Thailand Tourism

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand with lots of beautiful temples and busy streets. It is a lively place along the Chao Phraya River that lets you shop at Chatuchak Market and visit Wat Arun.

Chiang Mai is the largest city amidst the mountains in Thailand. It was the capital of its own kingdom long ago. Here, you can visit the temple of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet to enjoy beautiful views.

Ayutthaya is a small city near Bangkok that features old temples and palaces. You can wander through the different temples, witness their architecture, and learn about the history of the country in Ayutthaya.

Phuket is the biggest island city in Thailand that offers beautiful beaches and gorgeous sunsets. You can indulge in plenty of water sports activities here, like snorkelling and scuba diving. 

You can visit Dolphin World Pattaya to watch amazing dolphin shows and even swim with them. Here, you can also learn about the conservation of dolphins and other aquatic animals.

Bangla Road in Phuket is famous for street food and nightlife. It is an exciting place to taste some delicious cuisines of the country like Som Tum and Satay.

Jim Thompson House is a wonderful museum, where you can see beautiful Asian art. You can also shop for silk items here.

You can take a luxury cruise on the Chao Phraya River to catch a glimpse of famous sights like Wat Arun and the Grand Palace. During this journey, you can also taste some of the signature dishes of Supanniga.

Floating markets show the local vibe of Thailand. Some of the floating markets that you should explore in the country are Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Pattaya Floating Market.

One of the main reasons people travel is to explore other cultures and establish how other countries and cultures do things. It is then quite remarkable than to see people wandering around the kingdom imposing their cultural approach on the situations and events they encounter. Often these lead to confusion, worse, it sometimes leads to ugly scenes that are entirely avoidable with a modicum on insight on how things are done in Thailand. What follows then is a list of Dos and Don'ts for when you are in the kingdom:

- The Monarchy: The monarchy is revered by all Thais and people will simply not tolerate any lack of respect towards any members of the royal family - past or present.

- Religion: Thailand's national religion is Buddhism (although there are significant numbers of Muslims and a minority group of Christians) and it is very important to be respectful as far as the religion is concerned.

- Buddha Images: Buddha images are sacred, whatever size or condition. Never climb on a Buddha image, and be very careful about taking photos - some images are so sacred photographs are forbidden.

- Monks: Buddhist monks are not allowed to touch or be touched by a woman or accept anything a woman might offer. If a woman wants to give something to a monk it must first be given to a man, or put on a piece of cloth.

- Shoes: Do not wear shoes inside a temple where Buddha images are kept. Take your shoes off before entering someone's home.

- Greetings: Thais do not shake hands; they 'wai' - a gesture made by placing your hands together in front of your face a bowing a little.

- The Head: Whereas in the west a friendly pat on the head, especially the head of someone a bit younger than you, will be regarded as a friendly and supportive gesture, in Thailand any gesture towards the head will cause Thais to recoil and will be greeted with shock and possibly annoyance.

- The Feet: Whereas the head is the highest point of the body, the feet are the lowest. Do not point at things with your feet, and do not point the palms of your feet at anyone.

- Shouting and Shows of Annoyance: In Thailand, shouting and shows of annoyance are entirely frowned upon, whatever the situation.

- Drugs: Thailand takes drugs very seriously and is trying to eradicate unlawful drugs entirely.

- Smoking in the street is illegal - You can be fined 2,000 Baht.

- Dropping litter in the street is illegal - Same fine applies.

- Do not engage in the purchase of wild animals whether protected or not. Aside from moral issues, punishments are very harsh.

Air is the best and most convenient way to reach Thailand from India. You can take direct or connecting flights from major Indian cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bangalore to reach Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand. Airlines like Thai Airways, Air India, Indigo, Spice Jet, Bangkok Airways, and AirAsia offer regular flights on this route. It takes about 4 to 30 hours to cover a distance of about 1,704 kilometres.

Although Thailand can be visited throughout the year, the best time to tour the country is during the summer season, from March to June. During this time, the temperature ranges between 30 and 34 degrees Celsius. The weather at this time is warm and clear, which is perfect for outdoor beach activities like snorkelling and scuba diving. 

The cities of Thailand come alive at night, and the several night markets scattered around the country stand testament to its thriving nightlife. The Khao San Night Market is only one such place. Teeming with stalls selling clothes, food, accessories and much more, the Night Market presents the best of Thai wares at unparalleled rates. Several second hand bookstores can be found here as well. 

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market has been Thailand’s most popular floating market for a long time, especially owing to its use as a setting in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. The stalls at the market sell their regular wares of handicrafts and locally tailored clothes, along with a variety of fresh produce. The only means of transport here is by boat, which visitors can use to travel along the length of the river. 

Setting up shop every weekend, the Phuket Weekend Market is the go to place for those looking to explore the local wares of Thailand. The stores here pride in their array of clothes, accessories, handicrafts and gadgets, all available at extremely affordable rates.