| Geographically, the Central Region
extends from rugged western mountains bordering Burma to the northeast
plateau to the east" extends northwards to Nakhon Sawan where
the Ping, Wang, Nan and Yom rivers unite to form the Chao Phraya River
(River of Kings) which flows southwards to dissect Bangkok before
entering the Gulf of Thailand; and southwards to Prachuap Khiri Khan
where Thailand is compressed to its narrowest point, some 60 kilometres
wide between western mountains and the Thai Gulf.
The Chao Phraya River largely irrigates the Central Plain, one
of the world's major rice and fruit-growing areas, and sustains
an intricate network of canals that irrigate bountiful orchards
and market gardens; host vibrant floating markets-, and support
a unique, waterborne way of life.
The Central Region is extremely rich in historical sites. These
include Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi, Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Saraburi,
Lop Buri and, most important of all, Bangkok, Thailand's capital
and major point-of-entry.
Bangkok
 Briefly,
Bangkok's major tourism attractions include the fabulous Wat Phra
Kaeo (Emerald Buddha Chapel) and Grand Palace complex; Wat Arun
(Temple of Dawn),- Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha),- Wat
Saket (Golden Mount); Wat Benchannabophit (Marble Temple),Vimanmek
Palace, favourite residence of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) and
the world's largest golden teak building-, the fabulous royal barges-,
the Pasteur Institute's Snake Farm
where poisonous snakes are fed daily and venom is "milked"
from cobras and kraits to make invaluable serum-, Jim Thompson's
House Museum which contains a superb collection of Asian objets
d'art,- Suan Pakkand Palace's lacquer pavilion which is decorated
with medieval gold leaf murals; the world's largest Crocodile Farm;
a 200-acre open air museum called the Ancient City,- entertainment
and recreational complexes such as Siam Water Park, Safari World,
King Rama IX Park and Dusit Zoo-, unrivalled shopping opportunities
for some of the world's most admired handicrafts,- exceptionally
fine dining in gourmet restaurants featuring the world's favourite
cuisines-, and a liberated, almost legendary nightlife.
Beyond Bangkok
The Rose Garden, a riverside tropical park/ country club one hour
west of Bangkok, boasts an 18-hole championship golf course, fine
accommodation and a Thai Village where daily shows feature traditional
activities such as folk dancing, the Thai wedding ceremony, a Buddhist
ordination and elephants at work.
Nakhon Pathom
30 minutes further west (60 kilometres from Bangkok), hosts the
world's tallest Buddhist monument, the 380foot high Phra Pathom
Chedi, which marks the spot where Buddhism was introduced, some
2,300 years ago, to the Thailand-to-be.
Damnoensaduak, 40 mintes south of Nakhon Pathom, is Thailand's
most vibrant floating market where farmers congregate on canals
each morning in produce-laden boats.
Kanchanaburi
Some 130 kilometres west of Bangkok, is famous for the "Bridge
Over The River Kwai", an Allied war cemetery, and surrounding
countryside characterised by waterfalls, broad fertile valleys and
caves once ingabited by Neolithic man. The Saiyok Noi,SaiyoK Yai,
Erawan and Huai Khamin Waterfalls and 12th-century Khmer Prasat
Muang Sing are especially worth visiting.
 Ayutthaya
some 70 kilometres upstream from Bangkok, was the Siamese capital
from 1350 to 1767. Magnificent ruins of temples, palaces and crumbling
fortesses provide eloquent testimony of the former capitalOs splenclour.
Wat Panan Choeng, Wat Si San Phet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana,
Phu Khao Thong and the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum should not
be missed.
Bang Pa-In palace, just south of Ayutthaya, was the summer residence
of early Chakri kings. The local Wat Niwet Thamaprawat is one of
Thailand's most unusual Buddhist temples, the chapel resembling
an English Gothic church.
Phra Buddha Bat, Shrine of the Buddha's Footprint, is just north
of Saraburi, some 110 kilometres north of Bangkok. The Buddha's
Footprint was discovered accidentally some 350 years ago when a
deer hunter found that a pool of water in the shape of an enlarged
human foot had curative powers.
Lop Buri
an ancient city dating from the 9th century, and some 150 kilometres
north of Bangkok, contains Hindu and Khmer ruins and the imposing
Ramratchaniwet Palace built by Ayutthaya's King Narai during the
1600s as a summer retreat. Major ruins include the Khmer Phra Prang
Sam Yot, the Hindu San Phra Kan, and Wat Phra Si Mahathat.
Phetchaburi
120 kilometres southwest of Bangkok, is well known for exotic sweets,
the Buddha-filled Khao Luang Caves, the hilltop Phra Nakhon Khiri
palace, the lovely Wat Suwanaram with its Ayutthayan meeting hall,
murals and scriptural repository, and the mountainous, scenically
arresting Kaeng Krachan, Thailand's largest national park.
Cha Am
773 kliometres southwest of Bangkok, has a popular beachside resort
hotel and public beach.
 Hua
Hin
198 kilometres from Bangkok, is Thailand's oldest beach resort and
has been the Thai royal family's summer residence since the 1920s.
A genteel Edwardian ambience characterises a resort with a fine
beach, excellent accommodation and opportunities for swimming, sailing,
riding, windsurfing, waterskiing, parasailing, snorkelling, fishing,
playing tennis and golf.
Sam Roi Yot National Park, one hour south of Hua Hin, occupies
some 60 square kilometres of coastal land.
Prachuap Khiri Khan
some 280 kilometres from Bangkok, is a fishing town with a scenic
bay and the beachside Khao Chong Krachok (Mirror Mountain) which
supports a small pagoda and a resident monkey tribe.
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