Discovering Thonburi: A More Authentic, Off Beat Bangkok Experience

Thonburi: Off The Beaten Track In Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the most visited cities in the world and most travellers only see the golden temples, glitzy bars and modern malls but there are plenty of other things to do in Bangkok. Thailand is super popular and touristy and sometimes it feels like there’s no escape from the beaten track – especially in Bangkok.

But there is, just across the Chao Phraya river, but a world away from Khao San Road or Sukhumvit, there is still part of Bangkok where local people are still curious to see you and want to have their photo taken, where children wave, where you can get a glimpse of the old Bangkok and where different religions and cultures rub shoulders.

Chinese houses in Thonburi, Bangkok
Chinese houses in Thonburi, Bangkok

It was my 4th visit to Bangkok so I was really looking to see something new, something off the beaten track  so I took the Diversity and Harmony tour with Expique hoping to see a different side to Bangkok.

Buddhism is the dominant religion in Thailand and most people are wowed by the glittering golden Buddhist temples and the famous Grand Palace but this tour of Thonburi introduced me to the multicultural history of Bangkok and showed me that Thailand is actually much more diverse.

Colourful longtail boats on the river in Bangkok
Colourful longtail boats on the river in Bangkok
In a longtail boat
In a longtail boat with Deepti Asthana from DA Photography

Our Thonburi Tour

Our tour started with an exciting ride across the river on a colourful long tail boat to reach the interesting and off the beaten track riverside community of Thonburi, an area full of history and where original Buddhist, Christian and Muslim communities live in harmony.

Original Thai house in Thonburi, Bangkok
Authentic old Thai house in Thonburi, Bangkok

As we meandered through Thonburi listening to the history and tales on the old Bangkok I loved seeing the authentic, original communities that live alongside these back lanes and riverside paths and seeing children wave and want their photo taken and people who aren’t jaded by tourism. We even came across this man who was keen to undress to show us his incredible traditional tattoos!

Amazing traditional Thai tatoos

During our Thonburi tour, our enthusiastic Expique guide, Esso, explained many aspects of Bangkok’s history that, despite 3 previous visits to the city, I hadn’t heard of before. As we walked, explored and learned we picked up many tasty local street food snacks along the way from the local markets.

street markets in thonburi, off beat bangkok

Highlights of Thonburi

The highlight of this off the beaten track Bangkok tour was visiting the interesting religious buildings, although this was not a religious tour seeing these sights really highlighted the diversity here and were interesting and beautiful to explore.

First we visited a the Guan Yu Chinese temple and shrine, the Chinese have been in Bangkok for a long time as traders and Bangkok’s China Town is also an interesting place to visit but this temple in Thonburi felt alot more authentic.

chinese temple in off beat Bangkok

Top decorations on the chinese temple

inside a chinese shrine in thonburi, off beat bangkok

golden chinese deity

I loved the details and colour in the Chinese temples. Next on our off beat Bangkok tour we saw a Muslim Mosque although it was under renovation but will look stunning once its finished I’m sure.

Not far from the mosque I was surprised to see The Church of Santa Cruz –  a Portuguese Church in Bangkok. The Portuguese were actually the first Europeans in Thailand (then called Siam) and this church is a legacy of Portuguese-Siamese relations that date back to the 16th century. 

IMG_20151021_095538

We crossed to river and finished the tour in a grand, typically Thai manner at the famous Wat Kalayanamit where devotees offered incense and prayers to a towering, golden Buddha and I finished the tour with a greater insight into the history and diversity of Bangkok having discovered some hidden gems of off beat Bangkok.

Wat Kalayanamit in Bangkok
Wat Kalayanamit in Bangkok

Another way to get off the beaten track and have a unique and authentic experience is by talking a canal tour around the klongs (smaller canals) of Thonburi. You can also stay in a heritage or boutique hotel, some of the best are located in Thonburi, along the riverside or the smaller klongs, and are family run and have a more friendly, personalised feel than the big chain hotel.

Check out my other Bangkok blog posts for more tips on planning a trip to Bangkok and the rest of Thailand.

 

By the way: My tour was complimentary as part of TBEX Bangkok 2015. Thanks to the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Expique Tours and of course all opinions are my own. Expique also run really cool Tuk Tuk and other walking tours of Bangkok – you can see them on the Walks of Bangkok website that I hope to check out next time! 

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