Aesthetic & educational

Queen Sirikit Park is a veritable botanical paradise, only a stone's throw away from one of the busiest markets in Bangkok

Behind a brazen sea of stalls containing clothes, shoes and all kinds of accessories at the ever-crowded Chatuchak Weekend Market, is a microcosm of plants and trees _ where you can still smell the organic aroma of earth and the vibrant colours of flowers in bloom greet the eyes.

If you are interested in plants or just want to relax and unwind, look no further than Queen Sirikit Park, a botanical garden and public park. Considering the park's short distance from the bustling weekend market, it's a nice surprise to find that this garden, complete with tall trees, thick shrubs and climbers, remains rather quiet and calm. A signature feature about the park is all the botanical information readily available on its grounds.

The Queen Sirikit Park is part of the Suan Chatuchak Learning Park. The rest of the green space comprises the Chatuchak Park and Suan Rotfai, converted from the State Railway of Thailand's golf course. The whole complex covers an area of 705 rai.

Born out of a Cabinet resolution in January 1991, the Queen Sirikit Park was built by the State Railway of Thailand and the Queen Sirikit Park Foundation to honour Her Majesty the Queen on her 60th birthday in 1992. The park is located on a 140-rai plot of land to the west of Chatuchak Park. It was designed as a botanical garden where domestic and international plants are grown and kept for the public to enjoy and observe.

The maintenance of this park was transferred to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in 1995.

At present, the park has a few different attractions to offer. In the botanical garden area, there is a palm court, banana garden, flower plants plaza as well as an area devoted to different breeds of hibiscus. Those who are not into plants have a choice of strolling around a rock park, lotus field or visiting the BMA's Children Discovery Museum located inside the park.

The BMA is planning to add to the park by developing another 60 rai, which will house a museum to honour the work of Her Majesty the Queen and include more of the forest-type park and flowers in bloom to bask in.
Bangkok Post 12 June 2005 www.bangkokpost.com
Somkid Chaijitvanit