If you want to witness the grandeur of the Wat Arun which is by far the most iconic Buddhist temple in the world and the largest in Thailand then you have to get up early before sunrise and start your retreat towards the Wat Arun Temple. If you have chosen your hotel well like me, then the Wat Arun will not be more than 40 to 50 minutes away by road. Several taxis and buses are available from the city center to the temple for guided trips and expeditions starting from 5 am itself.

The Wat Arun translates to the Temple of the Dawn. During Sunrise when the first beams of pure sunlight strike the Wat Arun’s Golden surface a shine like no other jewel in the world. The people of Thailand worship the Sun God and pray for wisdom, strength and power from him. The city of Bangkok has brought this mystical and divine temple into the limelight and the world has been awestruck by its beauty. The shine of the Wat Arun is reflected in such a way that the entire central hall is illuminated. The message of Lord Buddha has been spread to different corners of the world through the Wat Arun’s shrine.

The towers or Prangs built in the characteristic Chakri Dynasty Khmer style and the central prang is also famous for its engravings and paintings. The beautiful coloured stones used in the construction of this masterpiece are no longer found easily and hence, the precious Wat Arun is often considered one of the most precious temples ever built. The Chao Phraya is also located quite close to the Wat Arun and therefore, the location is also picturesque.

An ancient temple was already present at the location of Wat Arun during the 13th and 14th centuries but the grandeur and full expanse was completed under the first three Rama Kings in the 17th and the 18th century. The Wat Arun is today the second largest and most significant temple in Thailand and one of the most important Buddhist seats of learning and spiritual awakening in the world. The beautiful temple also has a unique location that adds to its brilliance.

Tower club at Lebua Bangkok : I was amazed when I entered the lobby of Tower Club at Lebua and realised that is the best destination I was longing for. I was left in a state of awe when I visited the rooftop lounge which offered us the most splendid view. It offered the best and friendly staff along with well equipped room with best facilities.

Monarchies have evolved over the years around the world. Till the early 17th century almost the entire world was ruled by monarchs and powers of entire nations vested in the hands of a few people. The aristocracy was replaced by the bureaucracy in the next 400 years and elected representatives came to yield all of the administrative powers.

Monarchs now were either completely removed and sidelined or were given ceremonial powers and acted as guiding elders to the new governments. Thailand is one of the many south Asian countries that still respect the authority of a monarch, though his role has been largely reduced to an advisory.

The people of Thailand have had immense faith on the kings of the Rama Dynasty and their kings have been given the status of gods in the country. This is because of the people’s respect and appreciation for the dynasty as the Rama Kings have ruled for nine generations in Thailand. The Grand Palace has been the administrative hall and residence of the Thai Monarchs since 1785.  The Wat Pho has been the religious capital of Chakri Dynasty. The King Rama I started the construction and today the King Rama IX resides in this historical monument, which engulfs in itself the entire history of Thailand.

The Wat Pho was built 1781 just after the construction of the Grand Palace and has similar architectural features. It is located adjacent to the Grand Palace and shares the beautiful location of the palace on the banks of the river Chao Phraya. Today it is an important tourist location, which attracts thousands of tourists each year from all parts of the world.

In fact, it is the most iconic heritage site of Bangkok. The Rama Kings of Chakri Dynasty shifted the capital to the modern city of Bangkok from the traditional and religious city of Thonburi. It also reflected a shift from the old traditions to an era of industrialisation and quick progress.

The Wat Pho is today one of the most popular tourist locations in Thailand. It is dedicated to Lord Buddha and is guarded by two giant stone carved Chinese giants. The entrance and the main hall are the central attraction of the temple. The pin drop silence and the hyming of mantras made the surroundings divine in the Wat Pho.

The temple of the Emerald Buddha at Bangkok was worth a visit and we moved on to our next destination in the city, which was at very close proximity to this ancient Buddhist sacred monument. We decided to visit the Grand Palace of Bangkok, which houses many spectacular monuments that attract tourists from all parts of the globe. The Grand Palace is one must-see destination that cannot be forgone on the itinerary of a Bangkok tourist. This dazzling and majestic palace is the most prominent and renowned landmark of the city of Bangkok.

