| A vast site displaying reproductions of some of | | | | you are most hungry. There are some reasonable |
| the most famous monuments Thailand might | | | | eateries here with tables on wooden platforms |
| sound like a day at a tacky amusement park, but | | | | overlooking the water. If there is a school trip in |
| most people find Samut Prakan's Ancient City | | | | the park, it might be a good idea to take an early |
| (Muang Boran) something of a pleasant surprise. | | | | or late lunch to avoid the mad rush. |
| Most visitors only visit Samut Prakan on arriving | | | | The Royal Hall of Ayutthaya, which was |
| and leaving from the international airport in | | | | destroyed in 1767, is one of the more impressive |
| Bangkok, but the Ancient City is a popular | | | | reproductions here, but you will also find a range |
| distraction with expats, locals, school children and | | | | of traditional Thai houses according to the style of |
| holidaymakers. | | | | the region they originated from. Although most of |
| Having been conceived in the 1960s and finally | | | | the monuments here are reconstructions, there |
| having opened its doors in 1972, the Ancient City | | | | are also a few originals, such as the wooden |
| really isn't ancient, but some of the monuments | | | | temple in the north of the park which was |
| reproduced here are. The park's location is close | | | | purchased from a northern Thailand hill tribe village. |
| enough to Bangkok to make it an easy half-day | | | | The Ancient City isn't really the place for souvenir |
| trip, but also far enough to make you feel like | | | | shopping, but you will find a model village quite |
| you are escaping from the city for a few hours. | | | | close to the entrance which sells a number of |
| It's a good idea to come here just after rush | | | | ceramic and other souvenirs. Most people agree |
| hour in the morning; that way you can escape the | | | | that the Ancient City is worth the effort to visit |
| heat of the day and also avoid travelling back in | | | | and some even enthuse about the park. A recent |
| the afternoon rush hour. | | | | British visitor commented, "coming here is a great |
| The Ancient City spans 320 acres, so it's difficult | | | | way to do some sightseeing without the kids |
| to expect to cover it all in one day. Simply use | | | | getting bored". |
| the map given to you with your ticket and | | | | The size of the Ancient City in Bangkok makes |
| explore at leisure. The Ancient City is conveniently | | | | walking not really a viable option, but there are |
| shaped roughly the same as the country itself, | | | | plenty of bikes available for hire at the entrance. |
| and with the attractions arranged accordingly, it's | | | | Far more fun though is to hire a golf buggy and |
| easy for you to know which region the | | | | zip your way around, making exploring and getting |
| monument you are looking at hails from. | | | | lost must less tiring! There is also a mini-tram |
| Generally, you will find the reconstructions here | | | | service with guides who speak English, Japanese |
| are built to an excellent standard, which is a result | | | | or Chinese. The advantage of the park's size is |
| of the input of the Thailand National Museum | | | | that even on a busy day, you won't really notice |
| experts in the building phase. It's certainly a good | | | | that many people around. |
| way for people on a short trip to Thailand to see | | | | You'll find the Ancient City included on a number |
| things that they simply wouldn't have the time to | | | | of organised tours in the city, but it is also an |
| see, not to mention a few buildings which no | | | | easy place to visit independently, if you prefer. A |
| longer exist. There are currently 116 monuments | | | | taxi from the centre of Bangkok should take just |
| here with the promise of more to come in the | | | | over an hour or alternatively, you can travel to |
| future. The Ancient City in Bangkok | | | | On Nut by Sky train and take a taxi from there. |
| You'll find plenty of drink and snack places around | | | | It's usually easy enough to find a taxi to take you |
| the park, some in attractive quiet areas. But for a | | | | back, or you can negotiate with your taxi driver |
| more substantial meal, you should plan your trip | | | | to wait for you. It's a great way to see the |
| so that you reach the Floating Market area when | | | | highlights of Thailand tourism in a day. |