Bangkok is one of Asia\u2019s cosmopolitan cities.\u00a0 The metropolitan area is over 7.7 square kilometers, consists of about 12 million people and receives millions of tourists each year.\u00a0 Despite the city\u2019s massive pace of development, remnants of its old charms are still intact including its famed canals (klongs).<\/p>\n
Bangkok was once called the Venice of the East, and for good reason.\u00a0 From its early settlements right until the 19th century, the capital is home to numerous canals.\u00a0 These waterways were spawned by the Chao Phraya, the Tai Chin the Mae Klong Rivers and their tributaries.\u00a0 Many of the city\u2019s citizens lived on floating houses on the river and canals or on the banks of the klongs.<\/p>\n
During the mid-1800s, King Rama IV and his son, King Rama V started modernizing the city by building roads and railways.\u00a0 The unique aquatic scene slowly faded away, as many klongs were drained or filled to make way for development.<\/p>\n
Despite the city\u2019s rapid modernization, Bangkok\u2019s canals still contain glimpses of how life was like centuries ago.\u00a0 Old bridges and houses as well as paddle boats, barges and tugboats still make up the scene around the klongs.<\/p>\n
Even with the openings of the city\u2019s subway and elevated train services, people still use the canals as a quick way of moving around the city.\u00a0 The canal system extends all the way out to some of the city\u2019s outskirts and residential areas.\u00a0 People living in these areas come to work in the city center by boat as traffic jams during rush hour is still common.<\/p>\n
One of the best places to enjoy Bangkok\u2019s canal scenery is on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River.\u00a0 For a short time, this used to be the capital of Thailand during King Taksin\u2019s reign.\u00a0 However, King Rama I moved the capital across the river into what is now Bangkok.\u00a0 Thonburi has remained a seperate province until it merged with Bangkok in 1972.\u00a0 This part of Bangkok has avoided much of the modern development seen elsewhere in the city and its canals retain much of their old-world charm.<\/p>\n
Visitors to these canals should expect a quaint scene of old teak houses and newer town houses with the occasional temple mixed in.\u00a0 Different types of flora will also come to view such as palms, morning glory and floating hyacinths drifting along the klong waters.<\/p>\n
Cruising along the city\u2019s many canals and waterways is a great way to explore the city and to catch a glimpse of how life was like in the past.\u00a0 If you would like to explore this side of Bangkok then our Insight Klong Saen Saap \u2013 Bangkok<\/a> tour is for you.\u00a0 After climbing the Golden Mount for panoramic views of Ratanakosin Island, hop on a boat for a cruise along Saen Saap Canal to Jim Thompson\u2019s mansion.\u00a0 You may also try our Unseen Klong Tour by Long Tail Boat \u2013 Bangkok<\/a> tour for a journey along the canals to the countryside of Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok.\u00a0 You may also see Exotissimo\u2019s Thailand day trips<\/a> page for other interesting extensions to any of our Thailand tours<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bangkok is one of Asia\u2019s cosmopolitan cities.\u00a0 The metropolitan area is over 7.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[245],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thailand"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"tbh05_05_bangkok-river-and-klongs\"](\"https:\/\/www.exotravel.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/tbh05_05_bangkok-river-and-klongs.jpg\" "\\"tbh05_05_bangkok-river-and-klongs\\"")
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