Central Thailand SAMUT PRAKAN
Samut Prakan, also known as Pak Nam, is located 29 kilometres south of Bangkok, around the area where the Chao Phraya river flows into the Gulf of Thailand. It is a town of the Ayutthaya period. Samut Prakan is home to countless historical and cultural sites. It occupies an area of 1,004 square kilometres and is administratively divided into 5 districts (Amphoes) and 1 sub-district (Ging Amphoe); Amphoe Muang Samut Prakan, Amphoe Phra Pradaeng, Amphoe Bang Phli, Amphoe Bang Bo, Amphoe Phra Sumut Chedi, and Ging Amphoe Bang Sao Thong.
Muang Boran or the Ancient City
Muang Boran or the Ancient City is the world’s biggest open-air museum. It occupies an area of 500 rais (200 acres). Construction began in the latter part of 1963. It is located at Tambon Bang Pu Mai, at Km. 33.5 of the old Sukhumvit Road, 8 kilometres from Samut Prakan town. This unique attraction is the center of scaled-down and actual-size replicas of important historical sites of various provinces such as Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, Wat Mahathat Sukhothai, Phraphuttabat Saraburi, Phrathat Mueang Nakhon, Phrathat Chaiya, etc.. Furthermore, there are rare traditional folk arts and cultures, some of which are hardl to come by nowadays. For those who wish to learn about Thailand, they will not be disappointed here.
Getting there: by car, take the Samrong - Samut Prakan Road to Samut Prakan T-junction and turn left going along the old Sukhumvit road (road to Bang Pu), then at approximatley Km. 33 turn into an entry road to Mueang Boran and drive on for 8 kilometres, Mueang Boran will be on the left. To get there by bus, take the air-conditioned bus Line No. 11 (Pin Klao - Pak Nam) to the end of the Line and take the local mini-bus Line No. 36 to Mueang Boran. It is open daily from 8.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m. Admission is 50 baht for adults, 25 baht for children under 12 years, and free for children under 5 years. Fees for taking a car in is 50 Baht, 100 baht for vans, 200 baht for coaches. Call Mueang Boran Co., Ltd., Kilometres 33.5, Tambon Bang Pu at 0-2323-9253 or Bangkok office at the corner of Democracy Monument, Ratchadamnoen Avenue at 0-2224-1058-7, 0-2226-1936-7.
Naval Museum
Naval Museum is located at Bang Nang Keng, Pak Nam, Samut Prakan, opposite the Naval Academy on Sukhumvit Road, 10 kilometres from Bang Na intersection. The museum chronicles the history of the Royal Thai Navy and the important Naval battles, exhibits miniature ships such as the Royal Barges which were used in the Royal Barge Processions of King Rama V period, the warship “H.M.S. Phra Ruang”, Rau Barge, H.M.S. Matchanu - the first submarine of the Royal Thai Navy. It is open on public days from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Contact tel: 0-2394-1997 or 0-2465-5087 for more information.
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo It was built in 1950 as Thailand’s first crocodile farm. It is now the world’s largest crocodile farm. It is situated at Tambon Tai Ban, 3 kilometres from Samut Prakan town. The farm has over 40,000 crocodiles of different kinds in various pits. Daily shows feature catching crocodiles bare-handed. Shows take place every hour from 08.00-17.00., except at noon; additional shows at 12.00 and 17.00 on holidays. Feeding time is between 16.30 - 17.30. Another star attraction for visitors is the elephant show of which performances are held daily every hour from 09.30 -16.30. Furthermore, you can see tigers, chimpanzees, and other animals such as gibbons, turtles, boa constrictors, pythons, birds, camels, hippopotamuses, and of various species of fishes.
There is even a Dinosaur Museum which has on display life-size models and skeletons of more than 13 kinds of dinosaurs and also features a multivision slide presentation on man and prehistoric animals. The farm is open daily from 07.00 - 18.00. Admission is 300 baht. For group tours and academic institutions that require a tour guide, please contact Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo in advance at 555 Thai Ban Road, Amphoe Mueang, Samut Prakan 10280 or tel. 0- 2703-4891, 0-2703-5144-8. Getting there is also possible by taking the air-conditioned buses Line Nos. 7, 8, and 11, to the end of the Line or by non air-conditioned buses Line Nos. 25 and 102, to Samut Prakan and taking another ride on a local truck (Song Thaeo) Line No. S. 1 and S. 80.
