For Indian travellers, including me, Thailand is not just a short flight away; It’s that sweet spot between chaos and peace, color and comfort. A place where your body rests before your luggage even hits the belt. In just a few hours, I’m swimming over mirror-clear waterfalls, wandering through vineyards and temples, and watching city nights shine brighter than Diwali lights.
By late afternoon, one should head towards Khao Yai and see the hills blushing under the setting sun, the rose-gold light that turns everyone into a photographer. From the Flamingo Viewpoint, you can see miles of forest melting into shadow. But the real adventure begins only after dark. On a guided night safari, headlights pierce the mist and the jungle comes alive with life. Also, just a short distance away from Khao Yai, PB Valley Vineyards was a surprise to me. I didn’t expect vineyards in Thailand, but there they were: swaying vines, mountain air, sunlight dancing off the grapes. Thailand or Tuscany? Maybe both!
ban tha chang spring
At sunrise, Ban Tha Chang Natural Waterfall looks almost unreal, the water is so clear it reflects the sky. I stuck my feet in and instantly forgot everything that was waiting for me back home. All around me, visitors and locals were sailing by in kayaks, children were frolicking and the hustle and bustle of the morning could be felt far away. It wasn’t just a swimming spot, it was peace, stillness and something inside me was finally slowing down.
diwali in bangkok
If you are lucky enough to be in Bangkok during Diwali, as I was, you will witness something truly magical. In Bangkok’s historic “Little India” Phahurat, thousands of lamps and floating lamps illuminate the Ong Ang Canal, as the notes of marigolds and incense fill the night air with music. At Icon Siam, the riverbank shines in full festive grandeur. Indian families in sarees mingle with Thai locals, sharing sweets, smiles and stories that seem both familiar and new.
Pattaranong Na Chiangmai, Deputy Governor of International Marketing, shared, “Thailand and India actually have a very old relationship. Much of our Thai art, language and heritage has been influenced by Indian culture, and we have many people of Indian origin who have lived in Thailand for generations,She says, “We are celebrating not only in Bangkok’s Little India or Khlong Ong Ang, but also in major malls like Icon Siam and Central, and even in provinces like Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai where there are large Indian communities and many Indian visitors. Our aim is not just to attract more Indian tourists during the festive period, but to bring together Thai locals and international visitors to experience the beauty of Diwali in a Thai setting Is.,
When asked about sustainable travel, Pattaranong explains, “Sustainability is our main focus now. We don’t promote tourism just for the sake of numbers – we want visitors to have meaningful experiences that benefit local communities and help sustain their livelihoods.,
Temple, Spa and Street Light
Bangkok is chaos that somehow works. You can start your day at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, then head to the Deewana Virtu Spa, which emerges two hours later as if melted into butter, but is immediately thrust back into the chaos of the city… tuk-tuks honking, the whirring sound of food stalls, temples shimmering in the mist. At Wat Pho, I stood in front of the giant reclining Buddha, serene and golden, and wondered how the city could keep peace and pandemic so close together. Well, that’s Bangkok: meditative one moment, crazy the next, but always alive! PS: One should never miss the chance to visit Dusit Central and MBK, where high fashion shops line the street, and the smell of iced coffee and adventure lingers around every corner.
The author’s visit was sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