The elegance of the Grand Palace is indefinable in words. The home of the Thai king was built in the year 1782 and has been maintained as the most regal monument over the past 150 years. This royal palace is not only the residence of the King of Thailand, but it also incorporates the administrative seat of the government of Thailand and the royal court. I was really awestruck at the enchanting architecture and such fine and detailed work of the Thai craftsmen. No doubt, the country is proud of its heritage and creativity. In the previous years the state departments, the Thai war ministry and the mint as well were placed within the walls of this palace.

Today the monument and its complex are well recognized as the spiritual heart of the Kingdom of Thailand. Several impressive buildings are located within the complex of the Grand Palace. The Wat Phra Kaew that houses the ancient emerald Buddha figurine also lies in the confines of this palace. The robes that are placed on the Buddha statue are also changed ceremonially by the Thai king every season. This ceremony stands as an important sacrament in the Buddhist calendar.

All kinds of ceremonial offerings and auspicious events are held in the Grand Palace. The interiors of the royal reception halls are awe-inspiring and are used as a venue for ceremonial proceedings such as coronations. Presently, a western-style throne is used by the King of Thailand but the palace also houses the previously used antique royal throne. It was a delightful experience for me to visit this place of majesty and royalty. I clicked as many pictures as possible to preserve the memories of our visit to the Grand Palace for years to come.

Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden : The beautiful landscapes in the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden are definitely a show stealer. The garden is home to cycads with a dedicated scientific center. Along with various species of plants, you can also find wild animals who are nurtured in utmost care. The charming surroundings took me to new heights of serenity.  


We had a good time at the ancient Buddhist temple Wat Ratchanadda. No doubt, the temple and the surroundings offered tranquility, which proved refreshing for us. The next day morning, we decided to start early to visit Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. It is also a marvelous temple dedicated to the Emerald Buddha. The official name of the temple is Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram. It is a premier tourist location and also a prominent place for worship of followers of Buddhism in Bangkok. The devotees from all parts of the world flock to this temple to offer tribute to Buddha.

The temple is considered as the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country of Thailand. It has a strong impact on the socio-cultural identity of the residents of Thailand. It acts as a palladium for the Thai society as a whole. Phra Nakhon district serves as the historic hub of Bangkok. The old temple of Emerald Buddha is also located in the same region. The temple lies in the premises of the majestic Grand Palace.

I was quite delighted to witness the grandeur of this temple. It has impeccable architecture and has survived as the most valued archaeological monument, which depicts the essence of Buddhism. The main building of this temple is known as the Phra Ubosot, which is centrally located in the premises. The statue of the Emerald Buddha is situated in the Phra Ubosot. This ancient figurine of Lord Buddha was enshrined in the Wat Phra Kaew in the year 1782 i.e., five centuries after the attainment of Nirvana by Buddha in India.

This splendorous temple was constructed under the King Rama I, Phutthayotfa Chulalok. The enshrinement of the Emerald Buddha in this temple marked the advent of the Chakri Dynasty in Thailand. The emerald statue of Buddha is really exceptional. It is a dark green effigy of Buddha in standing position. The 66 centimeters tall statue has been carved out of a single Jade precious stone. Hence, in Thai, the emerald doesn’t refer to the specific stone but it has been used as the symbolism for the green color of the Buddha figure placed in this ancient temple.

It was a fulfilling experience to visit this famous tourist attraction of Bangkok and I was now even more excited for the places we would visit further in Thailand.

Safari World Bangkok : The safari world that is based in Bangkok is altogether a different world. Being an avid fan of national parks, I knew I have come to the right place. It was great to watch animals in their natural habitat as well as in the show organized. The best part is that along with wild animals you also get a chance to watch marine animals.

