Samut Prakan Province
Encyclopedia
Provinces of Thailand
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
(changwat) of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighboring provinces are Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, to the north and west, and Chachoengsao
Chachoengsao Province
Chachoengsao is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok. It also has a short coast to the Gulf of Thailand.-History:Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is a province in the Central region...
to the east.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September...
(or also called New Bangkok International Airport) is located in the Bang Phli
Amphoe Bang Phli
Bang Phli is a district of Samut Prakan Province in Thailand. It is home to Suvarnabhumi Airport , which opened on 28 September 2006 as Thailand's primary airport...
district of Samut Prakan province.
History
The province was created during the Ayutthaya periodAyutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
, with its administrative center located at Prapadaeng. It was the sea port of Siam, and was secured with forts, town moats and town-walls. King Rama II
Buddha Loetla Nabhalai
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Isarasundhorn Phra Buddha Loetla Nabhalai , or Rama II , was the second monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1809-1824. In 1809, Isarasundhorn succeeded his father Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, the founder of Chakri dynasty, as Buddha Loetla Nabhalai...
starting the building of the new center at Samut Prakan in 1819, after his predecessor King Taksin
Taksin
Taksin ; was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom...
had disbanded the town fortification. Altogether six forts were built on both sides of the Chao Phraya river, and on an island in the river the pagoda
Pagoda
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist,...
Phra Samut Chedi was erected. Of the original six forts only two still exist today, Phi Sua Samut and Phra Chulachomklao.
Etymology
In ThaiThai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
the word samut is from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, Samudra means ocean or sea and prakan means fortress.
Geography
Samut Prakan is located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya river to the Gulf of ThailandGulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
. Thus the province is also sometimes called Pak Nam (ปากน้ำ), the Thai word for the mouth of a river. The part of the province located on the western side of the river consist mostly of rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
and prawn
Prawn
Prawns are decapod crustaceans of the sub-order Dendrobranchiata. There are 540 extant species, in seven families, and a fossil record extending back to the Devonian...
fields as well as mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
forests, while the east part is the urban center - including industrial factories. It is part of the Bangkok metropolis, the urbanization on both sides of the provincial boundary is identical. The province has a coastline of approximately 47.2 kilometer.
Places
- Bang Pu Nature Reserve, about 12 km east of the town center, has a big bird population. Especially during the winter the Sakdi pier at Bang Pu is very popular for Thai people feeding the wintering seagulls. The park is run jointly by the Royal Thai Army and the Thai WWFWorld Wide Fund for NatureThe World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
, and was officially established at the 72nd birthday of Queen SirikitSirikitSomdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat , is the queen consort of Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand. She is the second Queen Regent of Thailand...
in 2004. - The HTMS MaeklongHTMS MaeklongHTMS Maeklong was a Royal Thai Navy escort vessel and training ship, built at the Uraga Dock in Yokosuka, Japan.Her sister ship was the HTMS Tachin....
, a former Royal Thai NavyRoyal Thai NavyThe Royal Thai Navy is the navy of Thailand and part of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, it was established in the late 19th century. Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse is "The Father of Royal Thai Navy". Similar to the organizational structure of the United States, the Royal Thai Navy includes the...
ship is moored in concrete at Chulachomklao Fort at the mouth of the Chao Phraya in Amphoe Phra Samut ChediAmphoe Phra Samut ChediPhra Samut Chedi is the westernmost district of Samut Prakan Province in central Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Bang Khun Thian and Thung Khru of Bangkok, Phra Pradaeng and Mueang Samut Prakan of Samut Prakan province.-Sights:The district is named after the temple Phra Samut...
. - Two major tourist attractions of the province are located in Amphoe Mueang Samut PrakanAmphoe Mueang Samut PrakanMueang Samut Prakan is the capital district of Samut Prakan Province, central Thailand. The district has the highest population of all districts of Thailand.-Tourist attractions:...
, the capital district: Mueang BoranMueang BoranAncient Siam is a park constructed under the patronage of Lek Viriyaphant and spreading over in the shape of Thailand....
or Ancient City, a park that features downscaled replicas of all major historical buildings of Thailand; and the Crocodile FarmSamutprakarn Crocodile Farm and ZooThe Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo is an internationally renowned crocodile zoo in Bangkok, Thailand. It claims to hold the Guinness Book of Records Largest Captive Crocodile measuring six meters and weighing 1114.27 kilograms...
. - Besides being the home of Suvarnabhumi AirportSuvarnabhumi AirportSuvarnabhumi Airport , also known as Bangkok International Airport, is an international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand. It was officially opened for limited domestic flight service on 15 September 2006, and opened for most domestic and all international commercial flights on 28 September...
, Amphoe Bang PhliAmphoe Bang PhliBang Phli is a district of Samut Prakan Province in Thailand. It is home to Suvarnabhumi Airport , which opened on 28 September 2006 as Thailand's primary airport...
is famous for the annual Lotus Flower (Rap Bua) festival, which usually takes place on the full moon in October.
Symbols
The provincial sealSeals of The Provinces of Thailand
-Present-day provinces of Thailand:This list includes all the seals of the Provinces of Thailand. It also includes the special administrative area of the capital, Bangkok.-Former Provinces:-External links:*...
shows the temple Phra Samut Chedi, the most important site of Buddhist worship in the province.
