#MyKrungthep Bangkok by boat - Chao Phraya Express and Khlong Boats

See the locations of piers on #MyKrungthep Chao Phraya Express and Khlong Boat Google Map. Change to Skytrain at Central Pier Sathorn. And discover all attractions to reach by boat with #MyKrungthep: Your Guide to the Treasures of Bangkok

Chao Phraya Express Boats

Picture by marhas
A boat of the orange line (orange flag) arrives at Tha Thien Pier - opposite to Wat Arun


Picture by marhas
Getting out and in


Picture by marhas
Quite a lot of people already inside. But you will find some room somehow.


The River Express Boats, going up and down Chao Phraya River, are a great way of getting around in Bangkok. You are often quicker than going by taxi. The boats start at 5.50 in the morning and run until 7 pm. The Orange Line is running every day, the other lines do so from Monday to Friday. Look at the official website of Chao Phraya Express Boats with timetable and also connections to Bus- and Skytrain-Lines. Here you can see some piers and attractions nearby. Here you can see the lines and their connections with Skytrain, Metro and Railways on Chao Phraya Express Google Map.


How to get the right boat
First it seems to be a little bit difficult to get the right boat. You have to learn: There are ferries, that just cross the river. Then there are different River Lines: The ones without a flag stop at every pier, its the local line. The express boats with yellow, red/orange, blue and green-yellow flags do not serve all the piers. Here you see, which piers they serve Which colour stopps where. At the piers there are two platforms: if you want to go to the left side of the Chao Phraya, you go to the left platform, to the other side you go to the right platform. If you miss the correct plattform, the boat doesn't stop. And if you see a pier with only one platform, it's the one for just crossing the river.

There is also a service for tourists: The "Chao Phraya Tourist Boat", more comfortable boats that serve only the piers with tourists points of interest. And of course the tickets cost more.


Boats in the Khlongs and Ferry Services

But there are more bangkok waterways: On both sides of Chao Phraya River you find many Khlongs.

Boat service along the klongs:

Bang Rak Yai and Nonthaburi
From Tha Chang pier you can get a boat on Klong Bangkok Noi - Klong Bangkok Yai to Bang Yai, a district in Nonthaburi. The boat leaves every half hour from 6.30 a.m.-11-00 p.m. You need 50 minutes to Bang Yai. This scenic route passes by Thai-style houses, waterside temples, the Royal Barge Museum and Khu Wiang Floating Market, which operates only in the early morning between 4.00 am and 7.00 am.
In Bang Rak Yai you go to Wat Sao Tong Hin Pier and take a taxi boat to Nonthaburi (4 a.m. to 8 p.m.). You move on Klong Om and need 15 to 20 minutes.
From the Phibul Songkhram 2 Pier in Nonthaburi to Klong Om: Through some of Nonthaburi's famous durian plantations and by some classic Thai-style houses. Boats leave every 15 minutes.

Thonburi
From Tha Saphan Phut Pier at the Memorial Bridge in Chinatown boats leave every 15 minutes to Klong Bang Waek in Thonburi (from 6 am to 9.30 pm).
Then there are new boat routes along Klong Phasi Charoen, connecting Thon Buri to Tha Chang Pier on Chao Phraya River and to Bang Wa MRT and BTS stations: Discover Thonburi on Public Boat routes.

Klong Mon
From the Si Phraya pier boats to Klong Mon leave every 30 minutes between 6.30 am and 6.00. You pass temples, orchards and orchid farms.

Ko Kret
From Pak Kret you can travel to Ko Kret, a Small island in the Chao Phraya River. A ferry leaves Wat Sanam Nua, some steps from Pak Kret Pier, from 6.00 a-m.-9.00 p.m. On the island you find a pottery village and some Wats.

Klong Saen Saeb
See the locations on Khlong Saen Saeb Express Boat Google Map
Change from Saphan Hua Chang Pier to Rachathewi Skytrain Station; Change from Asoke Pier to Petchaburi Metro Station.
Why get stuck in the heavy traffic on Bangkok streets? A more fast way to get to many attractions is the water Taxi: longtail boats on Klong Saen Saeb. If you live in a Hotel or Guesthouse near Khao San Road its quite near: The Golden Mount line runs from Phanfa Bridge to Pratunam Pier. Here you can change to Nida Line. Useful Piers: Tha Phanfa (Banglamphoo), Tha Saphan Hua Chang (near Jim Thompson's House and MBK shopping), Tha Pratunam (off Ratchprarop road near the World Trade Center), Tha Asok (off Asok road, Sukhumvit Soi 21, and off Soi Ekkamai, off Sukhumvit road.
On Klong Saen Saeb you can travel as far as to Min Buri. You change from Nida Line at Wat Sri Bunruang. From Wat Sru Bunruang there is now a free boat service to Minburi Market. On Weekdays the boats run every 15 minutes from 6 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 7.30 pm. During the weekend the boats run every half hour. There are 14 piers along the route. The boat stops, if you give a signal.
More on Canal Boats
Read also: Fast and malodorous: Bangkok's "khlong" boat network

