Паттайя – самый популярный курорт Таиланда

Pattaya is considered the most popular Thai resort, and the city itself is located in Chon Buri province, and can be reached from Bangkok on a modern highway in two hours. The successful beach resort, which was a fishing town a couple of decades ago, is commonly referred to as the entertainment capital, and travelers are attracted by the unusual combination of snow-white beaches, ethnic villages, coral islands and picturesque gardens. In addition to beach holidays, Pattaya is able to offer its guests a lot of unique entertainment.

For example, a show of trained elephants will appeal to both adults and young travelers. Sports enthusiasts can go water-skiing, kite-surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, sailing and scuba diving. Sports opportunities include go-karting and horseback riding, shooting and badminton. After the sun goes down in Pattaya begins a vibrant nightlife, and before the tourists open the doors of popular bars and nightclubs. Those who like to explore can go to the idyllic rice-growers' village off the coast, or visit the sights in the resort's city limits.

Just off the coast in the northern part of the resort town stands the wooden Temple of Truth, the facade of which is decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs of the four elements. Connoisseurs of Asian architecture will love the Wat Yang temple, shaped like a pagoda topped with a tower, built in a picturesque park. Inside the temple with its white and gilded facade is the footprint of the Buddha, and during a visit to the complex tourists can see a hall with wax figures, a staircase with many steps, as if leading to heaven, visit the building of the ancient library.

The most popular attraction in Pattaya is the Big Buddha Hill, located in the Pratamnak area. At the top of the hill is a gilded statue of the deity, and next to it is a Chinese-style sacred place dedicated to Lao Tzu and Confucius. Next to the Wat Yang complex is a Chinese temple with numerous statues, and paintings on the walls allow visitors to explore the history of Buddha's life and enlightenment.

Among the natural attractions is Khao Kheow Park, where tourists are allowed to feed animals and ride bikes. There are deer and tigers, lions and snakes, monkeys and buffalos, elephants and bears, and the area can be quietly explored while sitting in a special zoo streetcar. It takes half an hour to get to the Tiger Zoo, where visitors are allowed to hold baby tigers in their arms, watch the merry piglet race, see monkeys and camels, and take pictures with the animals. A flip bridge over the pond leads to the tiger tunnel, which is home to more than a hundred huge striped cats.