Who would’ve thought that such tranquility and beauty could exist in the middle of a city? But Bangkok’s Lumphini Park is just that. This 142-acre park has trees, playgrounds, jogging and biking paths, and even an artificial lake.
We took the Bangkok Metro or MRT to Silom to get to Lumphini Park. Yes, there’s a Lumphini station, but this one gets you right to the entrance within a few steps from the station exit/entrance.
Here you can see just how big the park is and the location of the two MRT stations.
Created in the 1920’s on royal property by King Rama VI, Lumphini Park was first a museum and then the first park in Bangkok after World War I. It opened to the public in 1952. It’s called Lumphini after Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal.
Inside the park you’ll find paths as long as 2.5km, which are perfect for joggers and those that like a nice stroll any time of day.
Although you know you’re in the city of Bangkok, a city of over 8 million people, while in Lumphini Park you’ll feel like you’re somewhere else entirely.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can always rent a paddle boat for next to nothing. Be warned in advance that when it’s hot out, there’s no cover on the water and no breeze, which is why I decided not to take one out for a spin.
TSG Tip: Keep your eyes open and maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll spot one of the huge monitor lizards that live here.
There are plenty of places to sit like benches or even under the cover of a small pergola like this. Enjoy the view over a snack or meal that you brought with you or purchased from one of the food vendors that are stationed near the Rama VI statue. As for me, I was motoring through the park and so not thinking about food. Did I mention it was hot?
Having only just arrived in Bangkok, I did notice that there were these pretty little yellow flowers just about everywhere.
Turns out they are Cassia fistula flowers (in Thai it’s ratchapruek), the national flower of Thailand, and they bloom on what is called (not my words) the golden shower or golden rain tree.
These yellow flowers symbolize Thai royalty and the blossoms are commonly referred to as dok koon. In Lumphini Park I admired the beautiful baskets that they were putting them into while cleaning up the park.
I spotted several people fishing here and the fish were crazy active and biting. By active I mean they were jumping up and out of the water in drove to get to the feed. What’s that expression? “Like shooting fish in a barrel”? Maybe they mean like fishing in Lumphini Park as you can’t NOT catch one.
Walking along the winding paths within the park I stumbled upon these four life sized colorful figures, including the green one that’s a girl. They have something to do with the environment, recycling, etc., but I can’t find anything about them anywhere. In a country where plastic bags rule the world, it’s nice to see that maybe there is a movement to reduce waste here.
Lumphini Park is a little bit of green in the big city of Bangkok and is definitely an unexpected and enjoyable break from the chaos of the city. Click To Tweet
While we could have hit every single tourist destination within the city and been happy, I’m glad we made a little detour here. Lumphini Park is a little bit of green in the big city of Bangkok and is definitely an unexpected and enjoyable break from the chaos of the city. Go to relax or exercise by walking, running, biking, or doing one of the many types of exercises people partake in while here including aerobics and Tai Chi. Take in a free musical performance, go fishing, enjoy a picnic, or do absolutely nothing but enjoy the view. If your travels take you to Bangkok, I highly recommend a visit to Lumphini Park.
Lumphini Park
139/4 Thanon Witthayu, Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Hours: Open daily from 05:00 – 19:00
Have you been to Lumphini Park?