Where to Celebrate Songkran in Thailand

Your Super Soaker fights in the 90s have nothing on Thailand’s Songkran Festival, the annual purification ritual. The holiday comes from the Buddhist tradition of pouring water on statues to symbolically wash away sins and bad luck, but the festival has developed a reputation for its rowdy water fight in the streets of Thailand. Here are the best places to take part in this popular tradition.

Chiang Mai

The Rose of the North hosts the most traditional festival in the country, drawing millions of visitors to the city for centuries-old Buddhist ceremonies and the country’s largest parade of Lan Na performances. Most of the splashing is done around the city’s moat. Here, you won’t see many water guns, but more the ritual pouring of water on the hands of elders. Look to Phuket of Bangkok for something livelier.

Songkran Water Festival in Chiang Mai © Hwannaa | Dreamstime

Phuket

Many tourists who come for Songkran say it’s too rowdy, living up to Phuket’s reputation for partying and hedonism. Beach Road and Bangla Road will be completely blocked off as the site of a full-on water war. For something milder, head to Dolphin Park or the Jungceylon Activity Plaza, where they host a number of cultural activities throughout the holiday.

Bangkok

The Thailand capital is a favorite for Songkran, striking a balance between Chiang Mai’s tradition and Phuket’s action. There are several water fights in the city, the most notable of which is on Khao San Road. Phra Pradaeng organizes traditional Buddhist rituals while the Wisutkasat neighborhood holds their annual “Miss Songkran” beauty pageant.

Songkran on Silom Road, Bangkok © Nuttapol Noprujikul | Dreamstime