Search the World - enter sentence or part of word
[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite]

What to see in Chiang Mai, Thailand ?

VR guided tour. Chiang Mai has something for everyone. While exploring the city, you can find countless beautiful temples – Wat Phra Singh being the best-known one – and a historical centre which will take your breath away. It is also a deeply cultural city with various festivals being organised there throughout the year. But don’t be misled – Chiang Mai is also a fast growing modern metropolis known as a digital nomads’ haven.

Discover the world from your PC or mobile in 360 VR video

Songkran time in Thailand

Songkran usually runs for about a week unofficially in parts of Bangkok and Pattaya. Thai people know how to party and celebrate their own New Year, Chinese New Year and the Western New Year. Of the three, Songkran is the wildest.

Depending on who you ask, Songkran is the best or the worst time of year to be on vacation. The main reason – water. Traditionally, Songkran is a water festival and celebrated by ‘sprinkling” water on other people. In tourist areas of Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket, the sprinkling has escalated to fire hoses, water tube blasters, and super-soakers.

Drunken tourists and locals in Pattaya and on Khaosan Road in Bangkok take this festival as a time to get absolutely crazy and drench each other in water. Additionally, a white paste made from flour or talcum powder is smeared on unwitting people’s faces.

If you are in a tourist area or even in an upcountry village during Songkran, you can expect to get wet. The more touristy the area, the wetter you will get. Being soaked and then going into an air conditioned bar or restaurant can be very uncomfortable and could lead to a nasty cold. There is also the possibility of infection as the water is not always clean.

I am not trying to throw a damper on a New Year celebration; I am just trying to let people know that they can expect to see a lot of drunken tourists getting soaking wet during this festival. You can have a lot of fun, but you can see tourists at their absolute worst.

Getting back to the real meaning of Songkran, it is a time to go to the temple to pray and give food to the monks. It is also a time to cleanse the Buddha images at their household shrines and at the monasteries with water and a pleasant fragrance.

This is also a traditional time to make resolutions to do good deeds and refrain from evil and even a time to clean the house. Out with the old and in with the new.

Sadly, it is also the worst time of year for road accidents and deaths on the highway. Wet roads, alcohol, and helmetless motorcycle drivers are a deadly combination. Despite the government’s best efforts, the number of revelers who don’t get to the New Year is way too high each year. The annual Songkran don’t drink and drive campaign usually falls on deaf ears.

Many expats who live in Thailand leave the country or head north to quieter Songkran celebrations and leave the tourist areas to the tourists. Personally, I schedule my trips so that I am nowhere near Thailand during New Years.

As are most other things in Thailand, it is “up to you” whether you want to experience Songkran. I would recommend seeing it at least once and then you can determine for yourself if you want to go back to do it again.

If you go, be careful or the slick roads and drunk drivers, and make sure you bring plenty of zip-lock bags to keep your valuables dry.

Weather and Weather Forecast

Chiang Mai
few clouds
40.3 ° C
42.6 °
38 °
42 %
4.1kmh
20 %
Mon
42 °
Tue
44 °
Wed
43 °
Thu
43 °
Fri
42 °

+ Information about Chiang Mai and Thailand

Below you can see some extra information and travel tips, you are welcome to leave comments if you have travel ideas you want to share.

Biggest City Thailand

Facts about Thailand, Biggest city What are the name of the biggest city Thailand, and how big are city by population. Easy overview of the informations in the sortable table below. Please note that the informations comes from various sources,if you are using the informations professional you should get confirmation that the figures are actual. Last update august 2017 About Thailand Thailand is one of the most beautiful and culturally diverse areas in Southeast Asia. Because it was never colonized, it retains much of...

Thailand Holidays

Thailand Holidays See the calendars for national Thailand holidays year by year. Find and just click on the year you for which you need more information about Thailand holidays, and the calendar for the year will open. When is the non working days for the year. Public / national days, see the calendar for the country here.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.