subject: Water Festival in Chiang Mai: What To Do at Songkran [print this page] Water Festival in Chiang Mai: What To Do at Songkran
April is coming around the corner. Are you looking to do something really fun and special this year? Consider coming to Thailand during Songkran week. If you haven't done so before, you'll be in for a fantastic Thailand holiday. Bring the kids too, they're guaranteed to love this.
What? Songkran is the Thai New Year festival that takes place during 13 15 April every year. It spans some of the hottest days in the year and, as such, Thai people have developed a custom to alleviate this heat by splashing water on each other. Yes, really! It's your chance to be a kid again, sans consequences! Well, apart from other people also dumping several buckets on you, of course, but that's part of the hilarity. There are several aspects to the festival, but come on, throwing water at people. Possibly the only place and time you can do this outside of at the beach and swimming pools (and those are simply not the same). Ride on the back of a pickup, gather round at canals and rivers, grab a water pistol and shoot away! Better yet, grab a hose. Perfect occasion for family bonding if ever there was one.
Where? There are many spots you can visit in Thailand to experience SongkranBangkok, Hat Yai, Pattayabut to experience it to the fullest, the hot spot is Chiang Mai. To start with, Songkran in Chiang Mai starts early; depending on the day it falls on, if there's a weekend preceding Songkran proper, you can be sure things will get going well before the "official" date. In 2011, for instance, 8 April is Friday, so 8 15 April is pretty much all Songkran, all the time. Almost nowhere else in Thailand celebrates the occasion with such length and enthusiasm, and certainly no one else starts it so early.
How? The entire city of Chiang Mai is fair game for the water-throwing during this holiday festival, but the most concentrated spot is around the Old City, where the canals (which are cleaned specially for the occasion, so you don't have to worry too much about dirty waters) provide a convenient source of water. Nearly everyone will be there and vendors will show up on the sidewalks to sell colorful water pistols, buckets, and protective covers for your cellphones.
Where to stay during Songkran? With regards to accommodation, you are going to want to stay away from the busy areas: that means no hotels or guesthouses around the Old City or the Night Bazaar unless you are prepared to be soaked 24/7 while entering and leaving your accommodation, and that's probably not very optimal for most people. Consider hotels that you thought were a little "out of the way." Along the Chang Klan Road past the junction where the Night Bazaar begins is the best, since the water-throwing doesn't happen much around there. On the other hand, you will still be within walking distance of the Night Bazaar and the Old City, as well as restaurants, banks and pharmacies: the best of both worldsconvenient without being right in the middle of the action. It's a busy time, though, so be sure to book your flights and rooms ahead of time for cheapest rates and best bargains.
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