Khaosan Road ถนนข้าวสาร
 

                Khaosan Road or Thanon Khaosan is a popular tourist street in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Banglamphu area about 1 kilometer north of the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew) 'Khaosan' translates as 'milled rice', a reminder that the street was once a major Bangkok rice market. In the last 20 years, however, Khaosan Road has developed into a world famous 'backpacker paradise.” It offers cheap accommodation, ranging from 'mattress in a box' style hotels to reasonably priced 3-star hotels. Khaosan shops sell handcrafts, paintings, clothes and second-hand books, plus many useful backpacker items.

 

Khaosan Road in recent years has become popular with local residents, especially artists and art students. At night, Khaosan is a lively street packed with tourists come to explore walking street and night life. There are clubs, bars, food stalls and shops open until 2 a.m. The area is internationally known as a center of dancing, partying, specially during the traditional Thai New Year (Songkran festival April 13-15), when  water splashing festival turns into water fight. 

 

Khaosan also has a Buddhist temple under royal patronage. The centuries old Wat Chana Songkram is directly opposite Khaosan Road to the west while the area to the northwest contains an Islamic community and several small mosques.