Rating: 5/5 (3 votes)

Open Days: Every day

Opening Hours: 24 hours (public bridge crossing the Ping River)

 

Nawarat Bridge (Kua Lek), also known as the Iron Bridge over the Ping River, is one of Chiang Mai’s most picturesque night-time viewpoints. The city is full of Lanna cultural charm, blending an old-town atmosphere with the lively glow of riverside lights. This bridge sits at the end of Loi Kroh Road, linking the Night Bazaar area on the city side with the Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road near Wat Ket. It has become both a visual landmark and a popular check-in spot for locals and visitors who want to soak up the riverfront ambience in a relaxed, unhurried way.

 

The word “kua” in the northern dialect means “bridge”. Combined with the word “lek” (iron), it literally means “iron bridge”. The name is simple, but it reflects the identity of the local people on a deeper level, because this bridge is not just a steel structure spanning the water; it is also a shared memory space for Chiang Mai residents across generations—in terms of transportation, trade, and leisurely moments by the river.

 

In the past, this spot was once home to a wooden bridge used to cross the Ping River. Over time, it was renovated and reinforced with steel and concrete to better handle the growing number of vehicles and pedestrians. That was when it began to be known as “Kua Lek”, based on the new iron structure. As the city expanded, Nawarat Bridge was later constructed slightly upstream to serve as the main city bridge, while Kua Lek continued its role connecting nearby communities and gradually evolved into the riverside relaxation and viewpoint spot you see today.

 

The structure of Kua Lek is a dark steel arched truss, with rhythmic repeating frames running the length of the bridge. Viewed from the side, the lines of the steel frames cut across the backdrop of river and sky in a striking way. By day, the bridge looks relatively simple—a straightforward crossing. But once the sun slips below the horizon, the bridge lights come on one by one, forming a band of light stretched over the water. The reflections on the surface of the Ping River create a romantic scene that almost everyone is tempted to photograph.

 

At night, the atmosphere on Kua Lek is full of life—engine sounds from passing vehicles, laughter from visitors posing for photos with the river view, and the glow from buildings, restaurants, and riverside hotels all competing to cast their light across the water. The bridge carries one-way traffic from Loi Kroh Road across to the Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road, with pedestrian walkways on both sides. This allows people to stroll, enjoy the view, and take photos right by the railings. However, visitors should take care with traffic and safety, especially during festivals or long weekends when the area becomes noticeably busier.

 

Kua Lek is regarded as one of the most beautiful vantage points over the Ping River in Chiang Mai, especially from early evening into the night. Travellers love to capture photos from many angles—on the bridge itself, underneath the bridge, or along the nearby riverbanks. On Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals, Kua Lek and the nearby Nawarat Bridge area are filled with candlelight from floating krathong, lanterns drifting across the sky, and colourful lights from riverside buildings. The result is a scene that is both visually stunning and warmly infused with the faith and joy of the people.

 

During the daytime, Kua Lek has a completely different mood. Sunlight reflects brightly off the surface of the Ping River, while both banks reveal old temples, historic buildings, riverside eateries, and older neighbourhoods lining the river. Visitors who want a glimpse of the everyday riverfront lifestyle can come for a walk in the late morning or late afternoon, watching locals fish, long-tail boats glide by, and enjoying photo angles that combine old-town character with river views in a more relaxed, less crowded setting.

 

Thanks to its location near major tourist areas such as the Night Bazaar, Anusarn Market, Wat Buppharam, and the Wat Ket community, Kua Lek is surrounded by riverside restaurants and cafés, as well as hotels and accommodations at various price levels. Travellers can easily plan a short evening walking trip from their hotel to the bridge, stopping for dinner or a drink by the river before or after their stroll across the bridge. It’s a style of travel that’s unhurried yet allows you to experience Chiang Mai from a different angle than the usual old-town walking streets.

 

Beyond its beauty at night, Kua Lek is also an important route for local commuters, linking the old-city area with the Ping River side and the Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road, making travel between these zones much more convenient. As a result, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles regularly pass over the bridge throughout the day. Anyone planning to take photos or walk slowly on the bridge should avoid standing in the vehicle lane and instead stick to the pedestrian paths along the sides, while staying alert for fast-moving vehicles at certain times.

