Songkran in Chiang Mai?

[wee_fella]

Im planning a trip to LOS around April, and would really like to see Songkran. I will be spending a week or so in Pattaya, but want to get up to Chiang Mai as well as I have heard great things about the place from everyone I know who has been there. From what Ive read on this forum is that Songkran goes much longer in Pattaya and is much rowdier due to the large concentration of uncouth farang, so after a day or two it is just a big pain in the arse.

 

What is Songkran like in CM? How long does it generally go for?

 

Thanks,

Wee Fella.

[cairns8]

Im planning a trip to LOS around April, and would really like to see Songkran. I will be spending a week or so in Pattaya, but want to get up to Chiang Mai as well as I have heard great things about the place from everyone I know who has been there. From what Ive read on this forum is that Songkran goes much longer in Pattaya and is much rowdier due to the large concentration of uncouth farang, so after a day or two it is just a big pain in the arse.

 

What is Songkran like in CM? How long does it generally go for?

 

Thanks,

Wee Fella.

I love chiang mai,and am heading back in a few weeks.I spent last songkran in chiang mai,and it was hell,couldn't go anywhere without escaping water pistols.Songkran is fun for about two days but a week is too long.We left at the end of songkran and came back to pattaya,where it was still going for another week,and pattaya was even worse,this year i think i will just get supplies and stay in condo for the week.The problem with songkran is it is supposed to finish at 6pm,but it continues on all night,if you want to go out for dinner or to a bar you will get drenched, its not very comfortable sitting in an air conditioned bar with wet clothes

[Daveo]

In the main town is as crazy as Pattaya, but great fun.

[upa1000]

It does go off for at least 5 days in Chiang Mai. The most popular areas are around the Old City moat (the entire moat), off Huay Kaew Road, and along the Ping River. Generally things die off around 7pm and you don't have to worry too much about getting wet. My recommendation would be to stay at a hotel east of the Ping river. Then you could get to the madness and leave on your own terms. If you stay in the Old City, you're pretty much destined to get soaked all five days or hole up in your room.

[bergenser1]

Spent songkran in chiang mai two years ago.

Had a great time there during songkran, spent most of the days at the number1 bar in soi 1.

Most of the streets i walked most thais would only splash a little bit of water on you so it was possible to stay somewhat dry.

Area around the moat is a different story.

[ringadingding]

Songkran in Chiang Mai is great. Only problem is that people take out water from the canal to throw on others which can be a bit of an issue. On last day they have a big carnival around canal and is a great scene.

 

I personally prefer to avoid songkran.

[Sam Hill]

 

 

 

[fatboy21]

Im planning a trip to LOS around April, and would really like to see Songkran. I will be spending a week or so in Pattaya, but want to get up to Chiang Mai as well as I have heard great things about the place from everyone I know who has been there. From what Ive read on this forum is that Songkran goes much longer in Pattaya and is much rowdier due to the large concentration of uncouth farang, so after a day or two it is just a big pain in the arse.

 

What is Songkran like in CM? How long does it generally go for?

 

Thanks,

Wee Fella.

 

You either love it or hate it. I used to enjoy it but now I am afraid that I am in the 'hate' brigade and avoid Thailand at this period. As others have said, in the past you knew that you would be drenched in the daytime so u could stay in your hotel and go out in the evening. Sadly over the past few years stupid farangs continue throwing buckets of water well into the night to anyone who comes within reach. As the primary transport vehicle is the tuk tuk, you will get soaked and spend the evening pretty miserable! It's not for me I'm afraid but maybe I am just getting old !!!!

[mangkut]

i agree on you even hate it or love it... cause the first times i loved it and i thought it was great but just after couple of years the downer for me was the ice water. even the hot sun is shining the ice water just kills the whole mood.

[FROST MEDIC999]

Bloody Hate it

 

Avoid Thailand when it's on now pain in the Bloody Arse

[bigbseeker]

I am planning to experience Songkran in Pattaya next year, but after reading all the BM's postings about Songkran in Pattaya. I decided to head for Chiang Mai next year instead, I don't want to ruin my one week of getaway in Thailand getting wet everyday.

[murrinman]

if your going to do the mai make sure youibook well in advance the place is chokers and its goes and goes and goes on for ages insane time

[bigbseeker]

if your going to do the mai make sure youibook well in advance the place is chokers and its goes and goes and goes on for ages insane time

 

sorry I didn't catch that. book what in advance?

[999Baht]

I've got a few friends from CM in Australia and they say that CM is the place to be during songkran.

They absolutely love it there during this time.

[murrinman]

hotels flights the whole lot can get get quite costly around that time

[themosch]

will be in CM as well for the songkran period of 2012.

 

Hard to find which the exact dates are of the 5 day period of songkran . Anyone can help ?

[bigbseeker]

will be in CM as well for the songkran period of 2012.

 

Hard to find which the exact dates are of the 5 day period of songkran . Anyone can help ?

 

Hi, I was told Songkran in CM starts on 13th & ends on 15th April. Shorter days than in Pattaya which ends on 19th April every years. The pricing of the hotels in CM during Songkran period is increasing slowly....just booked my hotel from agoda.

