Culture of Bangkok
A visit to the city of Bangkok would not be complete without bearing witness to its rich and variegated cultural heritage.
Even the most discriminating of visitors will find something which will pique his interest in this city. From historical edifices to modern-architecture; from traditional Thai dances to European ballets, all these can be experienced in Bangkok.
“Thai dances to European ballets”
Bangkok's numerous cultural sites can be loosely divided into three main categories, namely: Religious Sites, Historic Homes & Museums, and Neighborhoods.
Religious sites are not specific only to temples and mosques. Bangkok has religious edifices or statues that draw numerous visitors to its fold.
The most popular of all religious sites include the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho). It is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok and is home to the largest Reclining Buddha, which measures more than 150 feet long, in Thailand.
The Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) is also quite popular among tourists. This is the most photographed temple in the city and has a 70-meter-high spire that is adorned with colored glass and porcelain.
Other temples include the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, The Marble Temple and the Temple of the Golden Buddha.
“109 scaled miniatures of landmarks”
Aside from the National Museum Bangkok, probably the largest in the Southeast Asian region, visitors also frequent the Vimanmek Mansion, the largest teak structure in the world; Ancient City (Muang Boran), a 200-acre city that houses 109 scaled miniatures of Thailand's landmarks; and Jim Thompson House, the private home of the American who is credited to have developed the Thai silk industry.
Finally, when in Bangkok it is recommended to have a peek at some of the city's interesting neighborhoods. The oldest neighborhood attraction in Bangkok is Chinatown. Here one can catch a glimpse of where the pioneer Chinese merchants settled when they first migrated to Bangkok.
Afterwards, take a boat ride along the scenic Chao Phraya River, which traverses the heart of the city.
“...and the Royal Barge Procession”
Other Cultural activities in Bangkok worth mentioning include the birthdays of the King and Queen of Thailand, and the Royal Barge Procession.
Truly, Bangkok is a place of its own. It is a juxtaposition of the old and the new, of the east and the west, and of the traditional and the contemporary.
What's more amazing than the state of preservation of these cultural places is the way the Thais have embraced the changes that the western world brought about and yet, still manage to retain their own unique brand of cultural identity.