Here you see Maps and stories about some Khlongs:

Khlong Bangkok Yai and Google Map of Klong Bangkok Yai

Khlong Bang Khun Tian and Google Map of Klong Bang Khun Tian

Khlong Phra Khanong / Khlong Prawet Burirom and Google Map of Khlong Phra Khanong and Khlong Prawet Burirom

Here you see a Map of Klongs and attractions.


Rent a boat

You like to discover the Khlongs on your own? Then you can rent a boat (with captain of course). You find it at piers as Tha Chang, Tha Saphan Phut, Tha River City, Tha Rachini, Tha Oriental, Central Pier, in front of Wat Arun or at Nonthaburi Pier. At central pier I have been offered one hour for 1200 Baht, at Tha Chang Pier the hour costed 1000 Baht.


More informations about boat trips in the klongs: Cruise on Klongs and Wisarut Bholsithi writes about the ferry system



And now look at this video about Chao Phraya River Express and Klong Saen Saep Water Taxi:

And here, what you see from Chao Phraya River: Video

And a Klong Tour: Video

Water Taxi from Wat Saket to Pratunam Pier: Video

Touring the Black Waters - Greater Bangkok by boat: video




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#MyKrungthep: Your Guide to Bangkok


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#MyKrungthep Treasures along the khlong: Bang Khun Thian คลอง บางขุนเทียน

Also called Khlong Sanam Chai (คลอง สนามชัย)

See Khlong Bangkok Noi and it's treasures on a Khlong Bang Khun Thian Google Map by #Mykrungthep

If you would like to see an old Thai-style wooden library, if you would like to take part in the unique Chak Phra Festival or if you like to move in the foodsteps of James Bond, you are in the right place along this khlong. Let's start at Wat Paknam, where Khlong Bang Khun Thian leaves Khlong Bangkok Yai. Soon you arrive at Wat Khun Chan (วัดขุนจันทร์)


Pictures by Kitwora






Picture by Dragowen


Wat Absornsawan (วัดอัปสรสวรรค). It is unique for its 28 Buddha statues (Prathans) in the Mara Wichai posture presiding over a Chinese-influenced ubosot (main chapel). Unique is also its Thai-style wooden library, built during the reign of King Rama IV. The doors and windows are decorated with gold lacquer paintings of apsaras and flowers, exterior walls laced with gold and silver mirrors. The library is packed with 13 gilded book cabinets.



Picture by BeBe




Picture by BeBe




Picture by BeBe


Wat Nang Chi (วัดนางชี). There is no record, when exactly this temple has been founded. Burt it wasre-established in the period of King Rama III, he named it Wat Nangchee Shotikaram. At the Ubosot you find the statue of a deity standing on a lion. Then you find Phra Boromasaririkathat (a relic of Buddha) and relics of his disciples. Annually these relics are celebrated in the Chak Phra (ประเพณีชักพระ, pulling of Buddha images) festival, that is held on the second day of the waning moon in the 12th lunar month. This is the only Chak Phra event held in Bangkok. The Buddha images are put on boats and paddled from Wat Nang Chi via Khlong Bangkok Yai and Khlong Bangkok Noi to Wat Kai Tia (วัดไก่เตี้ย). Then the procession returns along Khlong Bangkok Noi to Chao Phraya River, afterwards it turns into Khlong Bangkok Yai, goes down Khlong Bang Khun Tian and ends at Wat Nang Chi. Boat racing, flower parades on boats and pleng rue, traditional singers leading the boat containing the Buddha's relics, are also part of the festival. Read a blog in Thai about the procession here and see a picture of the procession:



Picture by Webboard, where you can see more of this day.

Wat Nang Chi was also a location in the James-Bond-Film "The man with the golden gun", as well as Wat Nang Nong (see the locations).

See also pictures by Udo Radlhammer


Wat Nak Prok (วัดนาคปรก) is a Theravada temple and was built in 1748. A hundred years later the temple was restored by Phra Boriboonthanakorn (Pook Tan), a wealthy Chinese merchant, who married a Thai women. In the Ubosot was a Chinese style mural. Later he built a repository of Buddha images, the Vihara. Inside there was a beautiful Thai style mural telling the story of the Buddha ("Return from Tavatimsa heaven" and "Victory over Mara or demon"). He also invited a Buddha statue from Sukhothai province to be enshrined here. It was cast from bronze in Mara Vichai style (Victory over demon style). Over the head of the Buddha there is a great serpent with seven heads. It gave the temple the name: In Thai "nak" means the great serpent and "Prok" means to cover.





