A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the community life on the Chao Phraya River and the legacies on this river of kings, a picture of stark contrasts.

It needn't have to be an elaborate affair; you can cut the frills and expenses. Plan the river cruise yourself for a more meaningful Bangkok sightseeing tour from the Chao Phraya River.

The Chao Phraya River is the longest river in Thailand stretching 370 km from Nakhon Sawan, more than 200 km north of Bangkok. The river continues past Bangkok to flow into the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Prakan to the south.

Chao Phraya is also the highest title in ancient Thai nobility, similar to the Duke in British nobility. The title is no longer in use.

Attractions, landmarks and views in a river cruise in Bangkok

Start the river cruise from the Sathorn Pier near the Taksin Bridge; five minutes walk from the Taksin Bridge skytrain station, the terminal station for trains from the city center.

Proceed northwards passing the scenic water front hotels like the old Oriental Bangkok where famous writers like Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham left their mark.

The first recommended stopover, in a river cruise in Bangkok, is the Ratchawong Pier which leads to Yaowarat Chinatown, Soi Sampheng where Chinatown started and Soi Sun Yat Sen named after the father of the Chinese Revolution.

The Memorial Bridge, the next stop, is dedicated to King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok. His monument, near the bridge, depicts King Rama I on a throne gazing at the bustling city he founded more than 220 years ago. Pahurat, the Indian community in Bangkok is further inland.

Historical aspects of the Chao Phraya

Further upriver on the Thonburi bank, near the mouth of the Bangkok Yai Canal, the white ramparts of Fort Vichai Prasit come into view. This was an old Ayutthaya fort built in 1688. King Taksin's Palace is here in the complex that's now the Royal Thai Navy HQ.

Next to this old citadel, stands the glittering Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn, a temple built in the Ayutthaya era.

The Bangkok Yai Canal and the Bangkok Noi Canal, further upriver, used to be the original course of the Chao Phraya River.

This long meander was straightened out by a canal in 1542 to shorten sailing time to Ayutthaya. The new canal subsequently became the present course of the Chao Phraya River.

The river cruise in Bangkok will now pass the most majestic sight along the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in old Rattanakosin, the historical center, which is the origin of modern Bangkok.

The Thonburi bank, across from the Grand Palace, is where old communities have lived long before Bangkok was established as the capital. The Bangkok Noi Museum, further inland, preserves the history of these communities.

The Royal Barge Museum is located in the Bangkok Noi Canal near the Phra Pin Klao Bridge.

The river cruise in Bangkok next passes Fort Phra Sumen, built in 1783 to fortify the old city. Located near the mouth of the Banglampoo Canal, the second protective canal ring, it's one of the two remaining forts left from the Bangkok era.

River life and scenes on the Chao Phraya

On the banks, rickety old wooden houses on stilts can be seen in stark contrast to the spanking new houses and condominiums. The noodle vendor in a boat sells her food from house to house as restaurants provide riverside dining near the some of the piers.

The most spectacular bridge across the Chao Phraya River encountered in a river cruise in Bangkok is the King Rama VIII Bridge, a suspension bridge that stands out like a giant harp over the water. Bang Khun Phrom Palace, which houses the Bank of Thailand Museum, is nearby.

Bridges across the Chao Phraya River serve as useful landmarks in a river cruise in Bangkok. Some piers, located near these bridges, are named after them. You'll pass under eight bridges in the entire river cruise.

Further upriver life gets less touristy and more rustic, particularly on the Thonburi bank. Many piers are named after wats (temples) located nearby, around which community life is built. Some of these temples, though less well known, are equally beautiful as their city counterparts.

Chao Phraya boat services for a river cruise of Bangkok

Chao Phraya River boats ply along the river during the day stopping at regular piers. These boats are an inexpensive and convenient way for a Bangkok sightseeing tour of the river.

A Chao Phraya tourist boat service is also available for a day tour of selected areas and piers. Boat rental services are also available for groups of 20 or more.

A total of 34 Chao Phraya river piers located along this 25 km winding stretch of river. You don't have to go all the way though, just take your pick and get on and off where you wish.

A river cruise in Bangkok provides a very different perspective of life in the city on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, an aspect you can't get from the usual Bangkok city tour.

This article, by Eric Lim, first appeared in Tour Bangkok Legacies, a historical travel site on people, places and events that shaped the landscape of Bangkok. Lim, a free-lance writer, lives in Bangkok Thailand.