Procession of the Royal Barges

Photo by flickr user Steve Parker

Bangkok’s procession of the Royal Barges sets out in all its glorious, graceful golden splendour only on occasions of state (see website link for details). Sitting low in the water these intricately carved wooden craft look something like a long, narrow, dainty Viking longboat, their bows raised and curved up in the shape of swan’s heads, dragons or deities. Some of the major barges have pagoda like coverings and some are uncovered. 52 craft are part of the procession, which leaves from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place along the Chao Phraya River, ending at Wat Arun. The barges are added to by new kings, but the last king only added one, which was built in 1994 and many are now quite old, early European visitors to Thailand reported seeing processions of more than 200 boats - as it is it takes more than 2,000 oarsmen to row the barges, all kept in time by beating drums.

Tourism Authority of Thailand information on when processions will take pla.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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