Lumpini Park in Bangkok - huge monitor lizards and athletic Thais. Lumpini Park in Bangkok where Varana Buddha was born in Bangkok
If you are going for a walk in Bangkok, say, for two or three days, the question – Where to go in Bangkok will definitely arise, I come across it myself
with this constantly, sifting through a lot of articles and reviews about the sights of Bangkok before the trip.
Lumpini Park in Bangkok is a classic of the genre; visiting Bangkok and not visiting Lumpini Park means leaving your impressions of this multifaceted city for later,
because Bangkok is amazing and beautiful, diverse and worth exploring in detail.
Lumpini Park in Bangkok is located in the very center of the capital of Thailand, and my sister and I planned a trip there as a vacation - a “respite”, after
long walks to sights, temples and beautiful places Bangkok.
If you have not been there yet, but want to go, then in this article - detailed instructions how to get to Lumpini Park in Bangkok, its opening hours,
what is there and other necessary information.
Where to go in Bangkok? More articles dedicated to the capital of Thailand:
Lumpini Park in Bangkok - a little history
The huge, 57-hectare Lumpini Park in Bangkok was formed less than a hundred years ago, in the twenties of the last century.
Its creator, King Rama the sixth, wanted the residents of the city to have a place to go to rest, unwind, and play active outdoor activities.
games, sports, cycling.
At that time this area was the outskirts of Bangkok. But over the course of 90 years, the city has grown so much that Lumpini Park is in its very core.
Such tired epithets as - magnificent, oasis, amazing - really have a place.
Since when you get to Lumpini Park you never cease to wonder, what is it like? Outside the gates of the park crowds of people are scurrying around, fumes, heat, the asphalt is melting and bustle,
and here there is silence, coolness and tranquility.
Lumpini Park in Bangkok – opening hours and entrance
Entrance to the park is of course free. Lumpini Park is state-owned to the core, there are no hawkers or entertainment establishments here.
and there is absolutely nowhere to spend money here either. This begs a comparison with Gorky Park in Moscow, where to go to the toilet you need to stand
there is a queue, and in order to eat, you have to go through a quest and spend an absurd amount of money.
Lumpini Park opens at 4:30 am (unheard of!) and closes at 9:30 pm, which is also very late for parks, usually everything stops functioning in Thailand
at sunset, around 18:30-19:00.
You can get to Lumpini Park different ways, for example on the MRT underground metro station, to the station - Silom or Lumphini.
Also here comes the Skytrain skytrain, the necessary BTS station - Sala Daeng and Ratchadamri.
The park is so huge that all these metro stations are within walking distance, you can just enter from different entrances.
We reached Silom station and after crossing the road we found ourselves at the gates of Lumpini Park.
If you want to eat or drink (just like us), I advise you to buy food and drinks at the entrance, because there will be nowhere to do it inside.
The park is kept clean and it is prohibited to walk dogs, drink alcohol, or litter.
What to do in Lumpini Park – Monitor lizards and turtles
Having bought a couple of bags of cola and local hod dogs, we went in search of monitor lizards, since of course, Lumpini=monitor lizards are for everyone
known.
And if you don’t know, then I’ll tell you. Many years ago, monitor lizards were brought here. Monitor lizards are, in principle, harmless creatures for humans,
they avoid the general public and do not attack, they walk on their own.
Over time, the population of monitor lizards in Lumpini Parks multiplied and these handsome creatures walked imposingly here and there, bringing
to the delight of the public. Thick, leisurely, beautiful monitor lizards.
But one day, an unlucky monitor lizard climbed a tree and fell on an unsuspecting woman who was under this tree.
settled down. The auntie was frightened, the monitor lizard was even more scared and tried with all his might to climb higher up the auntie, back to where he had fallen from.
The scratched auntie got upset and started a scandal. Most Monitor lizards were taken from Lumpini, so our walk resembled a quest - find the monitor lizard.
Before finding the monitor lizard, we came across shy turtles. They stick their muzzles out of the pond onto the shore and, looking around, crawl towards the grass, in search of food.
There is no talk of any “handling”; turtles are afraid of people.
The ponds in Lumpini Park are teeming with carp; it is prohibited to catch them here, but you can feed them bread rolls. That's why the carp are fat and happy.
Other things to do at Lumpini Park in Bangkok
As I wrote above, people come to Lumpini Park for peace and relaxation. There is no loud music or car noise here,
and satisfied mothers slowly roll strollers along the beaten paths.
