✨ Dinso Road – Giant Swing: An old Bangkok neighbourhood with an abundance of historic monuments and attractions ✨

January is still a pleasant time to discover Bangkok on foot.

The Dinso Road – Giant Swing neighbourhood is lined with many of the city’s iconic attractions that we never tire of visiting. The areas make for an excellent one-day trip of strolling, taking pictures, and revisiting old food shops and cafes or trying new ones.

• The checklist around Dinso Road – the Giant Swing
  •  Pick your preferred choice of breakfast near the MRT Sam Yot or Wat Suthat.
  •  Pay homage to the magnificent Luangpho To at Wat Suthat.
  •  Admire Bangkok’s most important swing – the Giant Swing.
  •  Visit Devasthan – Hindu shrines.
  •  Try to eat Thai Dessert at Baan Khanom Pang Khing (Gingerbread House)
  •  Have a lunch break at Baan Lalin Thai café.
  •  Enjoy coffee and spectacular views at the MYND Rooftop Slow Bar.

Getting there : Take the MRT Blue Line and get off at Sam Yot Station using Exit 3. From here, walk toward Unakan Road.

Breakfast near Sam Yot If you arrive early and want to have breakfast before starting the route in earnest, there are many food shops and cafes within easy walking distance.

Breakfast at On Lok Yun  Among them is the legendary Chinese style coffee shop, On Lok Yun, for morning favourites like eggs, bacon, black coffee, or Thai iced tea. A favourite haunt among locals, On Lok Yun is pretty busy in the morning.

•  72 Charoen Krung Road, Samphanthawong, Bangkok
•  Open daily from 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
•  085 809 0835
• https://goo.gl/maps/eBSkt9Md4Uv28jjz7

Or if you’re a coffee connoisseur, walk to Varen , a white and bright minimalist cafe a few steps away.

•  14 Tri Phet Road, Wang Brurapha Phirom, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
• Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
•  081 692 9999
• https://goo.gl/maps/75ZXpFHCRYWcnWeb9

Kope Hya Tai Ke, another much-loved Chinese-style coffee shop, is located near Wat Suthat and offers all-day breakfast. 

•  Bamrung Mueang Road, Wat Ratchabophit, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
•  Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
•  091 979 1498, 062 678 3003
• https://goo.gl/maps/PX6pBnaXDrCsdUjW8

Thanon Dinso or Dinso Road is a short stretch of road beginning at the Giant Swing and continuing to the Democracy Monument before ending at Phra Sumen Road.

The name reflects the main occupation of its residents who once made a living by making pencils – dinso – when they were still a necessary tool for writing. This road was well-known as an area where many pencil shops were located. Even though it is no longer home to pencil shops, this neighbourhood has retained its old charm. You can also find a variety of food shops here.

Wat Suthat Thepwararam  The construction of Wat Suthat spanned the reigns of three Kings (Rama I-Rama III) before it was eventually completed.

•  Bamrung Mueang Road, Khwaeng Wat Ratchabophit, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
•  Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
•  02 222 6932, 02 222 9635
• https://goo.gl/maps/hJTz7fU7oJm

The principal Buddha image of Wat Suthat, Phra Sri Sakayamuni, is Thailand’s largest bronze seated Buddha image in the gesture of subduing Mara. The 8-metre-high statue was brought all the way from Wat Maha That of Sukhothai province. 😮

Unlike other temples, Wat Suthat has no conventional chedi within its grounds. Instead, what are regarded as its chedi are seven holy places, which have been historically linked to Lord Buddha. This assumed chedi is located at the temple wall on the eastern side.

The Giant Swing  The Giant Swing is an iconic landmark of Bangkok. It was built at the very centre of old Bangkok by King Rama I the Great, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, to be used in the Triyumpawai Tripawai, a Brahmin ritual that involved men on wooden poles swinging to reach a gold coin-filled bag hanging from the top of the structure.

The ritual was discontinued by King Rama VII.

Devasthan – Hindu shrines  Together with the Giant Swing, Devasthan was also built at the command of King Rama I the Great as part of a royal tradition when a capital was established. It is a short walk from the Giant Swing and Wat Suthat.

Visitors to Devasthan will be greeted by a statue of Brahma at the front. The three Hindu gods of Shiva, Ganesh, and Vishnu are each enshrined in a separate 200-year-old building behind it.

•  268 Dinso Road, Sao Ching Cha, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
•  Open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
•  02 222 6932, 02 222 9635
• https://goo.gl/maps/MRRcxeZM3apPJxBY6

The most beautiful house in this area is undoubtedly Baan Khanom Pang Khing – Gingerbread House.  You can admire or take a well-deserved break for refreshments and sweets at this restored Thai house-turned café by walking into a small lane behind the Devasthan. The intricate craftsmanship of the wooden house that was built more than a century ago is a delightful treat.

•  47 Dinso Road, Sao Ching Cha, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
•  Open on Mon. – Fri. from 11.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. from 9.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m.
•  097 229 7021
• https://goo.gl/maps/6CKGsL1eHfAWpmtG8

Baan Lalin Thai Café  For lunch, try the tasty Thai food at Baan Lalin, a café located in Trok Tuek Din, a small lane off Dinso Road. Keep walking, you will get there even though it seems to be in an obscure location. You will congratulate yourself after managing to find Baan Lalin in a small wooden Thai house on the banks of the man-made Khlong Lot. 

The renovated house was originally built during the reign of King Rama V the Great about a century ago.

Lalin serves single dish meals. Their menu is simple, yet tasty and well presented as the Café belongs to two female chefs who were contestants in the MasterChef Thailand TV programme. 

A traditional Thai snack called Pla Hang Tang Mo, fresh watermelon with sweet and crispy dried fish flakes, is among the recommended dishes. 

Black Sesame Scone with Palm Sugar.

•  5 Trok Tuek Din, Dinso Road, Bowonniwet, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
•  Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Closed Monday)
•  091 333 5998
• https://goo.gl/maps/NsfRFWzD6N4Rj2fF6

MYND Rooftop Slow Bar  If you want a coffee with a view after a good lunch, continue on to the MYND Rooftop Slow Bar, a small café on the fourth floor of a shophouse in Trok Wat Ratchanatda near Trok Tuek Din (where Lalin is located).

You can choose either to sit indoors or outdoors to enjoy the coffee.

This little café provides a great view of the surrounding area, especially Wat Ratchanatda.

•  31 Trok Wat Ratchanatda, Dinso Road, Khwaeng Bowonniwet, Khet Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
•  Open Wednesday – Sunday from 09:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed Monday – Tuesday)
•  096 854 2624
• https://goo.gl/maps/Sq2RKtPvNXyZaRFC7