PATHUM THANI

Founded during the Ayutthaya era over three centuries ago, Pathum Thani is home to Wat Hong Pathummawat, with its fish sanctuary, and other old temples like Wat Sing, the first monastery built by the Mon community with a museum of Mon artifacts.

Up the Chao Phraya River, Wat Pailom is one of the world's largest sanctuaries for indian open-billed storks, which winter here during the mating season. The agricultural basin of the central plains channels its vast produce to the equally as large Talad Thai, a gigantic international wholesale and retail produce market, selling fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and plants.