A large playground makes walking children in Lumpini a pleasant experience. Playground with slides and climbing frames, in the shade,
everything is as it should be.
Also in Lumpini Park you can ride a swan catamaran for 30 and 40 baht (more) and a kayak. 
People come to Lumpini to run, play sports in the local outdoor gym,
Light option for beginners:
And a hard version for the advanced public:
You can ride a bike in the park from morning until 15:00. Afterwards, the owners of the bikes simply park them at the entrance to the park and walk with their feet.
I also noticed that Lumpini Park not only has a tennis court, but also a swimming pool! Nobody wrote about this, but there is a pool and you can swim in it,
which is very useful in this heat (and it’s always hot in Bangkok).
You can find out more on the territory of the fitness club, it is next to one of the entrances to the park, not far from the red Chinese pagoda. 
Lumpini Park – flora and fauna
In addition to the frightened monitor lizards and turtles with fish, in Lumpini
a lot of all kinds of living creatures - beautiful birds, cats and dogs,
Fruit trees and bushes grow around, here I saw a real pomegranate for the first time!
To summarize: Lumpini Park in Bangkok, beautiful place For relaxation and walks with children, family, we recommend!
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The name was given in honor of the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal. It’s good because it offers the opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the environment and you don’t have to go anywhere for this. Located within walking distance from Silom shopping center and the center nightlife - .
Lumpini Park covers an area of 57 hectares. It was defeated in the 20s of the last century by order of King Rama VI.
He wanted people to have a place to relax, relax or exercise. And his ideas have been fully realized - now both Thais and foreigners come here to run along its wide streets, do aerobics and exercise equipment, ride a boat on the lake, and just sit on the grass doing nothing. Interesting events are organized on days and weekends; there is a stage on a green clearing where Thai performers perform, and sometimes dance evenings are held.
The most honorable object in the park is the statue of King Rama IV (reign: 1851-1868). She stands at the main entrance (the one next to the station underground metro MRT Si Lom). At its foot there is a small altar, where there are always fresh flowers and garlands of them. The Thais loved this ruler very much and retained a very fond memory of him.
Every day you can see people of all ages expressing respect to the monument, bowing, and offering flowers. To enter the pedestal on which the sculpture stands, you must take off your shoes, just like in a temple. In front of him is a fairly large space, which is sometimes occupied by schoolchildren doing exercises with the teacher. About 50-70 meters from Rama IV there is a gate to Lumpini Park, in front of which there is a beautiful lawn.
A short tour of the territory
When entering the park, you immediately notice a lot of sports fans: some skateboarding, some running. In front of us is the main alley, going straight and two roads: right and left. The most interesting thing on the left is a large lake.
You can just sit and watch the big white birds, feed the fish that are plentiful in the water, or go on a boat or catamaran ride.
If you go straight and not towards the lake, you will soon come to a lawn where a stage has been built among grass and palm trees. On holidays and weekends it “comes to life” and singers and groups perform there. There are no benches, everyone sits on the grass. While the Thais are watching the show on stage, drunken foreigners are climbing palm trees (see photo).
Next there will be a small river, several meters wide. On one bank there is a children's playground with many swings, ladders, etc. Next to the river (not far from the stage) there is a small lake with a gazebo where it’s nice to sit in the shade.
The head of a large lizard emerged from the water. From a distance he looked like a crocodile. And just the thought that we are not in the jungle, but in central park big metropolis, stopped me from escaping. The lizard climbed out of the water and lazily, swinging its long heavy tail, wandered along the green grass under the nearest tree. Three even larger comrades were already waiting for him there. Today it's all about amazing place where monitor lizards can be seen in natural environment a habitat. This is Lumpini Park in the capital of Thailand - Bangkok.
I already wrote about how we spent and lived in the huge Ekamai metro station. Sasha worked most of the Bangkok holidays, so Arinka and I went to have fun together. We visited the aquarium, spent a day in a children's country... And, of course, we couldn't ignore the gorgeous park in the center of Bangkok, where real monitor lizards live.
Lumpini Park is almost a hundred years old. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was ordered to be founded by King Rama VI. Then it was the outskirts of Bangkok, and now it is one of central regions metropolis.
The park is very large, almost 57 hectares of land. Most of it is occupied by the lake.
Take some buns or cookies with you; you can feed the pigeons and fish.
