Throughout history rivers have been the points at which major civilizations flourished. This is also true of the Chao Phraya River; from time immemorial the people of Thailand have built settlements along this river. The conjunction of four tributaries (Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan) from the north, the Chao Phraya River extends 370 kilometres southwards.
Travelling down the river, escaping from the bustle of the city of Bangkok one can experience the tranquillity and the natural beauty of the place. Taking a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River is like literarily taking a trip down the history of Thailand. From modern commercial buildings to colonial architecture, Christian Churches, to pre-colonial architecture and ancient Buddhist Temples, the tourist can witness the many transformations that Thailand has undergone to become what it is today.
Taking a boat ride down the river is a great way to see the many attractions that Thailand has to offer along the Chao Phraya River. One can start the tour at Sathorn near the Taskin Bridge. One can see the Holy Rosary Church at Chinatown built by the Portuguese in 1786. The first Thai commercial bank, the Siam Commercial Bank designed by Italian architect Annibale Rigotti and built in 1906 can also be seen from this river.
One can also witness the magnificent architecture from the ancient Ayutthaya days. The renowned Temple of Dawn, Arun Wat, towers along the skyline built in the mid 17th century by King Narai. There is also the Wat Rakhang, this temple also dates back to the Ayutthaya days, and a popular destination among Thais for auspicious ceremonies, the temple gets its name from an ancient bell that was unearthed during its construction.
There are many more sites to see along the Chao Phraya River, a day would not be enough to see all of it, Bangkok serviced apartments are available at the Somerset Sukhumvit Thonglor where you can find an authentic Bangkok serviced residence.
About the Author:
Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing services and specializes in hotel Internet marketing industry. (http://www.emarketingeye.com/ )