The Erawan Museum
The Erawan Museum This three-headed elephant, Airavata was born of Khun Lek Viriyapant's ideas and imagination. It was inspired by his wish to preserve his collection of antiques as a contribution to Thai cultural heritage. Many of these were priceless objects of art they were also held as sacred objects for people of ancient cultures. According to ancient traditions they were believed to bring blessing and prosperity to the land and its people, and therefore must not be lost to outsiders. It had been Mr.Viriyapant's concern to find a way that would keep these objects safe and that would also be suitable to their traditional functions.
One day he had a visit from a Westerner who, during the course of the conversation, suggested the idea of constructing the most important building in the town in the form of an apple which according to Western traditions of belief, played a crucial part in the shaping of human destiny. This suggestion was warmly welcomed by Mr.Viriyapant. He nevertheless thought it more appropriate to adhere to Eastern traditions and thus decided on the heavenly elephant Airavata of Hindu mythology. In addition, he wanted this three-headed elephant to be more than just the vehicle of the god Indra.
The elephant would be a symbol of the centre of the universe and, as such, the building would function symbolically as the spiritual heart of the land where sacred objects of the land were housed and revered. He then designed the building and gave the design to Khun Pagpean Viriyapant, his eldest son, to begin construction. Already during the construction, the building attracted people who came to worship. Thus it fulfilled Khun Lek Viriyapant's wish to preserve sacred objects for the country. Although both Khun Lek and Khun Pagpean passed away before the construction was completed, their heirs continued their wish to create a place where ceremonies and festivals of Thai traditions might be held, and that would also serve as museum to keep the memory of Khun Lek Viriyapant's life and work alive for future generations.
Getting to The Erawan Museum : Bus No: 25,142,365 / Air-conditioned bus No: 102,507,511,536
Admissions : Adult Baht 150 / Children Baht 50
Office : The Ancient City 99/9 M.1 Muang Samut Prakan, Samut Prakan Province 10270
Tel: 0 2371 3135-6 Fax: 0 2371 3136
Open Everyday 9.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m.
Wat Asokaram
Wat Asokaram is 6 kilometres from town. It is located in Soi Sukhaphiban 58, Tambon Thai Ban, on Sukhumvit road, its entrance is opposite Sawangkhaniwat Recuperation Centre. The new temple was built by Phra Acharn Lee Thammawaro) of the Dharmayuthi sect on May 8, 1962. It is one of the important temples for practicing mediation. Worth visiting and seeing in this temple is Phra Thutangkha Chedi, a group of 13 chedi as a representative of the 13 duties of the monks on their religious trips. There is also Vihara Wisutthithamrangsi in which Acharn Lee’s remains are enshrined.
Wat Klang Worawihan
Wat Klang Worawihan This second level royal monastery is located at Tambon Pak Nam. The temple, of which the former name is Wat Takothong, was built in the late Ayutthaya period. The main building was renovated in the reign of King Rama III. The upper part of the front of the temple, above the entrance, is decorated with Chinese porcelain and ceramics. Inside the temple, there is a mural painting, depicting the first book of the Buddhist scripture dealing with the life of Lord Buddha. Later, another building was built to enshrine the 4 traces of Lord Buddha’s Footprints. The hall for sermons is Thai style structure made totally from teak and upper part of the front of the building, above the entrance, is lavishly decorated with exquisite and beautifully carved wood well worth preserving.
Phra Samut Chedi Worship Fair This is the great fair for which people from all over the country come to worship the revered chedi. The fair is held annually for 9 days and 9 nights, starting from the fifth day of the waning moon in the eleventh month of the lunar calendar. During the festival, there are contests held for the best-looking procession in presenting the cloth to cover the Phra Samut Chedi. The procession will be run through the streets around the Pak Nam Market, then be brought onto boats going down the Chao Phraya River until it reaches the Phra Pradaeng District Office and return to Ong Phra Samut Chedi. There are also the walk around the Phra Samut Chedi (wian tian – walk, while holding lighted candles, around a temple), boat racing in the Chao Phraya River, local entertainments, and many local products on sale. Getting there: from Samut Prakan town to Phra Samut Chedi, there are daily boat ferries in front of Wibunsri Market around the clock.
