Nong Nooch

  This is a guest post by Mr. Q, a quizmaster by profession, an avid traveler and adventurous foodie… An elephant experience in Pattaya, Thailand… One of the major attractions when you land in Pattaya is the visit to the Nong Nooch Village.

A few kms from Pattaya city centre, around 20 minutes travel time away is this lovely landscaped arena full of palms, orchids, flowers& beautifully laid out gardens. The main garden is a huge layout, of almost 6 football fields size, if not bigger, with lots of Temples, Palms & crafted bushes. The layout is magnificent and reminds one of the grandeur that the “Land of the White Elephants” had in the days of the Kings. Its spectacular layout is a visual treat, which all botanists will treasure for a long, long time. The flowers & the millions of colours that one can catch as you walk about is a sheer delight. Ornamental plants & flowers from across the globe are also grown in the village and their orchid collection is also a huge attraction.

Inside the village, there is a mini zoo with Tigers & Chimpanzees. A small railway track with tunnels & waterfalls also add to the excitement of the children& adults alike. One can pat a Tiger & take a photo with them too…:)

In the main hall of the village, four times a day, a 45 min cultural show is put up by the local artists. In this show, the various dance forms from four parts of Thailand are showcased. There are glimpses of various sports including Muay Thai (the thai style boxing), Drum medley, War enactments & Elephants in war also. This short but sweet show gives you an overall feel of this beautiful nation. The main attraction of the Nong Nooch village are the Elephants. You can find dozens of them, feeding & lazing around, while another set of them are taking tourists around for a ride! The mahouts are very friendly people and allow all to play with these giants. Small stalls also sell bananas, which you can buy & feed them.

Four times in a day, the Elephants put up their own show, which is a must see item for anyone visiting Pattaya. Twice in the morning & twice in the evening, with the final evening show starting at 4.00pm, these gentle animals weave a magic of their own.

They play basketball, football, throw darts, cycle around, offer a massage to any guest (who has the guts to lie down!!), do coordinated dances, walk over human beings,  march in an army style, and what not!! They lift guests up & pose for photographs as well as spray a few people with water also. But the topping on the cake is when three of them take to paint brushes & easel & paint T Shirts!! It’s a wonderful sight & eye popping one too, for the finished painting can hold its own anywhere in the world. One can buy these paintings, which are certified by the village with their seal & the name of the elephant who had drawn the painting!! (Our home carries one such painting now)

There is a butterfly park also within the village, where you can see butterflies from across the globe in their various colours flitting away in serene surroundings. On the whole, one can spend a full day in this village peacefully…:) Looking for vacation rentals in Thailand? Click here