Central Thailand (Thai: ภาค กลาง; pâag gklaang) describes the location not only geographically, the region also plays a central role in the country's economic life. And the region also has a lot to offer culturally. The metropolitan area around Bangkok has countless temples and museums. The best known is certainly the old royal city Ayutthaya. But nature lovers will also get their money's worth - from towering mountain ranges in the west to forests and plains with rice fields to the seaside resorts on the Gulf coast. Another advantage of the region is the easy accessibility from the capital Bangkok out.
Regions of central Thailand
places
- Ayutthaya - Long-standing capital and royal residence north of Bangkok. The historical park with its countless temple ruins is part of the world cultural heritage.
- Bangkok - Capital and economic center of the country.
- Bang Pa-in - Former summer residence of the Thai kings; Palace ensemble in an interesting mix of European and Asian styles.
- Hua Hin - traditional seaside resort on the Gulf coast; Popular destination for the Bangkok high society (up to and including the royal family), but there are also accommodations for the medium budget.
- Kanchanaburi - This is the place with the legendary bridge on the River Kwai; Point of attraction for package and individual tourists.
- Lop Buri - History-rich city with Khmer temple ruins from the Angkor period; Temporary royal residence in the 17th century.
- Phetchaburi - one of the oldest cities in central Thailand, a former secondary residence with Euro-Asian palaces and a sky observatory from the 19th century.
Other goals
- Erawan National Park, in the western mountains, with impressive waterfalls and various caves
- Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's oldest and most famous national park is located partly in Central, partly in East and Northeast Thailand. Here you can encounter wild elephants (as well as many other animal and plant species).
- Ko Kret, car-free island in the Chao Phraya River north of Bangkok, inhabited by the Mon ethnic group, who are known for their pottery
- Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, "Park of 300 Mountain Peaks" on the Gulf of Thailand with interesting caves, many animal and plant species.
- Three Pagoda Pass, history-laden border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar
background
The central region is not only in the middle of Thailand, it is also the political, economic and cultural center of the country and has a dominant position compared to the other regions (which, of course, is sometimes criticized by Thais from other parts of the country). In the worldview of ancient Siam, this was even the center of the universe.
The well-known cultural history of the region goes back to around the 1st millennium AD. If you ask some Thai historians, it is much older than that. You suspect that the legendary "Goldland" is here Suvarnabhumi found (but it is more likely that the whole of Southeast Asia was called that in antiquity). From the 6th to the 11th centuries existed here Dvaravati, an alliance of Buddhist city-states influenced by Indian culture. It was predominantly settled by the Mon people, the Thai probably only immigrated later. Almost no buildings from this time have survived, but there are Buddha statues and stone Dharmachakras (wheels of the law), which can be admired in the National Museum in Bangkok. In the 10th to 13th centuries the long arm of the Khmer empire then extended from Angkor to central Thailand. Lop Buri was at this time an important provincial capital or capital of a vassal state.
Only since the 13th century has the region been ruled by the Thai, who are by far the largest population group today. In 1351, according to the chronicles, the kingdom became Ayutthaya founded, which had great power until the 18th century and is regarded as the forerunner of today's Kingdom of Thailand. Since labor was chronically scarce in premodern Southeast Asia, after each successful war campaign Siams (old name for Thailand) people from other countries and regions were settled in central Thailand and used for forced labor. After the old capital was taken over by the Burmese army in 1767 (today Myanmar) was captured and destroyed, it was abandoned and Bangkok was made the capital. It is there to this day.
language
The Central Thai dialects are the basis of the standard Thai language. In Bangkok and places of major tourist importance (e.g. Ayutthaya, Hua Hin), English is usually good at hand. Off the beaten tourist track, however, a basic knowledge of Thai is very beneficial (see Phrase book Thai).
getting there
The journey is usually made via Bangkokwhere the two largest Airports of the country, the central Central Station of the Thai railway network as well as the central Bus stations of the remote bus network. From there all other places in central Thailand can be reached by train, bus or minivan.
From Myanmar can be reached by land at the border crossing at Htee Khee / Phu Nam Ron (province Kanchanaburi; just under 60 km southwest of KanchanaburiCity). The border crossing known for historical reasons on Three Pagoda Pass however, is only open to locals.
mobility
Central Thailand is of a dense network Train, bus and minivanConnections opened up that usually originate from Bangkok. Direct cross-connections past Bangkok, on the other hand, are the exception.
