Festivals And Holidays In Bangkok

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
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In recent months that Thai capital, Bangkok, has resembled more of a warzone than the peaceful centre of tourism that has made it one of the most popular places to visit in the world. The Foreign Office, accordingly, had issued a message warning people against travelling to Bangkok, but since the end of the Red Shirt protest that warning has been relaxed.

Accordingly, it won''t be too long before the Thai tourist trade picks up. If you fancy visiting Thailand, and particularly Bangkok, here are a few events that you should look out for.

One of the biggest events in Bangkok is the Bangkok Songkran Festival, or as it''s known in the West: Thai New Year. The festival takes place between the 13th and 15th of April and is perhaps best known for its massive water fight in the Bang Lamphu part of the city.

Around a month after the Thai New Year is the Ploughing Ceremony. The Ploughing Ceremony is a traditional festival that marks the beginning of the rice planting season. After a long pause it was reintroduced by the current king in 1960 and is now a firm fixture in the Thai calendar.

In August the Thais ...
... celebrate the birthday of the Queen. As you would expect the majority of celebrations take place in the region around the Grand Palace although there are celebrations across the city.

Two major events take place in December. The first is the Trooping of the Colour, an event that is broadly similar to the one celebrated in the UK. The centre piece of the event is a marshal parade which is definitely worth a look.

The King of Thailand is currently the longest reigning monarch in the world and his birthday is celebrated on the 5th December. It is a major event as King Bhumibol Aduladej is widely loved, all across the country people decorate their houses and hold parties.

Despite its recent troubles Thailand remains a brilliant place to visit, and as the atmosphere becomes more peaceful the tourist trade will pick up sharply. With a great number of cheap flights to Bangkok around, a holiday in Thailand will cost less than you think and will be an experience you''ll never forget. Bonny Kominek is a freelance writer with a love of the Asian continent. They recommend DialAFlight for a flights to Bangkok, a great place to start your Eastern travel adventure.