Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park (also Lumpini or Lumpinee, Thai: สวนลุมพินี) is a 360 rai (57.6-hectare (142-acre)) park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees, and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake where visitors can rent boats. Paths around the park totalling approximately 2.5 km in length are a popular area for morning and evening joggers. Officially, cycling is only permitted during the day between the times of 10:00 to 15:00. There is a smoking ban throughout the park. Dogs are not allowed.

Not to be confused with Lumbini Park in Hyderabad, India.
Lumphini Park
Aerial view of Lumphini Park, Bangkok.
TypeUrban Park
LocationLumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Coordinates13°43′50″N 100°32′30″E
Area142 acres (57 ha)
Created1925 (1925)
Operated byBangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)
Visitorsabout 10,000 - 15,000 people a day
StatusOpen daily from 4.30 a.m. to 21.00 p.m.
Lumphini Hall
View towards the Silom-Sathorn districts
View towards the Ratchadamri-Ratchaphrasong districts

History

Lumphini Park was created in the 1920s by King Rama VI on royal property. This place was a museum, where many products and natural resources were shown, then after World War I, it was rebuilt into the first park in Bangkok.[1] In World War II the park was a Japanese Army camp. A statue of the king stands at the southwest entrance to the park. It was named after Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal, and at the time of its creation stood on the outskirts of the city. Today it lies in the heart of the main business district and is in the Lumphini sub-district, on the north side of Rama IV Road, between Ratchadamri Road and Witthayu Road.[2]

Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park Library
Former Kinnari Nava

Lumphini Park places

Lumphini Park is a multi-purpose park. Many activities are provided for citizens and tourists. The park is a green area. There are trees, flowers, lakes, and animals.

King Rama VI statue
  • King Rama VI statue (Thai: พระบรมรูปรัชกาลที่6) - The statue of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) was built in 1942 to commemorate the construction of the Lumphini Park.
  • Bird watching - Lumphini Park is a rich source of natural food and has large trees so it has become home to more than 30 species of birds. Bird watching instruction is available at Lumphini Park every year.
  • Smiling Sun Ground (also Larn Tawan Yim Thai: ลานตะวันยิ้ม) - Smiling Sun Ground is a place for activities for disabled people. It is full of resources and special parking lots for the disabled as well as playgrounds for children.
  • Bangkok Elder Citizens Club (Thai: สโมสรพลเมืองอาวุโสแห่งเมืองกรุงเทพฯ) - Bangkok Elder Citizens Club is a place for elders to communicate, relax, exercise, and train. It is open from 08:00-18:00 daily. Dancing courses are available every Sunday-Saturday.
  • Home of Hope (Thai: ศูนย์สร้างโอกาสเด็กสวนลุมพินี) - A refuge for homeless children. They provide information, advice, and education to help homeless children. It is open 10:00-19:00 daily.
  • BMA Apprentice School (Thai: ศูนย์ฝึกอาชีพกรุงเทพมหานคร) - Offers training in various jobs including computer, cooking, tailor, and facial make-up.
  • Lumphini Park Library (Thai: ห้องสมุดประชาชนสวนลุมพินี) - Lumphini Park Library provides books and videos. Open from 08:00-20:00, Tuesday-Sunday.
  • Lumphini Youth Center (Thai: ศูนย์เยาวชนลุมพินี) - Offers sports activities and sports equipment for members. Sports activities including soccer, swimming, basketball, and dancing. On Monday to Friday it is open from 18:00-20:00. On weekends it is open 10:00-18:00.
  • Sri Thai Derm Food Center (Thai: ศูนย์อาหารศรีไทยเดิม)- Open 04:30-10:00 daily.
  • Lumphini Lake - Swan paddle boats can be rented at a lake for 40 baht per 30 minutes. In 1960s, in the middle of the lake was the former floating restaurant named Kinnari Nava, or Peninsula in Internationally. It was a distinctive building where the bow on the top of the kinnari (half-woman, half-bird) is topless. It was closed due to a fire.[3]
  • Buddhist Dharma Activities - Buddhist Dharma activities with Buddhist monks are held the last Sunday of every month from 07:00-09:00.
  • Music Festival - A Western music and Thai music festival in the park is held Sundays, January to April, from 17:30-20:00.

Venues and events

The park has Bangkok's first public library and dance hall. During winter, the Palm Garden of Lumphini Park becomes the site for the annual Concert in the Park featuring classical music by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and other bands.

Political rallies

Lumphini Park has been used as a rally ground for right-wing political gatherings. In 2006 the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protested in the park against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2013-2014 the park became one of the main protest sites of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Transportation

Lumphini Park is close to Sala Daeng Station on the BTS Skytrain's Silom Line, as well as Lumphini and Si Lom stations on the MRT Blue Line. The park is served by BMTA buses No. 4, 13, 14, 15, 17, 22, 45, 46, 47, 50, 62, 67, 74, 76, 77, 89, 109, 115, 116, 141, 149, 164, 173, 505, 507, 514, and 547.

References
  1. "Welcome to Lumpini Park".
  2. "สวนลุมพินี Lumphini Park". office.bangkok.go.th (in Thai). Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  3. Vichitphan, Thanit (March 2010). "สวนลุมพินี ณ วันวาน" [Lumphini Park, as of yesterday]. Manager Weekly Magazine (in Thai).

Further reading

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