We decided to take a catamaran ride around the lake. This is an interesting adventure in itself, but in addition, this is where our hunt for monitor lizards began. It turned out that they bask in the sun next to the water and sometimes go into the lake to cool off.
And here is the first monitor lizard. He scared us the most because we had never encountered such large lizards so close before.
The lizard was so big and fat that it really resembled a crocodile. If the head had been of a different shape, it would have been impossible to tell the difference at all. The impression of what is happening is very strange. On the one hand, fucking from the sight of a formidable and powerful creature. On the other hand, there is an understanding that since we are in one of the central parks of the Asian capital, then a priori nothing can threaten us.
The meeting with the monitor lizard inspired us so much that Arinka and I got off the catamaran and went hunting on land. Lumpini Park is very green, surrounded by flowers and tall trees. It is pleasant to walk here even at midday, when the unbearable heat descends on Bangkok.
Approximately a quarter of the park is occupied by bodies of water. You cannot swim in small lakes, the water is dirty, but here, in addition to monitor lizards, you can see many exotic birds, fish and even turtles.
Another lake with a view of the high-rise buildings.
Picnics are organized in the park, as sitting on the lawns is allowed here. If you want to do the same, you can buy food in the shops right next to the entrance to the park. We had lunch with papaya salad for 30 baht (just under 1 dollar), and rice with chicken for 40 ($1.2).
Just before you settle down for lunch, make sure that there are no such curious creatures nearby.
Lumpini Park has a tennis court, outdoor exercise equipment and several playgrounds. In addition to Thais, expats who work in Bangkok also come here to walk their offspring.
Lumpini Park sometimes hosts orchestras and dances in the evenings.
Would you like to take a painting lesson?
Lumpini Park also has several pagodas and unusual sculptures.
How to get to Lumpini Park in Bangkok?
Lumpini Park is located in the central part of Bangkok, just 1.5 kilometers from the famous entertainment center.
You can get to the park by taking the MRT underground metro to Si Lom or Lumphini stations. It doesn’t matter which station you get off at, both are literally across the street from the park. Take the elevated BTS skytrain to Sala Daeng station. It is closest to Lumpini Park.
Buses No. 15 and No. 47 run from the famous tourist area of Khao San Road to Lumphini Park. It's better not to drive during rush hours by land transport so as not to get stuck in traffic.
Opening hours of Lumpini Park in Bangkok
The park is open from 4:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The entrance is free.
Map of Lumpini Park in Bangkok
Just below you will see two photos - this is a map of the park and a description of the marks on it.
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I already wrote once about a small one that is located in the historical part next to the complex and Wat Pho. So, its enlarged copy is Lumpini park. Although, of course, it would be more correct to call Saranr a copy of Lumpini, and not vice versa :)
It’s strange that I haven’t visited it before... Although I have the answer to this question. From the point of view of attractions, there is probably nothing special in it, except for monitor lizards (but it’s worth it), but in terms of life in the city, it’s perfect place for sports and leisure. I generally got the impression that you can do whatever you want in it, almost live.
By the way, if you want to find a hotel nearby, it’s convenient to choose on RoomGuru. I have stayed in Bangkok many times and different hotels. I will not provide links to all of my reviews, I will only provide a few. — convenient for stopping near the airport and metro, — a good place for an overnight stay near Khao San, located in the center next to the park.
Monitor lizards
I went to this park primarily to see monitor lizards, since I had never seen monitor lizards before (for some reason there are no monitor lizards in Moscow parks). There turned out to be a whole kingdom of them there, but you need to look for them near the water, mostly they all sit there or swim for their own pleasure. I don’t know if they are dangerous, but there was a moment when a monitor lizard climbed out of the water and hissed towards us. This specimen was the size of a small crocodile, about 2 meters long (including the tail), or even more. And I’ll tell you, I felt somehow uneasy, I even jumped onto the bench instinctively. Seeing the fear, the monitor lizard made sure that we realized that this was its territory, turned around and went back into the water.
In general, if you don’t specifically come close to monitor lizards, then problems are unlikely to arise; these are not Komodo monitor lizards. And, as a rule, they run away when you get close to them. Apparently this one was just too proud...
