Songkran Festival In Chiang Mai, Thailand

History of Songkran Festival

Introduced by Brahmins from India with the belief that the sun passes into Aries, Songkran water festival marks the beginning of a new year as per the astrological charts. Deriving its name from the sanskrit term, ‘sankranti’, which means ‘moving forward’, this festival of water coincides with the traditional new year of India. A festival of wishes and blessings, the sprinkling of water symbolizes the removal of bad luck and establishment of new resolutions.

Best Spot for Songkran

If you are visiting Chiang Mai, and do not know where to go for Songkran Festival celebration, then head to Thapae Gate. Filled with locals and tourists ready to splash people with water pistols and buckets of water, this place is the major entrance in the city of Chiang Mai. Moreover, as the festival is celebrated all across the region, there is no alley or town where you may find an escape to a safe place.

Songkran Festival Activities

Partake in Water Battles: Head to Thapae Gate, and partake in the massive water battle where people of every age are immersed in water fights with water pistols and foam machines.

Stroll along the moat: Enjoy a fun walk through the long stretch of road along the moat replete with numerous water battles and lots of laughter. However, be careful and prevent water getting into your eyes and mouth as the water fetched from the moat is, definitely, not the cleanest. Here, you may also enjoy Thai music and buy souvenirs, clothes, and savor the delicious food from an array of stalls.

Wet along Nimmanhaemin Road: Shortened to be called as Nimman Road, Nimmanhaemin Road is crammed with numerous shops and boutique hotels. And during Thai Songkran Festival, there are a plethora of water fights, DJs, and performers to entertain the crowd at the entrance of the Maya Mall.

Explore the small streets: Choose to stroll through the small streets of the city instead of indulging in a crowd. And, have a fun interaction with the locals while they are ready to drench you with water pistols and tubs of cold water.

Besides that, a tuk-tuk tour through the streets of Chiang Mai is also something you couldn’t miss out on. In addition to getting soaked in the streets, the Thai New Year is also about seeking blessings from the monks, witnessing the colorful procession of Buddha image along with dancers and musicians, and visiting the revered temples.