Wat Mai Yai Nui (วัดใหม่ยายนุ้ย)





Both pictures by www.thaimtb.com


Wat Nang Ratcha Worawiharn (วัดหนังราชวรวิหาร) is an ancient monastery built during the Ayutthaya period. It was later abandoned. Somdet Phrasrisulalai, mother of King Rama III (1824-1851), renovated the temple with the exception of a few objects such as the principal Buddha image in the Ubosot (Ordination Hall), the Buddha image in the Wiharn and the bell. The Ubosot, constructed with bricks and lime cement, has a three-tiered roof. Inside the building there are paintings on the upper wall of Falling Flowers. The principal Buddha image was made in the style of Sukhothai art in the Subduing Mara (Satan) Mudra or pose. In addition, the image of the revered monk Luang Pu Thao is kept here.



The Chedi






All three pictures by Botuno8. See more


Wat Nangnong Worawiharn (วัดนางนองวรวิหาร). This temple is said to have been built in the Ayutthaya period during the reign of King Srisanpetch VIII. The Ubosot and the Chedi date from the reign of King Rama III. The exterior door panels are inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the interiors painted with gilded lacquer. Murals depict stories and characters from Chinese literature and pictures of the Chinese holy men Hok, Lok and Siew. In the Wihan the pediments are decorated with stucco dragons.



Picture by Mattana




Picture by Mattana




Picture by jazzsk117
See more pictures by kai1981


Wat Ratcha Orosaram (วัดราชโอรสาราม ราชวรวิหาร ). Built in the Ayutthaya-period (with the name Wat Chom Thong), later King Rama II gave the temple the name Wat Ratcha Orot (temple of the son of the King). The temple has been renovated in the style of Silpa Phra Ratcha Niyom (ศิลปะพระราชนิยม), a mix of Chinese and Thai elements. The roof ot the Ubosot is covered in green and orange, the place below the gable is decorated with Chinese stucco. The Phra Rabieng, the gallery around the Viharn, has round doors (Chinese moon) to the court and theare are 32 Chedis around the Viharn. The doors of the Viharn are decorated in gilden laquer. Inside is a big Reclining Buddha. This temple is unique, because it was the first temple, that had been built without Chofa (hornlike final on the roof ridge), Bai Raka (toothlike ridge on the sloping edges of a gable) and Hang Hong (small finials jutting out from the two corners of the gable). Read more here and also there.



From the Khlong, picture by Hdamm




Look through the gate, picture by Mattana




Under the gable of the Ubosot. Picture by Hdamm




The court with the 32 Chedis in front of the Viharn, picture by Hdamm




Picture by Mattana




The gate, picture by Mattana.




The Reclining Buddha, picture by Hdamm




Picture by Taiger808

See more pictures of the Ubosot.


Wat Bang Phratoon Nok (วัดบางประทุนนอก):





Wat Sai (วัดไทร): This Mahanikai temple was built in the Ayutthaya period. Crafted red sandstone Buddha images in Meditation and Lord Buddha postures, a decorated Buddha image in the Buddha image hall and one crafted red sandstone block located at the east of the temple as a boundary marker documentate it. and restored during the reigns of King Rama IV and King Rama V.
The wooden house stands on pillars. In one of the rooms you discover a Chinese-style`wooden bed with carved flower motifs patterned with glass, and a painting of a Chinese lady. On the door panels are pictures of the guardian deity, and on the outside wall is a gilded lacquer painting of the traditional kanok or flame-like motif.
A tower stands on a lotus-shaped base, and the finial of the bell is in the form of a lotus bud. At the edge of the Khlong you find a wooden pavilion, covered by gold leaf. It was believed to be a resting place for the Tiger King (Sanphet VIII) during his boat trips. Each window frame of the palace is built with traditional Thai architecture called Taan Sigha. The elevated window frames give an illusion that they are floating on the wall. The pavilion’s staircase is made of bricks. Each corner of its Thai-style roof is decorated with a fresco of a lion. The temple was restored during the reign of Rama IV, and again during the reign of Rama V by Chinese artisans.
Read more about the wooden treasures in Bangkok. Not longer a reason to came here is the Wat Sai Floating Market, it has delevopped into some boats selling souvenirs to tourists.



Picture by Wikimapia.org




Picture by Kimsagus



Picture by Kimsagus



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