[murrinman]

pretty sure it goes on the full moon iknow one thing it goes for a least a week if not more in c mai

[themosch]

I think i have found the answer on my previous post:

 

Songkran today is still the most important of all the Thai festivals and holidays. It marks the beginning of a new astrological year and is much in keeping with the old lunar calendar of Siam. It is officially celebrated this year on April 12, but the festival actually takes place over a period of four days. It includes the 'Troot Festival' discussed above as well as all the merit-making at Buddhist temples and the ultimate Songkran, or The Pouring of Water ritual, by which we have come to identify Songkran with today. Each year, the four-day celebration of Songkran consists of many activities, and these are briefly explained below.

April 12 is Wan Sungkharn Lohng. This is a day for house cleaning and general preparation for the New Year. In the evening it is traditional for Thais to dress up as a signal of the coming new year.

In Chiangmai, the Songkran procession is held on this day. This is a parade through Chiangmai comprised of Buddha images and attendants on floats, which are accompanied by minstrels and the town's people. The procession begins at Nawarat Bridge on the Mae Ping River and moves the Thapae Gate before approaching its final destination of Wat Prasingh. April 13 is Wan Nao. On this day people prepare cooked meals and preserved food for the Buddhist merit-making that takes place on the following day.

Activities at Wat Prasingh continue on this day and in the evening local residents go to the banks of the Mae Ping River and gather sand to be deposited in piles topped by flowers in the temples. This practice is the ancient "raising the temple grounds" ritual which was necessary in the old days because then Thai New Year was held at the end of the rainy season in the first month of the old Thai Lunar Calendar. April 14 is Wan Payawan. On this day a grand new year begins with early morning merit-making at the temples. Preserved and cooked foods, fresh fruit, monks' robes and other offerings are made at the temples. In the home, people do the final cleaning of Buddha images using scented water.

Traditionally this is the day that the pouring of water begins. It was once the practice to pour gently, but the fun-loving Thais have transposed this into a relative water free-for-all. April 15 is Wan Parg-bpee. On this day homage is paid to ancestors, elders and other persons deserving respect because of age of position. This is called 'Rohd Nam Songkran', meaning 'The Pouring of Songkran Water', and the water is sprinkled on the elder persons while uttering wishes of good luck and a happy future.

In Chiangmai, this is the final day of the celebration and the day on which people have built up to a crescendo of water throwing. It is the day when all family and religious obligations have been completed and the people are totally dedicated to "Sanook...Sanook."

[Lucius_Nero]

the downer for me was the ice water. even the hot sun is shining the ice water just kills the whole mood.

 

I still love it and i will be in Thailand for it this year again, but i can only agree that the ice water is a killer ! i try to avoid place where they are people selling it.

[bigbseeker]

I still love it and i will be in Thailand for it this year again, but i can only agree that the ice water is a killer ! i try to avoid place where they are people selling it.

 

So which part of Thailand will you be? Never try Songkran before, I don't mind getting wet, but not ice cold wet.

[Lucius_Nero]

So which part of Thailand will you be? Never try Songkran before, I don't mind getting wet, but not ice cold wet.

 

By place i was mean street or "part of street".

I have do it 2 time before:

 

- First in Koh Samui in 2010, good point is they was no ice water there (at least i havent see any) and they was no so many farang compared to the number of thai playing it everywhere.

Bad point (for me) was its last only one short day there.

 

- Second time was this year in Patong, good point is that lasted 2 days and half, but its was looking more "commercial" than Koh Samui as almost half the people there was farang and lots of people trying to sell you a water gun no mater you already have one in hand, their water gun is better....

To avoid ice water there you just need to avoid the main entertaiment avenue (Bangla road) you dont need to get in it to find hundred of people to play with and water is free while in Bangla you will find people to sell it !!

 

This year i will try it in Patt.

Edited December 13, 2011 by Lucius_Nero

[whitelotuslane]

I think it's the greatest party on Earth, and I think Chiang Mai is the best place for it for many reasons. It does go on for several days, expect April 12-15 to be major party days. A good thing is that it ends not long after sun-down, so you get to have pretty normal evenings. (Except for the occastional drunk Farang who didn't get the memo)

 

Pattaya, I'm sorry to say, is not a very good place for Songkran. Indeed due to tourists losing any and all common sense, and due to it happening at different dates from the rest of Thailand, but not everyone getting THAT memo.

 

So visit Chiang Mai. The full 4 days may be too much, but you should definitely do 2 days.

[bigbseeker]

I think it's the greatest party on Earth, and I think Chiang Mai is the best place for it for many reasons. It does go on for several days, expect April 12-15 to be major party days. A good thing is that it ends not long after sun-down, so you get to have pretty normal evenings. (Except for the occastional drunk Farang who didn't get the memo)

 

Pattaya, I'm sorry to say, is not a very good place for Songkran. Indeed due to tourists losing any and all common sense, and due to it happening at different dates from the rest of Thailand, but not everyone getting THAT memo.

 

So visit Chiang Mai. The full 4 days may be too much, but you should definitely do 2 days.

 

Look like I'm going to the right place for my 1st Songkran, will be there for a week starting 14th April...thanks for the advise.