The Chao Phraya (River of Kings) is a major river in Thailand , with its low alluvial river plain marking the mainland of the country. The river runs along many Khlongs (canals), where people live, fish, wash, toilet and swim in the muddy brown river.

It begins at the confluence of the Ping and Nan river at Nakhon Sawan (also called Pak Nam Pho) in the Nakhon Sawan province.

The Nan and its biggest confluent, the Yom River , flow nearly parallel from Phitsanulok till Chumsaeng in the north of Nakhon Sawan province. The biggest confluent of the Ping is the Wang River which enters near Sam Ngao district in Tak province. The Chao Phraya system drains an area of approximately 160,000 km² , of which the largest contribution is the Ping with 35,000 km².

The Chao Phraya runs from north to south for 372 km from the central plains to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand.

However in Chainat the river splits into the main river course and the Tha Chin river, which then flows parallel to the main river and exits to Gulf of Thailand the about 35 km west of Bangkok in Samut Sakhon. In the low alluvial plain which begins below the Chainat dam many small canals ( khlong ) split off from the main river, used for the irrigation of the rice paddies.

The cities along the river are Nakhon Sawan , Uthai Thani , Chainat , Singburi , Ang Thong , Ayutthaya , Pathum Thani , Nonthaburi , Bangkok and Samut Prakan relatively.

The majestic ‘River of Kings' nourishes the nation's rice paddies, stretching across the delta lands as far as the eye can see. It also provides a major transport channel for trade and even delivers the drinking water to Bangkok's thirsty 12 million residents.

Luxury riverboats ply the river from Bangkok to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, carrying thousands of visitors for a day excursion. Laden with buffet tables and drink trolleys, the boats speed their guests to Bang Pa-in, the site of the royal summer palace, approximately 60 km north of Bangkok. From here the remainder of the trip to the ancient capital of Ayutthaya is covered by tour bus.

Barges, mostly laden with building materials and drawn by powerful tugboats, still ply the river. Weighed down to the gunwales, they nudge their way in convoys downstream to riverside port on the outskirts of Bangkok.

For most travellers the river provides a short interlude on a city tour to a floating market or a transfer from hotel to the famous Temple of the Dawn. It doesn't need to end there. For the traveller ready to explore its course and tributaries north of the capital, the Chao Phraya offers fascinating insights into Thai rural lifestyle, moving with the times but still entwined with the river.

Here are some river views:

River vendor of fruit and vegetables

River ferry

Boats on the river

A river express boat

Freight transport

House on the river

Working barge

A ferry with high rise buildings in background

An expensive river house

A river longboat

An older river house

A riverside store