Songkran, the Thai New Year, is celebrated as the traditional New Year's Day throughout Thailand.
Discover the places to be during the celebrations, which hotels you shouldn't miss, what are the best Bangkok restaurants, and how to get around town!
Songkran, the Thai New Year celebrated on April 13th marks the end of a twelve month cycle and the beginning of a new solar year. Traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family, friends, neighbors, and monks, Songran has now become associated with a huge water fight.
The water, signifying a cleanse of all impurities, wrongdoings, and misfortunes of the previous year, starts the new year with a clean slate. The water fight is something you will either hate or love and there is no escaping the all out wet chaos and partying unless you lock yourself up in your hotel room. You will encounter lines of people with buckets, hoses, waterguns and waterballoons waiting to soak the next passerby. Whether you're walking or in a motor vehicle you will be a target!
The best way to experience it is to grab a bucket, a bowl or a watergun and join in with the locals.
Apart from the wet and wild side of Songkran you can also take part or witness many traditional activities including beautiful parades of Buddha images on floats and performing bathing rites for monks.
Here is Dcovery's selection of some of the best hotels available in Thailand. Click through to book a room for Songkran 2014.
Chocolate Ville offers a truly unique experience in Bangkok. Nowhere else in the capital have we seen such a style of restaurant.
It is built as a village with all kind of beautiful western-style houses. You'll find small lakes, a windmill, and even a lighthouse (!). Chocolate Ville definitely offers plenty of beautiful photo opportunities - it's the perfect spot for a memorable dinner during Songkran!
Kaset-Nawamin, Bangkok Mon - Sun / 4PM - 12AM chocolateville.net 0830773738
The Traditional Thai New Year is an occasion for merriment all over the city, but most notably at Sanam Luang, near the Grand palace, where the revered Phra Phuttha Sihing image is displayed and bathed by devotees.
Khao San Road is one of the high-spots in the city to experience the water-throwing activities between locals and tourists alike.
The wildest place to celebrate is Chiang Mai. The festivities start a day early on the 12th and last up until the 15th with almost every street erupting in water fights.
Most of the celebrations are centred around a square mile of the Old Town.
While all of the island celebrates Songkran, the most active area is Patong. Driving there might take you hours as roads are gridlocked by pickup trucks carrying youngsters playing with water.
At the end of the day, things quiet down, but if you are a party person, water battle will continue past midnight in the famous Bangla Road.
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