Khao San Road packed as Thai and foreign revellers celebrate
Tens of thousands of Thais and foreign tourists engaged in water splashing fun at the Songkran activity on Khao San Road in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district on Monday (April 15), the last day of Thailand’s traditional new year celebrations.
The road famous with foreign backpackers was turned into a one-way walking street from noon to midnight, allowing those taking part in the Songkran festivities to enter near Chana Songkhram police station on Chakrabongse Road and exit via Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
More than 90,000 people walked past the four checkpoints leading to Khao San Road’s entrance, where police and local officials checked participants to ensure that no laws were broken, Kosol Singhanat, Phra Nakhon district chief, said on Monday.
The checkpoints were located at the Coin Museum, Bang Lamphu Intersection, Wat Bowonniwet, and Khok Wua Intersection.
Police said the checkpoint at Khok Wua saw the most visitors, with hundreds of people eagerly waiting in line to get through the process.
Officials had increased security monitoring after a purse-slashing thief was apprehended on Sunday (April 14).
With the help of AI-enhanced security cameras and surveillance drones, Songkran at Khao San Road this year has seen fewer crimes than in previous years, the police said.
