The Venice of the East – Bangkok’s Canals

Going to Bangkok for your holidays? Here are 10 must see Bangkok attractions and must do activities in the city of of angels.

Back in the 19^th century Bangkok was world renowned for its thousands of waterways that criss-crossed the city, so much so that it earned it self the title of the ‘Venice of the East.’ People travelled all over the city using these canals, using them for trade and leisure. Bangkok was built on low-lying, swampy ground, making it perfect for carving out canals and filling them up with water. Boats were the primary mode of transport for he people living in Bangkok throughout the 19^th century, but times change.

The glory days of Bangkok’s canals have ben and gone, and many of these canals have been filled in over the years to provide more space for roads. Now Bangkok is more well-known for the tuk-tuks which zip to and fro all over the city. Even so, there is still a huge network of small and big waterways that can be explored by adventurous visitors wanting to see a different side to the city. Thousands of commuters still use the khlongs, Thai for canals, to get to and from work every day, so what’s stopping you?

Khlong Saen Saeb

Once you’re in Bangkok, it can be a pretty disorientating place, so it might be worth taking some sort of land based transport to begin your journey. Tell the driver to take you to Khlong Saen Saeb, which is one of the largest canals in Bangkok, and it cuts right through the centre of the city. From here you can begin you journey through Bangkok’s khlongs. Khlong Saen Saeb is serviced by a speedy public motorboat which makes regular stops along 18km of the canal, so you can hop on and off to take in the sights or do a spot of shopping.

Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem

Travel eastbound to one stop before the end of the line, the stop is called Bo Bae, and get off to continue your journey along Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem. This is where the two canals intersect, so you won’t have to walk far, but be warned that there are no public boat services here, so you will have to talk to the local boatmen here to negotiate a price on transport. Even if you can’t get a boat to take you down the canal, the 5km walk is easy enough on foot, and there is a lot to see and do along the way. Grab some lunch in Little India or Chinatown, or explore the Grad Palace to step back in history. To carry on your Bangkok canal trip, get yourself to the spot where the Chao Phraya River meets Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, and you will see plenty of public riverboats which will transport you onwards to Thonburi.

Thonburi

Thonburi was the first place to be settled in Bangkok, and it is here that you will find Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. Take a look around, and if you have time try and stay until sunset, when it is best to take photos of the temple. Another attraction to visit here is the Royal Barges National Museum, which houses a fleet of teak boats. These intricately designed boats are only used for ceremonial processions, and really show off the craftsmanship of Bangkok’s boat makers. There is plenty more to see in the museum, and the exhibits explain a lot about the history of Bangkok’s khlongs.

Getting to the City

There are plenty of different options for getting into Bangkok, whether it’s by air, sea, or land. The majority of visitors to the Venice of the East use air travel, especially if they are travelling from a different country. If you are already in Thailand or a bordering country, you could use a bus service, but be prepared for a long ride into the city. Taking a car is probably the worst option for land travel, but using Thailand’s rail network is a much better option. The largest and best connected train station is Hualamphong Train Station, so get a ticket to here if a train ride takes your fancy. You can even arrive in Bangkok by boat, as cruises regularly stop off at Laem Chabang Port, which is about 90 minutes’ drive south east of Bangkok. A closer port is Khlong Toei Port, but it only has the facilities to handle smaller ships and boats. However you decide to arrive in the Venice of the East, once you are here use the waterways to experience Bangkok as it used to be!