Experience Songkran Water Festival In Thailand

Planning a trip to Thailand? Make more of your trip and time it around the annual water festival, Songkran, in April 2017, for three days of water fuelled fun.

Heading to the epicenter of the festival, Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, you’ll be well equipped if you’ve brought a raincoat and a pair of wellies, although it’s definitely more fun and practical in your holiday attire of shorts and T-shirt. You’ll be drying off quick in April anyway, as temperatures in Thailand around this time can reach over 100 degrees Farenheit.

Thai’s use whatever they can to soak passers-by!

The festival has morphed from what was once a spiritual event to simply a few day of soaking others that cross your path. Thai’s are often seen with water pistols, water balloons, buckets, or whatever else they can use to soak any unsuspecting passers-by!

It’s not just water, water everywhere though. Huge floats with giant Buddhas atop parade through the streets, as well as elaborately painted elephants which roam about the city. If all this doesn’t overload you there’s the Miss Songkran beauty contest in the Wisutkasat district to distract you further.

Elaborately painted elephants roam the city.

Marking the start of the Thai New Year, Songkran began in Chiang Mai in 1940 and takes place around the seven centuries old moat, in the Old City district. It originally began with Buddhists dousing statues in scented water and building sandcastle pagodas outside temples and wats. You can still see this tradition today, as well as monks fasting and praying, which they believe focuses positive energy and spirituality towards the year ahead.

Such was the popularity of the event it is now partaken in all over the country, most notably in Bangkok and Phuket, where it is celebrated with gusto.

Starting your round the world travels in Thailand? Get started with Thaintro’s intro to Thailand.

View the itinerary here

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