'''Rangsit''' (??????) is in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, 40 kilometers north of Bangkok.
Understand
Effectively a suburb of Bangkok, Rangsit is directly north from Bangkok on Thanon Phahonyothin, 20 kilometers from Don Muang Airport.
Get in
By Bus
Local buses 29, 34, 39, 59, 95, 504, 510 and 522 will get you from Bangkok to Rangsit Future Park (7 baht in the basic non-aircon buses, 18-22 baht for aircon). You can catch most of these from the bus stop next to BTS Mo Chit station. The journey takes 30-60 minutes depending on the traffic and bus (the orange 5xx services are faster).
Nearly all central, north and northeast-bound long-distance buses stop next to Major Bowl Shopping Centre [http://www.majorbowlhit.com/], Which is right next to Future Park Shopping Mall as a hub from Rangsit in or out of the main city of Bangkok, and often almost half the bus gets off. And with reason: it's still another hour from here to the city, so this is an excellent place to hop out, stretch your legs and get a decent meal.
By taxi
A taxi to central Bangkok will cost at least 300 baht. Always insist on using the meter. In the midnight hours a "service charge" may be required, but one shouldn't have to pay over 50 baht extra.
Taxis to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport approx costs 380 baht, Although the touts outside will try and get you to pay 1000 - 1500 baht wait in the taxi line outside the airport and you should be fine.
Get around
See
'''Wat Phra Dhammakaya''', [http://www.dhammakaya.or.th/]. Humongous hypermodern temple home to the controversial Dhammakaya (''Thammakai'') cult/sect, dubbed the Thai version of the Church of Scientology. The size of the complex can hardly be overstated: crowds on special events can number in the hundreds of thousands, and the unreal scale of everything makes it appear like a science fiction movie set built by Albert Speer. As you enter, you'll first see the golden dome of the '''Memorial Hall''' of the sect's founder, Phramonkolthepmuni. Behind it lies the aircraft-hangar-sized '''Meditation Hall''', and once you've walked through it (which takes a solid 15 minutes of hiking!) you'll spot the main event, the stupendous '''Maha Dhammakaya Cetiya'''. This is a golden UFO-shaped chedi covered with "one million" (in 300,000 outside and 700,000 inside) of golden Buddhas, in the center of a massive square and surrounded by the concrete platform of the '''Meditation Amphitheatre''' (scheduled for completion in 2006). There are free shuttle services from Victory Monument and Sanam Luang in Bangkok starting 7 AM on Sundays only; otherwise, find the elusive shuttle bus 1008 from Rangsit market, or just take a taxi from Future Park (80-100B one way). The temple is free to all and open daily, but devotees gather the first Sunday of each month and there are English-language meditation retreats several times a year. Dress decently (women must cover shoulders and legs) and try to pick a cloudy or cool day because there's a ''lot'' of walking to be done.
Do
'''Dreamworld'''.
'''National Science Museum'''.
'''Dusit Zoo'''.
Buy
'''Future Park'''. Thanon Phahonyothin, [http://www.futurepark.co.th/]. In Rangsit, the future seems to mean huge shopping malls. Here you can find '''Robinson''' and '''Central''' department stores, '''Big C''' and '''TOPS''' hypermarkets, an '''EGV''' cinema, '''Office Depot''' and '''HomePro''' outlets and much more, all packed tightly together. Unfortunately the spiffy monorail that is supposed to connect them all hasn't been running in a while.
'''Major Bowl'''. [http://www.majorbowlhit.com/]. Is another large shopping mall with a large selection of local merchants owning stores and large food court. The best place for local thai department stores.
'''Rangsit Markets'''. Open every day closing about 9pm each night. Basically a hudge boot market with street vendor after street vendor selling his wares. If you like the local food and aren't shy of the local cuisine and traditional thai wares this is your place.
Eat & Drink
'''Future Park''' has countless eating options.
'''Major Bowl''' also has a very large selection of different foods.
Learn
'''Asian Institute of Technology'''. Km 42, Thanon Phahonyothin, [http://www.ait.ac.th/]. Thailand's equivalent of MIT has its main campus in Rangsit, 6 km north of Future Park. Get there on buses 29 and 39.
'''Rangsit University''' Located in the center of the small community of Muang-Ake, RU is one of Thailand's largest universities and home to an international college with English instruction.
'''University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) places international students at Rangsit University
Sleep
Get out