MRT Hua Lamphong

Hua Lamphong MRT Station is the busiest and terminus subway station on the Blue Line of Metropolitan Rapid Transit, commonly known as MRT, the underground rapid transit system serving the centre of Bangkok. It is located under Rama IV Road in Pathum Wan District, just in front of Bangkok Railway Station. Unofficially known as Hua Lamphong Station, a name used by both foreign travellers and locals, the railway station is the starting point of over 130 trains that cross the country, and it serves approximately 60,000 passengers each day. The station is also the terminus of Eastern and Oriental Express luxury trains. The subway station is situated few hundred meters from Yaowarat Road, the main street of Bangkok's Chinatown. In Yaowarat area lives one of the oldest Chinese communities in Thailand, a settlement precedent the founding of the Thai capital in the city. At present day, the modern Chinatown area is one of the Bangkok's most popular tourist attractions, a true heaven for shopping lovers and gourmands which come here to enjoy the Chinese street food cuisine. A few minutes walk from the Hua Lamphong MRT Station, right in the beginning of Chinatown, is situated the Wat Traimit. The Buddhist temple has no particular architectural elements, far from the splendor of Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho, but is well known to the faithfuls and tourists thanks to its Golden Buddha, officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwana Patimakon. It's the largest Buddha image in pure gold in the world, composed by 5.5 tons of 18 carat gold, 5,500 kilograms, at US$ 1,400 per ounce, the gold in the statue is estimated to be worth 250 million dollars. Despite the immense value, historical and weight in gold which make it one of the most precious treasures of Thailand and of Buddhism, the statue is one of the few in Bangkok where it is allowed to get close.Read More