Lumpini park is one of the most convenient of all Bangkok parks for the tourist to visit. Situated within the Silom area – near the BTS and MRT station.
Among the hustle and bustle of the big city this luscious park is a real gem – offering visitors a place to relax, eat, walk, run or even get involved in some aerobic dancing to techno music on the evening.
When we visit we just chill out mainly…It can still a bit too hot to do anything else other than relax and watch an hour pass.
Some Facts About The Park
- It was named Lumpini after the place Buddha was born in Nepal.
- The parks size is approximately 360-rai (57 -hectare 142-acre).
- The park area was created in the 1920s by King Rama VI but was not used as a public park until it was rebuilt after the second world war.
- No smoking! They can fine you, but I’ve only seen them tell a person to put the cigarette out. I have done it and seen many other foreigners do it because we don’t know you cannot smoke in a park (many western parks smoking is permitted). Before the cigarette is finished a security guard usually arrives, shaking his hand saying mai dai (cannot).
King Rama XI Statue
The statue of King Rama XI is situated at the main entrance next to the Silom MRT station and across the road from Sala Daeng BTS station. This is the most convenient place to access the park, although another two entrances can be used – one on Wittayu Rd and another near Lumpini MRT Station.
Things To Do And See
Despite Lumpini park being situated in one of the main business areas of the city it still offers enough peace and quiet to take your shoes off, grab a mat (you can rent mats for around 50 baht from the ladies walking or sitting in the park wearing the big sun shade hats) and relax.
Buy some food from the stalls as you enter the Silom MRT entrance or buy something near Sala Daeng BTS to snack on while leisurely sitting by the lake.
If you feel a bit more active, join the walkers and joggers keeping fit at the park, but this is better later on the evening when it cools down, or early morning.
There is an outdoor gym area if you would like to pump some iron and sweat numerous liters of water. On the evening you can also join the aerobics free class and jump about to to some fairly hard techno tunes. I don’t see many foreigners joining in with the Thai people though…
Bangkok symphony orchestra hold events here on a Sunday.
If you have children there is a great kids play area to take them.
Need water or a snack? Well there are plenty of small huts selling soft drinks, water and snacks to keep you hydrated and keep hunger at bay.
Tai chi anyone? You will find most days, especially at evening time, people practicing Tai chi in a group. I have never seen a foreigner practicing which I imagine is because of the language barrier.
Take A Ride On A Pedloe
The lake has a cabin that hires out pedloes. The pedloes are a nice way to relax on the water. Last time I hired one they were about 80 baht an hour. They have a small roof to provide some shelter from the sun.
Monitor Lizards And Feeding Fish
Watching the monitor lizards or feeding the fish is great here. When I first saw one of these monitor lizards I was shocked and thought It was some sort of crocodile (this was in a Klong – Thai canal) then found out what they were when I visited Lumpini park.
You can buy chopped bread at one of the stalls to feed the fish and see hundreds of them clambering over one another to feed (I enjoy it!).
Getting There/Address
Lumpini park is central to most places in Bangkok and easy to get to via the BTS exit 6 (skytrain) or the MRT (metro train).
Silom MRT entrance is at the main entrance of the park where you will see the King Rama XI statue as soon as you arrive outside the MRT.
Open: Daily from 04.30 hrs. – 21.00 hrs.
You can also get to the park from Lumpini MRT station although you will be on the other side of the park.
