As an explorer, I often find myself wanting to be reminded of home. I feel that the easiest way to do that is by finding something non-touristy, and going somewhere that locals would go to relax and have fun. During my first visit in Bangkok I was looking for a green space to get a sense of what this wildly busy city was like for locals after they’ve finished their work, errands, and face-paced lifestyles. Surely they had to do something to escape the madness of the BTS and busy streets…
What I was looking for all along: a pond, fountains, birds in flight, all with the city as a backdrop. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
Enter Lumpini Park…
A park that has been commented as one of the world’s best centrally located urban park demands some publicity. I mentioned in a previous post that previous Kings in Thailand were all responsible for some shift in infrastructure, culture, economy, or significant area in society. It was in the 1920s that Rama VI created this park and named Lumpini Park after the birth place of Buddha. The park was considered the King’s private land, and in the 1950s the park began its accessibility for the public to enjoy. Since its inception it has hosted Thailand’s first Expo, developed temples, and been a place to relax for visitors and locals and celebrate Thailand’s heritage. Tourism Thailand (2015) provides information on free concerts being held by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra for their “Concert in the Park’ series on Sundays from December to February. With everything that is offered here, this park is a place to visit if relaxation is what you desire.
This Chinese Buddhist temple creates a common ground for Chinese and Thais to rest. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
From reading online about Bangkok parks, I heard and saw pictures that massive monitor lizards roam these lands. On my first visit, I had no luck in seeing one. On my second visit, I saw a small one wandering in the water, but it was too far away. On my third, I saw three behemoths trolling the waters and got up and close with one while I was in my swan boat.
Go back in time, enjoy the swan boats, and get a little wet while doing it. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
Watch as children feed the hungry fish in the pond, while searching for monitor lizards and paddling the swan boat. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
You can pay to use these two-seater swan boats for 40 baht (<$2.00) for one hour. When I went to the park I was with two others which meant I’d have my own boat (a sign at the kiosk describes that you can either have two adults, two adults and a child, an adult and a child, or just an adult as the seating combinations/limitations). My swan-friend and I were be on a date – but that meant I had more time to focus on the search for the monitor lizard. According to HubPages (2014) the monitor lizards are cherished in Thailand, and have conservation laws to protect them. Due to the major growth of Bangkok and the surrounding areas, wildlife has been and is continually being displaced. These parks are the last refuge that many animals can call home. Thailand has a large amount of wildlife in the least expected places because of being displaced. But seeing a 6 foot long lizard just roaming around the water and land might be on the extreme and scary side of the scale for a casual tourist. These lizards are known for being powerful swimmers, and enjoy the simple life of swimming, basking in the sun, and taking it easy. They have been known to live along much of Southeast Asia’s coast and occupying islands due to their ability to swim great lengths.
If you love wildlife and seeing a large lizard is on your list, then that’s just one more reason to visit Lumpini Park.
*Also for the record, these monitor lizards are not known to be aggressive or hurt humans. Regardless, please do show them respect and try to not disturb them by feeding them or taunting them.*
Here’s Manny the monitor lizard relaxing and trolling the shoreline. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
If you’re new to this city, or just visiting, you’ll be happy to know that this park has a lot to offer in the realm of physical activities. One of coolest things I discovered about this park is that sheer quantity of exercise equipment located all over the park. If you’re interested in more strength-based workouts then the couple of outdoor areas with resistance machines and free weights might fancy you. If you’re into light aerobic resistance activities then the open area machines would suit you.
Exercise equipment lines the Southern edge of the park, and is often readily available. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
These workout areas are free and funded by the government as their health promotion strategy, or some premium areas are available for a small fee. If being outside is already a workout for you due to the heat (or spent wiping off sweat instead of actually exercising like I find myself doing) then the indoor centre is perfect for you! I walked past this centre and it looks brand new with an air conditioned environment, fancy treadmills, and great stationary equipment. To gain access here it will cost 40 baht, or just under $2.00 for a year long membership (according to my sources). This membership also includes access to the outdoor pool (which would be a nice way to escape the heat), and badminton/tennis courts. I find this deal to be more than worth it, even if you’re just in town for a couple days and you’re looking to stay active.
If the gym life is not your style, then they offer a bunch of classes like Zumba-style aerobics, yoga, and courts for basketball, sepak tekraw (foot volleyball), and football. The Zumba is quite the spectacle, and if you’re there at around 5:00pm you can watch or participate for free. Hundreds of people of all ages join in, and the whole park seems to light up in lively spirit.
Lastly, the park has a beautiful track that runs along the outsides of the park for runners. During the hours that this park is open you won’t find this track empty. Staying active just seems to be part of many peoples lives and seeing this space used was really encouraging for me. This park really does have it all for the people of Bangkok and you if you have an itch for green space and physical activity.
The mass Zumba-style aerobics are fun to join, or even watch. Yee, N. (CC), 2015.
Whether you’re interested in getting some activity in, resting, or taking a swan boat to adore the wildlife with a metropolitan backdrop, Lumpini Park offers visitors with everything you need to get away from Bangkok’s hustle and bustle.
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If you are visiting Bangkok and are interested in following the destinations I’ve talked about in my blog visit: Guidetags.com’s Bangkok By River & Rail.
To get there you can easily take the BTS or MRT. Via BTS you will want to take the train to the Sala Daeng station. Via MRT you can either take the subway to Silom station or Lumpini station. All of these stations will drop you off just South of the park. Follow the signs from the underground path and they will lead you straight to the gates of the park.
The Thai version of the parks rules and regulations. Conveniently and happily translated for you below! Yee, N. (CC), 2015
It is also important to follow the park rules, so I have translated them for you to avoid any problems with park officials:
Vehicles are prohibited, and there are designated spots for them in the parking lot; pets are prohibited; no liquor is allowed for consumption; smoking is prohibited; do not litter; do not disturb the flowers or garden areas; weapons are prohibited; fires are prohibited; and you are encouraged to keep the park clean, so if you see waste, dispose of it properly.
There is no entrance fee, and the hours to the park are 5:00am to 10:00pm. So if you’re in the city and overwhelmed by the endless hustle, then give Lumpini Park a try – it’ll be sure to give you a chance to recreate and enjoy Bangkok in a completely different way.
References
http://www.travelfish.org/sight_profile/thailand/bangkok_and_surrounds/bangkok/bangkok/8; http://hubpages.com/hub/WaterMonitorLizard
From N.Y. 