By Nida Tunsuttiwong

HM Queen Sirikit Park, one of three extensive parks providing open spaces and plenty of fresh air to visitors and residents of Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, is blessed with lotus ponds and countless varieties of tropical plants from all corners of the kingdom.

Blind or partially sighted visitors to the park can experience an area of the park that has been especially tailored to cater for their needs. Bursting with life, the Garden for the Sight Impaired includes an abundance of flora, as well as numerous other plant varieties.


Breakthrough Initiative
Located just a short distance from the entrance to the park ahead of three connecting buildings that are filled with an array of plants from throughout the kingdom, the Garden for the Sight Impaired is the first of its kind, providing an environment that has been specially designed to maximize the experience for the blind or partially sighted.

Established by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit Park Foundation, the impressive botanic garden is aimed to provide opportunities for blind or partially sighted visitors to spend some valuable time close to nature, where they can enjoy the numerous scents, sounds and spectacular settings.


Up Close And Personal
The pathways are ideal since they include long stretches of handrail, so blind or partially sighted visitors can explore safely and learn about various plant varieties since signs are provided with useful information in Braille.

The trees in the garden were specially selected to maximize the experience in terms of being able to touch and feel the natural textures of the trunks, while many trees and plants were chosen for possessing a particularly rich or impressive aroma. Plants that feature unusual shapes or textures likewise can enhance the experience for blind and partially sighted visitors.


Small Wonders
Featuring dense little flowers and inflorescences that expand into popcorn-shaped ‘spikes’, Popcorn lantana (Lantana trifolia) is one example, another is kedah gardenia (Gardenia carinata Wallich), which features petals with a distinctive shapes, as well as an interesting aroma. One variety that really caught my eye was khrai yoi (Elaeocarpus grandiflorus). The fruits of this plant look just like tiny little mangoes.

There are also some fascinating sculptures that allow you to shake them or hit them to produce a sound. Crafted from a number of different materials, such as hard woods and coconut shells, each sculpture has its own unique sound, adding another interesting dimension to the garden.


If you head for the center of the garden, you’ll see another large bas-relief sculpture, which features animal figures and more Braille-based signage. Among the cute designs featured here are portrayals of butterflies, chicken, rabbits and squirrels.

The HM Queen Sirikit Park opens daily from 5 am to 6.30 pm. Admission is free. For further information, please contact Tel: +66 (0)2 272 4347.

Transport Connections:
Train: Take the BTS skytrain to Morchit station (Exit 4) or the MRT subway to Chatuchak Park station (Exit 2). Take a walk through Chatuchak public park to Kamphangphet 3 Road. You will soon arrive to the Children’s Discovery Museum, which is a part of the Queen Sirikit Park. The entrance to the park is located right next to the museum.










source: Tannetwork.tv