archaeologists have found brightly colored clay items, bronze items and skeletons. A museum has been opened at the excavation site. The archaeological site has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Huaykhakhang and Thungyai Reserves
Huaikhakhang
Also included in the list of World Heritage Sites. Together, these two reserves are the largest conservation area in mainland Southeast Asia. The climate is tropical. Among the inhabitants of the reserves are Sumatran rhinos, Asian elephants, gauras, Asian buffaloes, clouded leopards, bantengs …
Dong Fayen-Khao Yai
Dong Fayen-Khao Yai
A forest complex also recognized as a World Heritage Site, consisting of the Dong Fayen Mountain Range and Khao Yai National Park. The name of the mountain range is translated as "jungle of the lord of the cold." Until the 19th century, the name was different - "the jungle of the lord of fire", since it was easy to get infected with malaria here (one of its symptoms is high fever). After the danger of infection was eliminated, the name of the mountain system was changed to the opposite.
National park entry fee - 400 baht.
Sukhothai
Sukhothai
Another World Heritage Site. A unique monument city in the north of Thailand. It was founded in the 30s of the XIII century. It was the capital of a kingdom that existed for over a hundred years. There are about two hundred historical sights on the territory of this city. In one of the city's temples, you can see a huge statue of Buddha, the size of the palm of which is comparable to the height of a person.
