Thailand attracts travelers and tourists from all around the world. There are many wonderful things to do, see, and taste in this beautiful country, but most visitors don’t have enough time to try out everything.
Here are 10 Thailand points of interests you should visit if you get the chance.
1. Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it’s also the largest city in the country with more than 8 million inhabitants. It’s also one of the top tourist destinations in the world, with attractions that include the Grand Palace, temples, and museums.
Bangkok is known for its friendly people and its dynamic nightlife. Be sure to visit at least one of the floating markets located outside the city, where you will be able to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and other great food.
2. Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, and it’s considered one of the friendliest cities on Earth. The city is home to many Buddhist temples, but also to many museums, Thai cooking schools, and massage parlours.
Popular attractions include the Chiang Mai Zoo, different festivals, and visits to local hill tribes. If you like to shop, you will find everything you need at the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.
3. Phimai Historical Park
When you visit the Phimai Historical Park, you can admire the ruins of one of the largest Khmer temples in Thailand. Those impressive buildings, built from the late 11th century to the late 12th century, have a style similar to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
It was built as a Buddhist temple and it features a lot of Buddhist artwork, but it’s believed to have been an important religious landmark for Hindus and Animists as well.
4. Wat Arun
Wat Arun, which means “Temple of Dawn”, is a Buddhist temple located in the Bangkok Yai district. The prang of Wat Arun are decorated by patterns made from porcelain and seashells.
The temple is named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn. Arun Wat is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and while entry is free for Thai people, tourists have to pay a fee to be able to visit.
5. Phanom Rung
Phanom Rung is a Hindu temple located in Thailand’s Buriram Province. It was built on an extinct volcano between the 10th and 13th century. It was designed to represent Mount Kailash, the sacred home of Hindu God Shiva.
The impressive architecture of Phanom Rung, with its main tower, its processional walkway, its bridges and other sacred buildings, is definitely worth a visit
6. Phang Nga Bay
If you’re not interested in visiting temples, you can spend some time exploring Phang Nga Bay, located in Phang Nga Province in the southern part of Thailand. You will be able to visit by sea kayak to see limestone cliffs, caves, and archaeological sites.
Phang Nga Bay was used as a setting in Star Wars Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, and one of its islands is known as James Bond Island after appearing in The Man with the Golden Gun.
7. Phi Phi Islands
Another point of interest that was featured in a movie is Phi Phi Islands, which became famous after appearing in The Beach. This group of six beautiful islands is located in Krabi Province, in the southern part of the country.
The area’s white sandy beaches, limestone mountains, caves and corals are really a sight to behold.
8. Ayutthaya Historical Park
In Ayutthaya Historical Park, you can visit the ruins of the city of Ayutthaya, which used to be the capital of the Siamese Ayutthaya Kingdom before it was destroyed by the Burmese army in the 16th century.
It has since then been restored, and it features a few temples as well as a variety of architectural styles. One of the most photographed objects of the area is a statue of Buddha’s head tangled in the roots of a massive banyan tree.
9. Sukhothai Historical Park
Sukhothai Historical Park is another site that covers the ruins of an ancient city. Sukhothai used to be the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom during the 13th and 14th century. The park features palaces, temples, and many other ruins to explore.
In Wat Si Chum, one of the sites of the Park, you can admire a 15 meters high statue of a seated Buddha.
10. Thai-Burma Railway
The Thai-Burma Railway, also known as Death Railway, was built by the Japanese during World War II. It was nicknamed Death Railway because many of the labourers and prisoners of war who were forced to work on its construction died.
The railway is mostly closed today, but a portion of the original rail line is still in operation, and it can allow you to travel through breathtaking sceneries.
