Geographically, the Central Region extends from rugged western mountains bordering Burma to the northeast plateau to the east; extends northwards to Nakhon Sawan where the Ping, Wang, Nan and Yom rivers unite to form the Chao Phraya River (River of Kings) which flows southwards to dissect Bangkok before entering the Gulf of Thailand; and southwards to Prachuap Khiri Khan where Thailand compressed to its narrowest point, some 60 kilometers wide between western mountains and the Thai Gulf.
    The Chao Phraya River largely irrigates the Central Plain, one of the world's major rice and fruit-growing areas, and sustains an intricate network of canals that irrigate bountiful or chards and market gardens; host vibrant floating markets; and support a unique, waterborne way of life.
    The Central Region is extremely rich in historical sites. These include Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi, Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lop Buri and, most important of all, Bangkok, Thailand's capital and major point-of-entry.

    Bangkok
    Briefly, Bangkok's major tourism attractions include the fabulous Wat Phra Kaeo (Emerald Buddha Chapel) and Grand Palace complex; Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn); Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha); Wat Saket (Golden Mount); Wat Benchamabophit (Marble Temple); Vimanmek Palace, favourite residence of King Chulalongkorn (1868-1910) and the world's largest golden teak building; the fabulous royal barges; the Pasteur Institute's Snake Farm where poisonous snakes are fed daily and venom is "milked" from cobras and kraits to make invaluable serum; Jim Thompson's House Museum which contains a superb collection of Asian objets d'art; Suan Pakkad Palace's lacquer pavilion which is decorated with medieval gold leaf murals; the world's largest Crocodile Farm; a 200-acre open air museum called the Ancient City; entertainment and recreational complexes such as Siam Water Park, Safari World, King Rama IX Park and Dusit Zoo; unrivalled shopping opportunities for some of the world's most admired handicrafts; exceptionally fine dining in gourmet restaurants featuring the world's favourite cuisines; and a liberated, almost legendary nightlife.

    Beyond Bangkok
    The Rose Garden, a riverside tropical park/country club one hour west of Bangkok, boasts an 18-hole championship golf course, fine accommodation and a Thai Village where daily shows feature traditional activities such as folk dancing, the Thai wedding ceremony, a Buddhist ordination and elephants at work.

    Nakhon Pathom, 30 minutes further west (60 kilometers from Bangkok), hosts the world's tallest Buddhist monument, the 380 foot high Phra Pathom Chedi, which marks the spot where Buddhism was introduced, some 2,300 years ago, to the Thailand-to-be.

    Damnoensaduak, 40 minutes south of Nakhon Pathom, is Thailand's most vibrant floating market where farmers congregate on canals each morning in produce-laden boats.

    Kanchanaburi, some 130 kilometers west of Bangkok, is famous for the "Bridge Over The River Kwai", an Allied war cemetery, and surrounding countryside characterized by waterfalls, broad fertile valleys and caves once inhabited by Neolithic man. The Saiyok Noi, Saiyok Yai, Erawan and Huai Khamin Waterfalls and 12th-century Khmer Prasat Muang Sing are especially worth visiting.

    Ayutthaya, some 70 kilometers upstream from Bangkok, was the Siamese capital from 1350 to 1767. Magnificent ruins of temples, palaces and crumbling fortresses provide eloquent testimony of the former capitalus splendour. Wat Panan Choeng, Wat Si San Phet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Rachaburana, Phu Khao Thong and the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum should not be missed.

    Bang Pa-In palace, just south of Ayutthaya, was the summer residence of early Chakri kings. The local Wat Niwet Thamaprawat is one of Thailand's most unusual Buddhist temples, the chapel resembling an English Gothic church.

   Phra Buddha Bat, Shrine of the Buddha's Footprint, is just north of Saraburi, some 110 kilometers north of Bangkok. The Buddha's Footprint was discovered accidentally some 350 years ago when a deer hunter found that a pool of water in the shape of an enlarged human foot had curative power.

    Lop Buri, an ancient city dating from the 9th century, and some 150 kilometers north of Bangkok, contains Hindu and Khmer ruins and the imposing Ramratchaniwet Palace built by Ayutthaya's King Narai during the 1600s as a summer retreat. Major ruins include the Khmer Phra Prang Sam Yot, the Hindu San Phra Kan, and Wat Phra Si Mahathat.

   Phetchaburi, 120 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, is well known for exotic sweets, the Buddha-filled Khao Luang Caves, the hilltop Phra Nakhon Khri palace, the lovely Wat Suwanaram with its Ayutthaya meeting hall, murals and scriptural repository, and the mountainous, scenically arresting Kaeng Krachan, Thailand's largest national park.

    Cha Am, 173 kilometers southwest of Bangkok, has a popular beachside resort hotel and public beach.

    Hua Hin, 198 kilometres from Bangkok, is Thailand's oldest beach resort and has been the Thai royal family's summer residence since the 1920s. A genteel Edwardian ambience characterizes a resort with a fine beach, excellent accommodation and opportunities for swimming, sailing, riding, windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, fishing, playing tennis and golf.

    Sam Roi Yot National Park, one hour south of Hua Hin, occupies some 60 square kilometres of coastal land.

    Prachuap Khiri Khan, some 280 kilometres from Bangkok, is a fishing town with a scenic bay and the beachside Khao Chong Krachok (Mirror Mountain) which supports a small pagoda and a resident monkey tribe.