Visiting Royal Flora Ratchaphruek National Park
The golden shower tree, or Ratchaphruek, bears a striking yellow bloom that symbolizes Buddhism and royalty in Thailand. A dedicated botanical park was built to honor this tree, which holds a deeply special place across the nation.
History
Laid out in 2006, this park was created for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek international horticultural exposition. The event coincided with celebrations marking the 60th year of the reign of King Rama IX. Spanning 80 hectares, the sprawling grounds naturally took the name of the country's iconic yellow flower.
Visitors had to wait until 2008, however, before the gates finally opened for the public to explore its treasures.
Exploring Royal Flora Ratchaphruek
During the international expo, numerous nations built pavilions to showcase their horticultural talents and traditions. Over the course of 92 days, 30 international gardens stood side by side within the park. The event proved to be a massive success, drawing more than 4 million visitors. The Royal Agricultural Research Center still maintains active research operations inside several of the park greenhouses today.
The grounds shelter more than 2.5 million trees and flowers representing 2200 tropical species.
The two main highlights are the orchid greenhouse and the Royal Ho Kham pavilion.
As the other signature flower of the country, orchids take center stage inside a massive climate-controlled enclosure. Inside, thousands of vibrant blooms include extremely rare specimens found only in this region.
The Royal Ho Kham pavilion itself is a striking structure showcasing traditional Lanna architecture from the northern part of the country.
It is a vast, immaculately maintained garden complex that makes for an unforgettable afternoon walk.
Opening hours
| Monday | 09:00-18:00 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Friday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00-18:00 |
| Sunday | 09:00-18:00 |
*Information subject to change
I had read some very mixed reviews about this park, but personally, I found it very pleasant. The flowers and plants aren't all exotic, but there is a very beautiful orchid garden that is a must-see. The temple on the site is very beautiful too, especially the landscape around it. It is pretty easy to get there by tuk tuk, and it is perfect for a half-day (for example, after doing a zip-line course in the morning).