Pratumnak Hill Pattaya (video)
Pratumnak HillPattaya
I'm off the mountain again Pattaya climbed. Well, mountain, it's not actually a mountain, but a hill, Pratumnak Hill. Still, if you spend an hour or so on that tjot, it feels like you've climbed Mont Blanc.
Pratumnak Hill is a natural separation between Pattaya and Jomtien and especially from the side of Pattaya I always find it a majestic sight. A beautiful green elongated hill where the tourist is confirmed with large letters that he is in Pattaya.
History
When I first came to Pattaya in 1980, my Thai host had booked rooms at The Royal Cliff Hotel. That was then – as far as I know – the only hotel on the mountain. Back then a wild landscape, where you could only reach the hotel over unpaved sand paths. Now, so much later, the hill is beautifully cultivated. On the one hand with a network of paths and roads and on the other hand with residential areas, hotels, yacht clubs, beaches, etc.
Jog and trim area
Now that I live in Pattaya, I regularly go to Pratumnak Hill. From Third Road towards Jomtien, under the flyover do not turn left to Jomtien, but straight ahead, follow the road past the Tourist Police office and a little further you will come to a seven-fork, where you make a choice. Two roads lead to the viewpoint, one road leads to the temple, the other roads lead to residential areas and hotels.
Usually I park my motorbike directly to the left of this seven-fork. From there, a main road and another small track next to it, which are built around the hill, are excellent for joggers. The route, which offers a beautiful view of Pattaya / Jomtien halfway, is roughly 2 kilometers. That doesn't seem like much, but the sometimes steep rises in the road don't make it any easier. For the better athlete there are several fitness equipment along the route. By five o'clock in the afternoon a busy place for many joggers and athletes.
Viewpoint
But today I took the other side, towards the sea. From the seven jump down, through the tunnel under the road, a long walk along the Pattaya side with also a fair amount of climbing. And if that wasn't enough, the steep (10%?) climb to the highest point awaits. That highest point is a platform, with of course food and beverage outlets, where many tourists take a look. A beautiful view of Pattaya Bay is the reward.
Development
It is the point of Pattaya, from where most photos of the city are taken. Interestingly, if you visit Pattaya more often and take a photo from this point each time, you can "follow" the development of the city. I once saw some photos taken from this point in a Chinese restaurant. The first was from around 1965, you could see a large swampy area. The second from the late 70s already gives a good picture of the development at that time and the third was from 1996, when the city seemed to be fully built up. The latter is of course not true, because the view from Pratumnak Hill gives new pictures every year, with the large hotels being striking.
Prince Chumphon
On the plateau there is also a temple, a (naval) radio station and museum and a statue of Prince Chumphon, the founder of the Thai navy. I descend again, could have walked further towards the sea, which I will do another time. It was enough for today. I get back on my motorbike and follow the road past the Sheraton Hotel and The Royal Cliff via a beautifully landscaped road down to the harbor. That road, which still leads past the weather station, is funded by the Royal Cliff Hotel, which refers to it with many signs, as far as the plants and flowers are concerned.
Watch the video below for an impression, but even better, go and see it yourself, whether or not with the intention of doing some stretching and walking exercises. Beautiful hiking trails, but I'll say it again, you have to be good on your feet.
Video: Pratumnak Hill Pattaya
Watch the video here:
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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Last year I stayed in Jomtien for a week. From there I walked to Pattaya at least two or three times. I also followed a road along the coast (from Jomtien) and ended up on top of a hill with a Buddha statue and a few other interesting figures… I don't know which hill this is, though.
You do have a beautiful view over the landscape..
Alternatively, you can also go to Pattaya Fun Park and enter the tower. It is a lot higher and you have a 360 degree view of Pattaya and Jomtien.
Photo from 1952 and from a few years ago:
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https://goo.gl/photos/7WPyEyKeiShg4ADi8
In the vicinity of the trim equipment it is nice to take a look at the “PATTAYA” letters via a steep staircase. Huge letters that light up in different colors at night.
Thanks for the tip, very good information. the video does show that you have to know your way around. there are no signposts or street names to be found. hopefully googlemaps on the smartphone offers the way out.
I come here once or twice a week, so I conclude that it is a somewhat older video. A lot has changed in recent years, however. But it doesn't matter, it remains the best place in Pattaya to walk or trim. I wouldn't cycle there myself; too dangerous with walkers in the descents and you will also have to work hard uphill, because it seems like a nice training area for the Thai Tom Dumoulin.
Recommended.