Phutthamonthon (Buddha Monthon)

Opened in 1957, Phutthamonthon (‘Buddha’s Sphere’) is a vast 4-square kilometre park in Nakorn Pathom province west of Bangkok. Its most prominent feature is a 15.87-metre tall Buddha statue designed by noted art professor Silpa Bhirasri. One of the tallest free-standing Buddhas in the world, the statue is surrounded by sites memorialising the four main events in the life of Buddha: his birth, enlightenment, first sermon, and death. Another important structure is the sermon hall (‘viharn’), which contains the entire Buddhist canon engraved in marble.

Phutthamonthon is a great place to spend the day with the kids. This peaceful park features expansive tree-lined biking and walking trails, canals and ponds teeming with fish, and many shady spots. There are bikes and straw mats for naps or picnics for hire.