Looking to escape the Bangkok heat? Need to break away from the bustle of the big city and give your mind some much needed rest? Need some fresh air? Accomplish all these in one go! Just head to Lumpini Park on Silom Road in downtown Bangkok.

A city of more than 12 million residents, Bangkok is a feast on the senses. Tall skyscrapers dominate the skyline. Jam packed roads, traffic and organized chaos. It’s no wonder why the people here need a break. The 142 acre park provides just that. Named after Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal, the park is truly an oasis. It really is quite refreshing to be in an area with nothing more than lawns, gardens, trees and lakes.

Imagine this, at the time of the park’s construction in the mid 1920’s Silom was considered an outskirt of the city! Now it is in the middle of the business district. Oh much times have changed!

On average, about 20,000 people visit the park throughout the day on weekdays and about 40,000 on weekends and holidays. That’s not a lot of people at all. You’ll have plenty of space to do your thing. Entrance is free, of course. And you are more than welcome to check in as early as 4.30 in the morning and hang around until closing time at 9 pm.

So, what to do in the park? Lots! It is a great place to step away from the city’s restaurants and enjoy a picnic meal here. It’s your choice to sit on the shaded manicured lawns or on one of the provided benches and tables with shady umbrellas.

All you exercise gurus will have a field day here too! The park is a haven for runners and cyclists. Weight machines are also in the premise. Plus basketball and tennis courts satisfy those yearning for athletic competition. For those looking to just chill out, you are more than free to use Bangkok’s first public library.

For first time visitors to the capital, Exotissimo’s Unseen Bangkok City Break tour is the perfect program. All the major sites will be covered here. But it isn’t Exotissimo if we haven’t included experiences to less-visited canals, side-streets and temples, now wouldn’t it? You’ll feel like a Bangkok resident at the end of this tour.

www.exotravel.com/