Pak Lat Songkran Fair (Phra Pradaeng) It is held yearly on the first Sunday after Songkran Day (April 13th). The townspeople in cooperation with Amphoe Mueang Phra Pradaeng celebrate the Songkran Day according to the local Songkran Festival of Raman (Mon) people. Songkran beauty pageants parade, freeing birds and fish, and traditional folk entertainment such as Saba (a pitch and toss game), Thayaemon (a musical composition of Mon) and Mon dancing are included in this fair.
Yon Bua Festival is a festival which goes back a long, long time for the Bang Phli people and which have been followed by generations after one another. It is held yearly on the thirteenth day and the early morning of the fourteenth day of the waxing moon in the eleventh month of the lunar calendar. The festival consists of worshipping and parading of Luang Pho To, both on land and by boat, competitions of local activities such as arranging a lotus tray, boat decoration contests, and folk entertainments such as Phleng Rua (traditional singing in boats). In the early morning of the fourteenth day, the Yon Bua Festival is held, people will toss lotus onto the boat bearing the Luang Pho To Buddha image. They also toss lotus to the people from out of town in boats who also come to join in the festival as a sign of making merit together.
Luang Pho Pan Worship Fair It is the Bang Bo people’s annual fair, held on the eighth day of the waxing moon in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar to commemorate and celebrate Luang Pho Pan’s virtue.
Distances from Amphoe Muang Samut Prakan to other Amphoes and King Amphoe :
Phra Pradaeng 12 Kms.
Bang Phli 17 Kms.
Bang Bo 38 Kms.
Phra Samut Chedi 21 Kms.
King Amphone Bang Sao Thong 32 Kms.
Car
By car: You can use the old Sukhumvit Road and also Highway Number 303 to get there. The distance is only 29 kilometres to Samut Prakan town.
Bus
By air-conditioned buses (of the BMTA – Bangkok Mass Transit Authority) Line No. 2 (Sam Rong - Pak Khlong Talat), Line No. 6 (Pak Kret - Phra Pradaeng), Line No. 7 (Sam Rong - Tha Phra), Line No. 8 (Pak Nam - Tha Ratchaworadit), Line No. 11 (Pak Nam - Khonsongsaitai), Line No. 13 (Rangsit - Pu Chao Saming Phrai), Line No. 23 (Sam Rong – Thewet via Expressway), Line No. 25 (Pak Nam - Tha Chang), Line No. 102 (Pak Nam - Chong Nonsee), Line No. 126 (Nonthaburi - Sam Rong), Line No. 129 (Thang Duan - Kasetsart University - Sam Rong), Line No. 142 (Wat Lau - Samut Prakan), Line No. 145 (Suan Chatuchak - Samut Prakan)
By non-air conditioned buses Line No. 2 (Sam Rong - Pak Khlong Talad), Line No. 6 (Phra Pradaeng - Bang Lamphu), Line No. 13 (Rangsit - Phu Chao Saming Phrai), Line No. 20 (Pom Phra Chun- Tha Nam Din Daeng), Line No. 23 (Sam Rong – Thewet via Expressway), Line No. 25 (Pak Nam - Tha Chang), Line No. 45 (Sam Rong - Ratchaprasong), Line No. 82 (Phra Pradaeng - Bang Lamphu), Line No. 102 (Pak Nam - Chong Nonsi), Line No. 116 (Samrong - Sathorn), Line No. 129 (Kasetsart University - Sam Rong via Expressway), Line No. 138 (Chatuchak - Phra Pradaeng via Expressway), Line No. 145 (Suan Chatuchak - Pak Nam)
Khanom Chak
Khanom Chak (¢¹Á¨Ò¡), toasted flour mixed with coconut. It can be bought at the pier where boats leave for Phra Samut Chedi, as well as in other open-air markets
Pu Khai
Pu Khai (»Ùä¢è), crab with roe, indigenous species of crab that can be bought only at Amphoe Phra Samut Chedi
Dried Gourami
Dried Gourami (»ÅÒÊÅÔ´µÒ¡áËé§) can be bought from roadside stalls on Sukhumvit Road, Tambon Pak Nam, Amphoe Bang Bo and local markets.
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