Ayutthaya Kayaking Experience

We arrived at the Pho Phraya Water Regulator after 40 minutes paddling. The water gates were closed, so there was us only left to disembark. We challenged the steep river bank and pulled our kayaks upon a road. We scouted around a bit, but found no easy solution to cross the dam. We asked local people in the area. They were very helpful and guided us out of the complex. We had to fix our thunder wheels and wheeled the kayaks upon the main road. We arrived at an entry gate to the dam complex close to the regulator, but the location was to dangerous. A motorcycle man popped up and offered a ride to go scout further south. Sean jumped the seat behind and off he drove. After five minutes they were back. An easy entry point to the river was found a couple of hundred meters from our present location. We continued to wheel the kayaks and after 1 Km on the meter we arrived at our launching spot. People even helped us carrying our kayaks to the water. We had needed about half an hour to tackle the dam. At 0915 Hr we were "back on the road".

This track was characterized with the presence of a lot of temples along the river bank, even more than on the track prior. Gliding from temple to temple we arrived at Suphan Buri. Suphan Buri was founded in the 9th century (877-882 AD) and known in the Dvaravati period as Mueang Thawarawadi Si Suphannaphumi. At the end of the 11th or the beginning of the 12th century, the Dvaravati city of U-Thong was abandoned because of drought and its people resettled in Suphanaphum, as the latter had still access to the retracting sea. The city state became a vassal of Sukhothai in the 13th century as its name appears on the Ramkhamhaeng stone inscription. In the early 14th century Suphanaphum could fight off Sukhothai and remained as an independent city state. It resorted under the Kingdom of Ayutthaya on the latter’s establishment. The first king of Ayutthaya, King Ramathibodhi I, sent his brother-in-law Khun Luang Pangua to rule the city of Suphan Buri. Suphanburi features also in the epic story of Khun Chang, Khun Phaen as the hometown of Khun Chang. Suphan Buri was an important border city, and also the location of several battles with the Burmese.

We followed the river through the city. We observed all along this track numerous construction works to reinforce the river banks. We read earlier that the Tha Jin River should have a larger role as the sole distributary of the Chao Phraya River, in order to help alleviate the run-off waters of the Chao Phraya River. Probably the water works are related to this new policy. 

Once Suphanburi behind us, we paddled leisurely as we were already more than half way our track. Unfortunately we found no restaurant along the river banks, so we continued until our arrival point without a break. We finally arrived at Wat Kaeo Takhian Thong at 1400 Hr after 6 hours of paddling.

Link to the photos of TCRKT5