Great Reasons Why You Should Visit Bangkok

The Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index, an annual list that looks at the visitor volume (both business and vacation travelers) and spends of the 162 largest cities all over the globe, hailed Bangkok, Thailand as the most visited city worldwide, with 20.5 million tourists in 2017. Well, it’s not anymore a surprise as this place has a lot to offer to tourists, no wonder why people always include this city in their travel bucket list.

If you’re on an Asian tour, there are many ways to get to Bangkok. Whether you’re coming from Japan, Malaysia, China, or Singapore, you’ll find affordable flights you can book online. For instance, you can book a flight from Singapore to Bangkok, so see more here to learn more.

Without further ado, below are great reasons why you should visit ‘The City of Angels”, starting with:

The Grand Palace!

Buddhism is Thailand’s known major religious influence, which is reflected in one of the most visited tourist attractions in Bangkok, the Grand Palace. It spans over 54 acres of land, which is Thai monarchy’s private home. It was built in 1782, and it is adored for its Buddhist sculptures, elaborate paintings, and gold plated walls.

Wat Phra Kaew or The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is the most popular temple at the Grand Palace, wherein you’ll find Ramayana’s mural on the inside walls. This one’s considered the longest wall painting worldwide.

Indeed, Thailand is renowned for its rich cultural and religious heritage with Bangkok as its gateway, introducing tourists to Buddhism, which is a highly respected religion all over the world.

Rich Heritage  

Apart from going on food escapades and visiting famous spots, one awesome way to make your Thailand trip even more worthwhile is by booking a trip to its five UNESCO world heritage sites, namely: the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, the Historical City Of Ayutthaya, the Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries, and the Historic Town Of Sukhothai. Each one is an experience you can’t find anywhere else!

Here are the UNESCO world heritage sites in Thailand near Bangkok:  

• Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex: Just 200 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, it’s home to hundreds of reptile, flora, bird, mammal, and amphibian species. Also, visiting this place will allow you to have a close encounter with critically endangered species of tiger, leopard, elephant, banteng, and Siamese Crocodile.
• The Historic Town of Ayutthaya: You can get here by just taking a two-hour trip by train from Bangkok. The city was founded in 1350, the second Siamese capital that hosted major international trades for centuries. However, it was destroyed in 1767 by the Burmese. All residents drove away, and the city was totally abandoned. Ayutthaya now stands as a symbolic reminder of Thai’s rich history.

 

Delicious and Unique Thai Cuisines

Thai food incorporates various interesting flavors in every dish. You’ll love the unique street food dishes in Bangkok, including multiple Thai desserts, papaya salad, rice noodles, and skewers of grilled and marinated meat.

Here are a few Thai foods you shouldn’t miss when visiting Bangkok:

• Tom Yum: It is a spicy shrimp soup, which is a blend of chili, straw mushrooms, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, shallots, and fish sauce.
• Som Tum: It is also referred to as spicy green papaya salad. It comes with cherry tomatoes, green beans, chilis, and shredded raw papaya, with dry shrimp, salted crab, and peanuts in some regional variations. It possesses a distinctive sweet-sour-spicy flavor.
• Tom Kha Kai: This Thai recipe has tender strips of chicken in delicious coconut soup, with thinly sliced young galangal, fiery chilies, and crushed shallots. The coconut milk is added for creaminess and to reduce the spiciness. It’s topped with fresh lime leaves for added flavor.
• Gaeng Daeng: If you’re in a spicy mood, this Thai dish is something you need to try. It is made out of red curry paste, as well as smooth coconut milk, meat, and kaffir lime leaves.

 

Some More Exciting Activities in Bangkok

Bangkok is one of those cities that never go to sleep. It’s the pride and capital of Thailand that offers a lot of beautiful places and activities for tourists. There are great activities for all age groups, from child-friendly tours in natural sites and museums to sky train and boat rides.

Here are the best things to do while in Bangkok: 

• Ride a Sky Train: Jump aboard one of Bangkok’s sky trains with air-conditioned carriages so you can get around better. Every part of Bangkok has a train station, so traveling is a lot simpler.
• Take a Boat Trip: Bangkok is considered the “Venice of the East” because of the magnificent Chai Phraya River that flows through Bangkok. You can take a boat trip and view fascinating hotels and high-rise condominiums, as well as wooden shacks and children playing.
• Thai Market Shopping: In Bangkok, you can find plenty of shopping markets, from high-end shopping plazas, authentic floating markets, to open-air markets. Visit one of their floating markets and you’ll see merchants rowing wooden boats filled with items they’re selling.

 

Conclusion

Bangkok is an incredible vacation destination that you don’t want to miss on your next Asian adventure trip. Enjoy sight-seeing and taking Instagram-worthy photos in the city’s historical sites, religious landmarks, and natural views. Shopping and dining are fun in the City of Angels, too.