Chiang Mai holds a famous annual Songkran celebration around its historic moat and old city walls.
The moat encircling Chiang Mai’s old city becomes a major gathering place during the festival. People traditionally collect water there for playful splashing, while roads around the old city host processions, ceremonies, and community events.
Chiang Mai’s celebration is especially prominent because the city is a cultural center of northern Thailand and preserves many Lanna traditions. The city’s festivities combine Buddhist observances and family customs with large modern public water battles.
The moat is not the origin of Songkran itself. It is a distinctive setting that has made Chiang Mai one of the festival’s best-known destinations. Visitors should distinguish Chiang Mai’s citywide celebrations from the separate regional customs practiced across northern Thailand.