Thailand - Royal Flora Ratchaphruek
- Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 - 2012 -
The year 2006 marks the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty's Accession to
the Throne, making him the present world's longest-reigning Monarch, and his 80th birthday, also. It's a wonderful and memorable year for people in Thailand.
Various and wonderful events to celebrate the anniversary were held as you can see in the page of Thailand - Rama 9 The Sixtieth Anniversary, and although it was already finished but the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 in this page was held also as one of the celebrations.
- Place: Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Period: 1. Nov. 2006 - 31. Jan. 2007 (The second: 14.Feb.2011 - 14.Mar.2012)
- Theme: To express the love for humanity
- Participating countries: 30 countries
The festival included many highlights to attract tourists:
- Royal Pavilion zone
- Garden for the King
corporate gardens and international outdoor gardens - Thai Tropical garden
- Expo center
We visited this festival around the beginning of 2007, just heard that some event was being held. We didn't know the festival was for the sixtieth anniversary, though.
The second festival was held from Dec in 2011 to Mar. in 2012. It was aimed to mark and celebrate the three auspicious occasions - HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 84th birthday anniversary in 2011, Queen Sirikit's 80th birthday anniversary and Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's 60 birthday anniversary in 2012.
We visited there again in the end of 2012 after the festival already had finished and amazed to find that the area or the park was still managed very neatly and outdoor gardens showed themselves as they had been in 2006.
The pictures below are mixed with ones taken in 2006 and others in 2012.
Now let's get in and enjoy the festival ! :D
[Royal Flora] Now Get it the festival ! |
|||
Royal Flora Ratchaphruek - Scenery around the entrance. 
It's an extensive place and even if you have a map, you don't know where
you are now. According to the map, the area is about 80 hectares.(I can't imagine how big it is ...) |
|
|
|
| Around the entrance There is a huge umbrella art. |
To the entrance gate A lot of visitors in 2007. |
Cute lights At a gift shop around the entrance. |
|
|
| Entrance gate | Gate decoration 1 Elephants, speaking of Thailand. |
|
|
| Gate decoration 2 Peacock shaped flower decoration in 2012. Very attractive. |
Go around by sightseeing car ! The area is too wide to walk around ! Let's go around by car like the picture above. |
|
|
| Around the entrance This is a scenery in 2012. Still neatly managed park with a lot of flowers. Now, let's go around ! |
|
[Royal Flora] Sawasdee Garden |
|
|
|
| Sawasdee Garden There is a park near the entrance called Sawasdee Garden (Hello Garden or Welcome Garden). This was taken not in 2007 but in 2012. This park has a calm and peaceful atmosphere with a brook. You can enjoy walking here. |
|
|
|
| Brook in the park This Sawasdee Garden has a brook. This makes me feel comfortable even on a hot day with sunshine. |
|
[Royal Flora] Outdoor gardens (gardens of various countries) |
|||
You'll see a lot of flowers and various gardens from overseas. |
|
|
| A lot of flowers Around the entrance. |
Vast area The park area is vast and it has wide roads. Too wide to walk around. :D |
|
|
|
| Art in the park Big corn forest ? |
Hungry ! When you get hungry, check the restaurants there. These meals are about 130 Baht or 4 dollars. |
Making a wish People write a wish on a leaf-shaped metal and hang it. It can be seen in Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. |
[Royal Flora] Gardens of various countries |
|
| You'll see various gardens from overseas, 30 countries. | |
|
|
| Republic of Kenya The entrance shows the country's feature. |
Huge tree - Belgium Huge tree ! How old is it ? |
|
|
| Bhutan Very friendly country with Japan. Let's drop by here. |
|
|
|
|
| The gate Someone is painted. Historical or religious person ? |
Inside Cozy and it has a nice atmosphere. |
The bridge Wow, exquisitely decorated. |
|
|
| Japan - Kansai cultural garden This is a collaborative exhibition garden presented by Kyoto, Osaka and Hyogo, three prefectures that present the Kansai region in Japan. The region has long played a central role in Japan's politics and economy, and has nurtured unique history, culture and customs. |
|
|
|
| China This Chinese garden reflects the image of the old-fashioned beautiful garden which Buddhism was prosperous in China. Therefore, Chinese government builds Chinese Tang dynasty house and pagoda inside the garden in order to bring all visitors sense the old traditional Chinese style garden. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Others Flowers and interesting art in the park. |
|||
[Royal Flora] Royal Pavilion |
|||
This is the Royal Pavilion, the center of this expo. |
|
|
| Appearance 1 A little angle shot in 2012. Excellent view. |
Appearance 2 Side view in 2007. |
|
|
|
| The decoration Decorated exquisitely. |
Sculptures A lot of pure white sculptures protect this pavilion. The left one looks like white Yak that can been seen in the Grand Palace in Bangkok. |
|
|
|
| The Royal Virtue Tree Very crowded inside the pavilion (in 2007). Everyone came to see this Royal Virtue Tree. |
|
|
|
|
The Royal Virtue Tree
(From Visitor Guide) It has nine lotus buds overlapped;
|
|
|
|
|
| Inside the pavilion (in 2012) High ceiling and very beautifully decorated. You'll see explanations of the King's activities. |
||
|
|
|
| The view from the pavilion | The bridge There is a bridge behind the pavilion to the hill backside. |
Scenery around Flowerbed around the pavilion. (in 2007) This scenery turned to be with a lot of trees grown up in 2012. |
[Royal Flora] The view from the tower |
|||
| There is a tall tower in the park and you can overlook the park. |
|
|
|
| Oh, sure, you have to walk up the stairs of the tower. Ready ? | You'll see the more stairs. Try ? :D | Wonderful view from the tower. |
|
|
| The view towards the Royal Pavilion The left picture was taken in Jan of 2007. The right was in Dec, 2012, 6 years passed from the left picture. A lot of trees grew up ! :D |
|
|
|
|
| There is a relaxing pond and you can enjoy riding a boat. Sure, you can have something to eat or drink here. | ||
[Royal Flora] Indoor Exhibition |
|||
| They have indoor exhibition and also insect world (as of 2007). I didn't check them when we visited here again in 2012, though. |
|
|
| Indoor exhibition, near the entrance of this park. | |
|
|
| The King 1 - Rama 9th The king loves taking pictures. |
Queen Sirikit 1 |
|
|
|
| The King 2 He often carries his camera with him. |
Queen Sirikit 2 Not only the King but a lot of the Queen's pictures were displayed as well. |
|
|
|
|
| Old cameras ? Were they cameras that the King used ? |
A lot of plants You'll see a lot of plants displaying inside. |
|
|
|
|
|
| This is an insect world (another place). Kids enjoy them. :D | |||
Home
General Info
Photos (Thailand)
Column
Links