Do whatever you want
Apart from the monitor lizards, there are no more impressive sights in Lumpini Park, but there is a huge space for sports, which, in fact, is what most people do here, and not only the Thais. As you enter the park, you immediately notice people in sportswear, some with a ball, some doing another lap. There's even a swimming pool underneath open air And Gym. In addition to sports, people walk, sit, lie down, play checkers, read newspapers, dance, and even work. If it were not for sleeping at night and the lack of cafes, one could live here.
Sit, watch, think...
There is a game in Thailand where you throw a wicker ball over a net with your feet, called Takro. In essence, this is volleyball with your feet, a very dynamic game! How they hit it and not miss is simply a mystery. There is also basketball with legs, but for me, as a person far from sports, this is completely unrealistic. But I watched this guy (while trying to photograph him) for about half an hour - all muscles and tendons, so nimble that the shutter speed was too long, he always looked blurry.
There is nothing superfluous in the body
Visiting information
Located next to MRT Silom and Limphini MRT stations, or next to BTS Sala Daeng and Ratchadamri skytrain stations. But you can also get there by city buses, including from Khao San Road (No. 47, 15). Although in the latter case you can get stuck in traffic jams. In general, it is right in the city center, you can walk and reach it on foot if you are somewhere in those parts.
Admission is free, opening hours are from 4.30 to 21.00, guarded by police. Here you cannot litter, smoke (!!!), drink alcohol, or walk your dogs. Everything is as it should be in an oasis of a healthy lifestyle. The only negative is that it is hot here during the day, and you need to be very well adapted to this temperature in order to also play sports.
Map of Lumpini Park in Bangkok
We came to Lumpini Park when we were passing through Bangkok from Vientiane to Koh Samui. Since we decided to travel hardcore on 3rd class trains, it turned out that we arrived in Bangkok early in the morning, and the train to Surat Thani departed in the evening. Great - there is an opportunity to see something else in the capital, and not just the main ones.
Just from the Hua Lamphong railway station you can walk to the park, straight along one street, without turning anywhere. It is located in the business center of the capital, close to shopping centers, so during the break between shopping we recommend that you also visit this place :-)
Lumpini park in Bangkok
So, why does the park have this name? And everything is quite simple: Lumpini is the name of the place in Nepal where Buddha was born. The park dates its history back to the 20s of the last century, when it was created by order of King Rama VI. In those days, these were the outskirts of the city, but today they are the very center of a huge metropolis and one of the favorite vacation spots of citizens.
The park is located right in the middle of giant skyscrapers, like a green fragrant oasis in the desert, attracting travelers with freshness and coolness in sultry Bangkok.
The place is really peaceful - the cat over there was dying in the morning sun :-) After about an hour of walking around the park, we felt the same way
We came to Lumpini Park in the morning, so there were very few people, but later people showed up. There's sure to be action and fun here on the weekends! In the meantime, only grandmothers take the morning promenade
Smoking, drinking alcohol, littering, even walking dogs is prohibited in the park! But playing sports, walking, breathing in the scent of flowers, lying on the lawns is allowed and encouraged in every possible way))
A special feature of Lumpini Park are these monitor lizards - they are everywhere here, climbing trees, running across the lawns, in a word, they behave like owners of the territory. This is still a small monitor lizard
The park is simply huge and it’s not possible to get around everything, and it’s not necessary - although I wouldn’t mind using a bike to ride along such smooth paths.
I immediately wanted to settle in the surrounding houses so that I could spend time here in the morning and evening, playing sports and just walking. Omsk has a fatal lack of greenery and trees - the few parks remaining from Soviet times are being slowly cut down, and wind and dust are sweeping through the city.
Don’t be surprised at the small number of people in the photo - it was early in the morning, then we looked here in the evening - there were a lot of people: walking families with children, a few tourists, athletes, and quite a lot of older people. They run briskly or simply walk at a brisk pace - a great activity in retirement when there is a lot of free time.
There are several ponds in the park where you can ride on these funny boats
Sitting on a bench and eating ice cream, we observed this picture. Beauty!
And finally, sunset photo
Lumpini Park in Bangkok - useful information
Park opening hours: daily from 4:30 to 21:00
Entry fee: for free
The park is located in the very center of the city, so getting here is not difficult: close to the underground MRT station (Silom station) and the elevated BTS Skytrain (Ratchdamri station). So, get on the metro at the nearest station and go to Lumpini.
You can get there by buses No. 15 and 47. - more details.
As an option (if there are a lot of you) take a taxi according to the meter, taxi drivers probably know this place.
Lumpini Park - map