Suan Luang Rama IX Park Bangkok

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Mike

Suan Luang Rama IX Park Bangkok Thailand

Suan Luang Rama IX Park

Suan Luang Rama IX Park is located in Bangkok out towards Suvnarabhumi International Airport which probably makes it a relatively unseen part of Thailand for most tourists. It is also Bangkok’s largest park and the home of the annual Bangkok Flower Show held in early December each year.

The park is very popular with the locals who use its vast 80 Hectare area for all manner of physical exercise and relaxation. The early morning haunt of joggers and keep fit fanatics the park also attracts thousands of visitors from all over Thailand everyday who come to view the botanical displays, walk in the various themed gardens, have a picnic or take a slow punt around the central lake that surrounds the central Ratchamangkhala Pavilion on three sides.

Bronze Mural HM King and HM Queen Thailand

HM King and HM Queen Thailand

The Suan Luang Park was completed in 1987 to coincide H.M. the King’s 5th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. It was built on vacant land and despite its natural beauty it also has a practical purpose since the central lake acts as a flood control reservoir collecting excess water from the low lying land and the releasing it under control into natural water courses.

The area immediately in front of the pavilion is designated as the “Garden of the Great King” where there are an impressive array of fountains flanked by one of the three national symbols of Thailand, the Ratchaphruek (Cassia fistula).  The remaining botanical gardens are split between six zones and include an international garden showing the unique landscape design from seven countries: China, Japan, Spain, England, France, Italy and USA.

As I discovered on my visit to the Suan Luang the park is also a magnet for local bird life and there are said to be over two hundred species in the park. Viewing is relatively easy and the birds seem unaffected by the large number of visitors.  Local birders who I spoke to showed me several photographs of hard to find(in other areas) species including a shot of a Blue Pitta that they had seen on the morning of my visit.

Coppersmith Barbet in Bangkok Park

Coppersmith Barbet

Although I had gone to the park for a friends university graduation ceremony I still managed to find an hour to spend bird watching myself without the aid of my normal equipment and even managed a few photographs of more common birds including the very attractive and rarely seen(in Prachuap) Coppersmith Barbet.

As I said at the beginning of this article the  location probably makes Suan Luang Rama IX Park a part of unseen Thailand for most tourists but it is relatively easy to get too. If you have half a day to spare in Bangkok then I can thoroughly recommend it and I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Location:

Sukhumvit 103 Road

Nong Bon Sub-district, Phrawet District

Bangkok 10250

A taxi from central Bangkok will show about 150 Baht on the metre for the journey.

Bus Route:

Bus No.135,145 Air-con No.145
Micro Bus No.15

Map of the area showing Suan Luang Rama IX Park

Related posts:

  1. King Mongkut Memorial Park of Science and Technology
  2. Kaeng Krachan National Park
  3. Bird Watching in Kaeng Krachan National Park Thailand
  4. Nam Tok Huai Yang National Park
  5. Hat Wanakon National Park
This entry was posted in National Parks, Tourist Information, Unseen Thailand. Bookmark the permalink.
  • Malcolm

    Mike , thanks for the heads-up on a new place that I have added to my things to see and do in Thailand , loved the bird picture, as you know I have a few bird feeders and birdbaths in our yard to support visits by my favorite visitors to our yard, and the butterflys like the baths too, sometimes they end up a quick snack for the birds . thanks for a great post . Malcolm

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Malcolm, yes a great day out, we left here at 12 midnight and got back in the evening. It was my neighbours daughters graduation from university. Great location to hold it and plenty of time for me to explore. Would like to go back when I’m not so tired!

  • http://www.greatlifequotes.org Martyn

    Mike I’m continually amazed at the amount of National Parks there are in Thailand, not just unseen by most tourists but probably so by most Thais too. The wealth of parks really does make you realise how big Thailand is, I believe it has about the same land mass as France. That’s big especially sat as I am in the UK.

    The parks are also hives for maintaining wildlife and that’s another tick in the right box, and Thailand wouldn’t be Thailand without its colourful range of flowers and deep green plants and trees.

    Joggers…I’d never have put Thais down as a keep fit bunch of souls but the biggest park in Udon Thani city is regularly used by joggers. They even run around a few of the city roundabouts evening time.

    I’m not sure how many more unseen parks there are out there but my guess is it’s going to take you one hell of a long time to track them down and visit them. Happy hunting.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      I suppose one would call this an urban park and I believe Bangkok has many. I am not surprised by the keep fit brigade, but only because I see loads even down here in sleepy PKK. The local park here has outdoor exercise equipment that would grace many a gym back home.

      When I ride my bike I see other folk doing the same for fitness and jogging along the road too.

  • http://paulgarrigan.com/ Paul Garrigan

    The park is right beside the gym where I’ve been gonig for Muay Thai lessons. It isn’t far from when where we live, but the traffic can be a nightmare in that area sometimes- especially going through Prawet from Lat Krabang. Nice park though.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Paul the general area looked very nice so you have made a good choice apart from the horrendous traffic near the roadworks heading back towards the city centre. I really enjoyed my day out despite the early start. great place and I can see why it is popular.

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  • http://thailandlandofsmiles.com Talen

    Beautiful pics Mike, Haven’t been to this park before but I will definitely put it on the list for the next time I’m in Bangkok.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Talen I enjoyed it and there are a few photographic opportunities although perhaps its a place for wildlife spotting(birds) and gardening. I did like the huge tropical rainforest house though too.

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