Trains drive from Bangkok to Rangsit - Bang Pa-in - Ayutthaya - Lop Buri (further direction Chiang Mai = North line) or - Saraburi (further direction Nakhon Ratchasima = Northeast line); Nakhon Pathom - Ratchaburi - Petchaburi - Cha-am - Hua Hin - Pran Buri - Prachuap Khiri Khan (further direction Surat Thani = Southern line) and Kanchanaburi - Bridge on the Kwai - Nam Tok (= former Thailand – Burma railway). A suburban line not connected to the rest of the railway network also runs from the Bangkok district Thonburi to Samut Songkhram (Mae Klong) where the famous railway market is located.
In the greater Bangkok area you can also travel for longer distances taxi take, as taxi driving is much cheaper than in Central Europe. A distance of 50 kilometers, for example, only costs 335 baht (if you don't get into a traffic jam on the way). Driving in rush hour should be avoided at all costs. If you want to use the chargeable elevated roads (which often saves a lot of time), the passenger has to pay the toll himself.
Tourist Attractions
The capital Bangkok is full of sights: countless Buddhist temples (and also places of worship of other religions), the Grand Palace, museums (namely the national museum with the largest collection of Thai art treasures from all eras), but also architecturally interesting skyscrapers from more recent times.
- Historical park Ayutthaya: Ruins of Buddhist temples, Buddha statues (e.g. the famous Buddha head overgrown by tree roots - one of the most famous photo motifs in all of Thailand), remains of royal residences from the 14th to 18th centuries; UNESCO world heritage
- Bang Pa-in: Summer palace of the Thai kings from the 19th century in an interesting mix of Thai and European styles
- Kanchanaburi: Thailand-Burma Railway with the Bridge on the River Kwai, which was built during the Second World War under inhumane conditions by prisoners of war and other forced laborers. The experiences of the Allied prisoners of war became known through the novel and the film The bridge on the River Kwai. There is also a prisoner of war cemetery and a museum.
- Lop Buri: Temple ruins from the Khmer period (10th to 12th centuries, stylistically similar to Angkor); European influenced Renaissancepalaces 17th century Phra Narai Ratchaniwet and Ban Wichayen.
- Phetchaburi: Historical park Phra Nakhon Khiri, royal palace of Rama IV. (Known from the musical / film Anna and the Kingwhich portray the king in a rather unrealistic way) who was very interested in western culture and science, so the palace looks quite European and there is an observatory; his son Rama V. (Chulalongkorn) had the palatial villa Phra Ram Ratchaniwet built by a German architect at the beginning of the 20th century.
- Mueang Boran in the province of Samut Prakan (approx. 25 km southwest of Bangkok): very large open-air museum in the shape of the surface of Thailand with replicas of significant or typical buildings from different regions and epochs of Thai history.
- Floating markets of Amphawa and Damnoen Saduak.
- Railway market in Samut Songkhram: The market stalls are on the railroad track and are quickly folded away when the train arrives.
- Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom: At 127 meters tallest Buddhist stupa in the world; its foundation walls are believed to date from the 4th century AD.
- ancient cities Khu Bua (Province Ratchaburi) and U thong (Province Suphan Buri) from the earliest era of Thai history - but little more than a few piles of stones can be seen of the buildings.
activities
- diverse cultural, sports and wellness offers in Bangkok
- Thai massage (nuad pään tai or nuad pään booraan) is offered in practically every city and even some villages, outside the capital and the tourist areas the prices are often incredibly low (2 hours from 200 Baht)
- Bathing at the waterfalls in Erawan or Khao Yai National Park or on the beaches of the Gulf Coast (Cha-am, Pran Buri, Hua Hin)
- Cycling, e.g. B. in the historical park Ayutthaya. There are also surprisingly green areas in the immediate vicinity of Bangkok. B. the Bang Kachao Peninsula, a large green oasis in the middle of the capital's Moloch. There are several tour operators in Bangkok who know beautiful and interesting routes. On longer tours it should be noted that cycling is much more strenuous than in Central Europe due to the heat (do not choose too long routes; avoid lunchtime; drink a lot!)
- Elephant rides in Ayutthaya Historical Park
kitchen
Central Thai cuisine is the regional cuisine that one typically thinks of when speaking of “Thai food” in general. Here you will find all the dishes you know from Thai restaurants all over the world (but probably more authentic). In addition, there are different local specialties from province to province.
nightlife
A diverse range of nightlife has primarily Bangkok to have. In central Thai provincial cities, on the other hand, there are usually only a handful of pubs and bars, some with live music.