 

For photography lovers, Kua Lek is a playground full of creative angles—long-exposure shots of car light trails across the bridge, reflections of the steel truss on the water’s surface, or wide-angle compositions capturing the bridge, the river, and the light trails of buildings lining the riverbanks. If you visit around sunset, you may catch the sky fading through shades of orange, purple, and deep blue, contrasted against the dark steel structure, creating a very atmospheric scene. It is recommended to bring a tripod, or at least a smartphone capable of low-light shooting, to truly capture the mood.

 

The area around the bridge also features small riverside seating areas, restaurants with soft background music, as well as bars and cafés for those who enjoy lingering by the water. If you prefer a calmer vibe, weekdays are usually quieter. But if you want to feel the city’s energy and colourful nightlife, Friday and Saturday nights or festival periods are the best times, as both locals and travellers come out to stroll and enjoy the evening together.

 

Getting There — There are several ways to reach Kua Lek. From the moat area or Tha Phae Gate, you can drive or take a red songthaew along Tha Phae Road or Chang Khlan Road, then turn onto Loi Kroh Road and continue straight until the road ends at the river, where you will see the bridge. If you drive, it’s best to park along Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road or nearby streets and walk back up to the bridge, which is generally more convenient and safer than parking directly at the bridgehead.

 

If you are staying around the Night Bazaar, Chang Khlan Road, or Loi Kroh Road, walking to Kua Lek is very easy and takes only a few minutes. Travellers without a private vehicle can use red songthaews or tuk-tuks; simply tell the driver you’re going to “Kua Lek” or “the iron bridge over the Ping River near the Night Bazaar” and they will know exactly where to go, often dropping you right by the bridge access point.

 

The best time to visit Kua Lek is from early evening into the night, from around 18:00 onwards when the lights begin to come on. You can stroll slowly across the bridge, capture views of the Ping River, then stop by a nearby riverside restaurant or café to relax. During major festivals such as Yi Peng, Loy Krathong, or New Year’s Eve, this area becomes a lively vantage point for festival activities—beautiful, bright, and full of colour. Still, it is important to take care of your belongings and personal safety, as the area is shared by pedestrians, vehicles, and various activities at the same time.

 

Whether viewed from a transportation or tourism perspective, Kua Lek is a bridge that connects many different worlds at once: the two banks of the Ping River, the old city and the newer areas, local life and the visitor experience, as well as the city’s past and present. If you have the chance to visit Chiang Mai at night, standing on Kua Lek listening to the sound of the river, feeling the gentle breeze, and watching the lights stretch across the water is a simple yet deeply charming experience that should not be overlooked.

 

 

A: Kua Lek is located at the end of Loi Kroh Road, crossing the Ping River to meet Chiang Mai–Lamphun Road. It is very close to the Night Bazaar, Anusarn Market, and the Wat Ket riverside area, and can easily be reached on foot from the main tourist zones nearby.

 

A: Kua Lek is a public bridge open 24 hours a day for both vehicles and pedestrians. However, the most popular visiting time is from early evening to around 22:00, when the bridge and riverside buildings are lit up, creating a particularly beautiful night-time atmosphere.

 

A: The ideal time is shortly after sunset, when there is still a bit of natural light in the sky mixed with artificial lighting from the bridge and surrounding buildings. This combination creates depth and mood in photos. If you want long-exposure shots of car light trails, early nighttime when traffic is still flowing is especially good.

 

A: In general, the area around Kua Lek is quite active, especially on Friday and Saturday nights and during festivals. However, it is still a traffic bridge, so visitors should stick to the pedestrian walkways, avoid standing in vehicle lanes, refrain from going alone very late at night, and take normal precautions with personal belongings, as you would in any busy city area.

 

A: You can take a red songthaew or tuk-tuk from the old city, Tha Phae Gate, or other parts of town. Just tell the driver you want to go to “Kua Lek” or “the iron bridge near the Night Bazaar”, and they will know where to take you. If you are staying in the Night Bazaar or Chang Khlan area, walking to the bridge is also very easy and takes only a few minutes.