The comforts at the Anantara Bangkok Resort and Spa were good enough to get rid of our jetlag. After a while, we sat down to set our itinerary and headed to the first destination that we were to visit at Bangkok. Discussing a bit on the priority, we decided to visit the famous Buddhist temple located in the city i.e. the Wat Ratchanatda School. This tourist destination is located at the intersection of the Maha Chai Road and the Ratchadamnoen Klang situated at the Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok.

This renowned Buddhist temple at Wat Ratchanadda has a great historic significance as it was built on the orders of the King Nangklao also called the Rama III. He built this monument for his granddaughter, i.e., the princess Somanass Waddhanawathy. Hence, the Wat Ratchanatdaram is also called the “Temple of the Royal Niece”. This monument dates back to the year 1846. I personally love to visit historic monuments and hence, it was a delight for me to visit this place. I clicked a number of pictures of this monument, which was beautifully built by excellent craftsmen and architects in the late 18th century.

The most attractive part of this Buddhist temple is the Loha Prasat. It is a multi-tier giant structure 36 meters in height and comprises of 37 metallic spires. The structure symbolizes 37 virtues that draw mankind towards enlightenment. It is one of the three brazen palaces that is in existence and has been built after the former two located in India and in Anuradhapura at Sri Lanka.

In the earlier days, the Lord Prasat was concealed behind Chalerm Thai, which is an old movie theatre. But the theatre was demolished in the year 1989 in order to improve the scenic beauty along the Ratcha Damnoen Road. 

The temple is a prominent tourist attraction due to its architecture and spiritual significance and was also referred to the UNESCO in the year 2005 to consider it as a future world heritage site. I had a very calm and peaceful day at the temple. There were plenty of tourists and devotees who visit this temple in huge volumes every day. As the day passed we returned to our hotel and planned for our next day’s trip to the Wat Phra Kaew at Bangkok.

Haew Suwat Waterfall Thailand : After visiting the enthralling Haew Suwat Waterfall, I realised how fascinating as well as adventurous a place can be in the middle of Khao Yai National Park. Being a lover of trekking and camping, I got a golden opportunity to explore my hobbies. The small trails that went to the top of the waterfall turned out into a mesmerizing moment which I can cherish all my life.

Being an optometrist, I am mostly busy with my professional life; nevertheless, being the lady of the house I try my best to maintain a balance between my work and personal life. I love my job but I always make sure to take some time for myself and travel. This vacation I decided to travel the beautiful tourist destination Thailand. Both my spouse and I were quite excited to visit this country, which is renowned for its hospitality business. 

I prefer budget but comfortable travel and hence, planned our trip accordingly. Firstly, I took the rail route i.e., I booked our tickets from our hometown Ludhiana to New Delhi via Amritsar Shatabdi. The number for this train is 12014 and it leaves the Ludhiana junction (LDH) at 6:57 and reaches the New Delhi (NDLS) station at 11:15. The journey was quite comfortable and the time went quite swiftly chatting with each other and fellow passengers. Hereafter, we headed to the Indira Gandhi International Airport of New Delhi, where we had to board our flight. I have travelled a couple of times via Air India Airlines and am quite satisfied by its services. 

I booked the air ticket via my android phone. Making hassle-free bookings for various airlines is now possible by simply installing popular cheap flight app on the android or windows or ios based cell phone. All one needs to do is enter the destinations, date of journey and number of members travelling and the flight tickets can be booked on the go using the mobile app of popular travel websites. I was quite happy that I could avail our Air India flight tickets very conveniently and at reasonable prices.

We boarded the flight from the Indira Gandhi airport at New Delhi and it landed at the Suvarnabhumi airport of Bangkok in Thailand. Air India offers one of the best onboard facilities to its patrons and hence, we reached afresh at our destination. The in-flight entertainment system offered by this airline is truly the latest and satisfactory. 

Moreover, the gourmet in-flight meals offered to Air India passengers is truly delicious. Indian as well as international cuisines are served on board. It was a very comfortable journey from Ludhiana to Bangkok and I was looking forward to our trip now.