Maritime Wood
Rice Barge the Traditional Thai Teak Wooden Boat
Sailing upriver in a Rice Barge from Bangkok to Ayutthaya the World Herritage city of Thailand
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Nowadays Chao Phraya River, is important not only as a major food source and transportation mean of the region, but also as a wondrous path along which ones could see impressive scenery of nature and people’s life with Rice Barge for 2 days and 1 night.
Rice Barge boat leaves its base at the River Hotel in Bangkok in the afternoon. In the evening, it comes for an overnight stop at Wat Kai Tia in Pathum Thani province, and will continue its way upriver to Ayutthaya in the next morning.
The Chao Phraya River originates from high mountains in the North of Thailand; those are Khao Thanon Thong Chai, Khao Phetchabun, Doi Khun Tan, and Khao Phi Pan Nam. The four streams Ping, Wang, Yom, Nam merge into one at Pak Namn Po in Nakon Sawan province.
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The great river makes its way down south pass as many as 10 provinces, including Bangkok, before it finally runs down to the Gulf of Thailand at Samut Prakan. The river is in total around 372 kilometers long.
Chao Phraya River which was named as Menam or Mae Nam, the Thai word for river in the old days, has for centuries been the stream that feeds generations of residents in the Center part of Thailand. Usually said to be the lifeblood of Thailand, the Chao Phraya River, also called the River of Kings, carry with it long history, close bonds, and colorful culture of the Thai nation. It has not only produced great fertility to the central plains for approximately 400 kilometers long and has been the major stream for transportation within the region, but also was the center of ancient civilization as the location of Ayutthaya capital.