Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park, also Lumpini or Lumpinee, is a 360 rai 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 am to 03:00 pm. There is a smoking ban throughout the park. Dogs are not allowed, except certified guide dogs only. Lumphini Park is regarded as the first public park in Bangkok and Thailand. The park is the provenance of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
Witthayu, Rama IV and Ratchadamri act as the eastern, southern and western border of Lumphini Park respectively. Witthayu intersection, an intersection where Witthayu and Rama IV roads meet, is served by Lumphini station on the Blue Line. Sala Daeng, an intersection where Ratchadamri, Rama IV and Si Lom roads meet, is served by Si Lom station on the Blue Line and Sala Daeng station on the BTS Skytrain's Silom Line. Other places surrounding Sala Daeng intersection are Dusit Central Park, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, and Silom Edge.
History
The 360 rai plot of land, formerly known as Thung Sala Daeng, was the private property of King Rama VI. In 1925, the king donated the land to the nation to be used as a fair ground. The Siamrat Phiphitthaphan Trade Fair was held here to promote Thai commodities and industrial productions among Thais and foreigners. After the fair, the king had a will to turn the land into a public park which was given the name Lumphini. It was named after Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha in Nepal for prosperity, although its location at that time was considered the outskirts of the city. The construction was not finished yet, the king died first, but the construction continues until complete. In World War II the park was a Japanese Army camp. At the entrance in front of the park, the royal monument of the king was built for his memorial, inside the park, there are a clock tower of Chinese styled structure built in 1925, a public library which was the first one in the country, a public aquarium, children's play ground, sporting ground, and large swimming pool. It is a public park full of varieties of plants and suitable for recreational.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.
It is also linked to Benjakitti Park in Khlong Toei District via the 1.3 km-long Green Bridge, an elevated pedestrian and bicycle path that begins at the Sarasin Junction, where Witthayu Road meets Sarasin Road.
In August 2025, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced that the Lumpini Park Hawker Centre would open along Ratchadamri Road in early 2026.
[file:Lpnp 06.JPG|thumb|left|Lumphini Park Library]
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 - The statue of King Vajiravudh 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Offers training in various jobs including computer, cooking, tailor, and facial make-up.
- Lumphini Park Library - Lumphini Park Library provides books and videos. Open from 08:00–20:00, Tuesday–Sunday.
- Lumphini Youth Center - 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 - Open 04:30–10:00 daily.
- Lumphini Lake - Swan paddle boats can be rented at a lake for 40 baht per 30 minutes. In the 1960s, a floating restaurant called Kinnari Nava stood in the middle of the lake. Also known internationally as Peninsula, it was a distinctive structure featuring a bow atop a topless kinnari figure. The restaurant was later closed following a fire.
- 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.