Saturday 20 December 2025
Walking along the Klong Mae Kha north of Tha Phae Road

I go out walking in Chiang Mai every day, some short walks, some longer. I enjoy the walk, seeing whatever I see along the way, and seeing what has changed from previous winters in Chiang Mai. Some of my walks are short with the sole intent on getting to a specific place. Many of my walks are less focused, and I just look around, sometimes taking the path less traveled. I am often reminded of the quote from John Muir, (American Naturalist, Writer, Founder of the Sierra Club 1838 -1914)

“I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”

I won’t stay out “till sundown,” but I never hurry (although I do walk faster than many people) and always enjoy the walk (unless it is a hot afternoon). Much has been written about the intrinsic value of walking. I experienced much of the “going in” John Muir mentions while walking each of my four Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walks in Spain. Also about walking, the philosopher Kierkegaard said:

“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts.”

I have noticed walking over the Klong Mae Kha on Tha Phae Road that a project was underway. That project appears to be cleaning and improving the walkways along the Klong Mae Kha in this part of Chiang Mai. So today, I walked from the Story 106 co-working space to the recently-renovated walkways along the Klong Mae Kha towards Chouquette, a French boulangerie across from Sri Phum Corner. To the left is a Samsung Health map of my approximate 1.5 kilometer walk from Story 106 on Tha Phae Road to Chouquette.

Klong Mae Kha History

A “klong” or “khlong” is a small river, large creek or canal. In Bangkok, this term was used to describe the extensive system of canals that once crisscrossed Bangkok. Because of the many canals, the nickname for Bangkok long ago was “Venice of the East”. Klongs there were used for transportation, for floating markets, and also for sewage disposal. Today, most of the klongs of Bangkok have been filled in, although as of 2019 there are still over 1600 canals in Bangkok, totalling more than 2500 kilometres in length.

In Chiang Mai, the Klong Mae Kha is a significant tributary to the Mae Ping River. It is a watershed from Doi Suthep flowing through a large former reservoir (Nong Bua) more than 11 kilometers along the Kamphaengdin city wall on the east and south to finally merge with the Mae Ping River at Son Kha.

It is also written that when King Mengrai, after his construction of the new seat of his kingdom was flooded out twice at Wiang Kum Kam, he followed the Klong Mae Kha upstream until he found the site he chose to build Chiang Mai.

Previous Klong Mae Kha Improvements

It seems that after the pandemic, a large section of the Klong Mae Kha was cleaned-up, sidewalks added, and became a popular place for tourists. This area is southwest of the old city where Ragang Road leaves Kamphaengdin Road and crosses the Klong Mae Kha. I was learning about the Klong Mae Kha in my continued interest in the Kamphaengdin, the second wall made of earth and clay around the eastern and southern parts of the old city. I made previous posts about the Klong Mae Kha improvements:

December 2023: https://james-intrepid-pilgrim.blog/2023/12/04/walk-along-the-mae-ping-river/

December 2024: https://james-intrepid-pilgrim.blog/2024/12/02/klong-mae-kha/

Klong Mae Kha North of Tha Phae Road

A view of the new platform along side Tha Phae Road with the new teak plank walkways leading down from the road to the side of the klong.

There is a new walkway of both sides of the klong. There are very few people. The barricades keeping people out were just removed a few days ago.

This is an old, until now unused section of the Klong Mae Kha. There are just a handful of people taking photos. The klong is not straight, meandering a bit through this old part of Chiang Mai. Here I am rounding a corner after crossing Chang Moi Road with this beautiful large tree.

Across the klong, I took a photo of the new supports holding up the new walkway. These are all new, likely because the old walkway did not exist or was impracticle to restore.

Here is a view of the klong walkway as I approached Sithiwongse Road, and then after crossing the road and back on the new walkway.

And here are two photos where the teak plank walkway ends and the old concrete walkway (now cleared and cleaned) starts.

A couple more photos of the older, pressed-concrete walkway.

A stretch of the old walkway close to the end at Wichayanon Road, while cleared and cleaned is quite narrow.

And then the end came. I climbed the stairs and I was at the entrance to Wat Sri Phum.

This is a nice walk from Story to Chouquette, a walk I have made more than a few times in the past. Walking along the klong is more peaceful then avoiding traffic on the busy streets.

After a very nice lunch at Chouquette (I’ll share photos in an upcoming “Food” blog post), I walked back to The 3-Sis. There is a cafe along the inner moat road on the north, Sri Phum Road, called something like Rose Cafe. Outside they have this very large (at least 2 meters tall) mosaic of roses. So detailed, so beautifuly done. I smile every time I walk by.

And finally, approaching Chang Phuak Gate, I felt compelled to take a photo of this big beautiful tree. I know, I have shown this many times. It is a striking tree, large and elegant!

Next: A Day in the Life