Provincial tree is Thespesia populnea.
The provincial slogan is Marine Battle Fortresses, Chedi in the Water, Crocodile Farm, Exquisite Ancient City, Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival, Tasty Dried Snakeskin Gourami, Rap Bua Festival, Industrial Estate
Administrative divisions
Amphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
). The districts are further subdivided into 50 subdistricts (tambon
Tambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
) and 396 villages (muban
Muban
Muban is the lowest administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as village, they are the subdivision of tambon. As of 2008, there are 74944 administrative villages in Thailand. As of the 1990 census, the average village consisted of 144 households or 746 persons.A muban does not...
). There are one city (thesaban nakhon), three towns (thesaban mueang) and 13 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). For the national elections the province is divided into 3 voting districts, one eligible for three assemblyman and the other two each for two assemblymen.
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Sights
Erawan MuseumErawan Museum
Erawan Museum is a museum in Samut Prakan, Thailand. It is well known for its giant three-headed elephant art display. The three storeys inside the elephant contain antiquities and priceless collections of ancient religious objects belonging to Khun Lek Viriyapant who is the museum owner.The...
(พิพิธภัณฑ์ช้างเอราวัณ): The 3-headed elephant museum was constructed to house Mr. Lek Viriyahbhun's collection of art objects and antiquities and various other cultural heritage items for the benefits of younger generations.
Naval Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์ทหารเรือ): The museum exhibits historical information on the Royal Thai Navy and major naval battles in 2 buildings.
Mueang Boran
Mueang Boran
Ancient Siam is a park constructed under the patronage of Lek Viriyaphant and spreading over in the shape of Thailand....
or the Ancient City (เมืองโบราณ): It covers a total area of approximately 800 rai where imitations of major tourist attractions around the country are situated such as Khao Phra Wihan, Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, Wat Mahathat, Phra Phutthabat, Phra That, Phra That Chaiya, etc.
Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo (ฟาร์มจระเข้และสวนสัตว์): It was established in 1950 and is at present the world’s largest crocodile farm, where more than 60,000 crocodiles of various sizes are bred.
Wat Klang Worawihan (วัดกลางวรวิหาร): It is a second-class royal temple of the late Ayutthaya period. A mandapa
Mandapa
A mandapa in Indian architecture is a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.-Temple architecture:...
or mondop was constructed to house ‘Phra Phutthabat Si Roi’ – the Four Buddha’s Footprints – with a gable decorated with stucco reliefs and Bencharong crockery.
Wat Asokaram (วัดอโศการาม): As one of the province’s major temples, it has many spots of interest such as Phra Thutangkhachedi (Dhutangachedi) which is a complex of 13 chedis, and Wihan Wisuthithammarangsi, a 3-storey building with 4 porches and a superstructure in the form of a mondop.
Fort Chulachomklao (ป้อมพระจุลจอมเกล้าหรือป้อมพระจุล): This is a modern fort that once played a significant role in protecting the sovereignty of the Thai nation in a historic fight in 1893. There are many spots of interest inside the fort complex including:
King Rama V the Great Monument (พระบรมราชานุสาวรีย์ พระบาทสมเด็จพระจุลจอมเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว): A graceful monument of King Rama V the Great in the uniform of a naval general holding a sword in both hands.
HTMS Mae Klong Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์เรือหลวงแม่กลอง): The Royal Thai Navy’s warship with the longest service period of 60 years discharged for deterioration by the Ministry of Defence and conserved to be a museum.
Naval Historical Park (อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ทหารเรือ): The exhibition building puts on display photographs of the destruction from fighting and development of the Royal Thai Navy. There is also an open exhibition of naval armaments and munitions.
Phra Samut Chedi (พระสมุทรเจดีย์): The chedi was constructed under the royal command of King Rama II. The chedi contains the Buddha’s relic and images of the Buddha Pacifying the Ocean and Phra Chai Wat.
Bang Namphueng Floating Market (ตลาดน้ำบางน้ำผึ้ง): The charm of this floating market is the canal side lifestyle of the community whose members are mostly Thai – Mon. Local products and famous food such as fish-scale flowers, herbal joss sticks, Hoi Thot (fried mussel pancake), Khanom Khrok or mortar-toasted pastry, mango, etc. are also offered on sale.
City Pillar Shrine (ศาลเจ้าพ่อหลักเมือง): The city pillar holds a distinctive aspect in that it has an image of the God Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
on top.
Phra Suea Mueang Shrine (ศาลพระเสื้อเมือง): Located at Tambon Talat, the shrine was constructed exactly at the same period as Phra Pradaeng town and is much revered by local people.
Phlaeng Faifa Fort (ป้อมแผลงไฟฟ้า): Part of the fort is in perfect condition and used to be a fort of Nakhon Khuean Khan, an old town fortified by several forts that was once a naval base on the Chao Phraya River estuary during the reign of King Rama I.
Wat Phaichayonphonsep Ratchaworawihan (วัดไพชยนต์พลเสพย์ราชวรวิหาร): The temple contains a magnificent Phra Ubosot and Phra Wihan as well as a principal gilded stucco image of the Buddha Subduing Mara
Mara (demon)
In Buddhism, Māra is the demon that tempted Gautama Buddha by trying to seduce him with the vision of beautiful women who, in various legends, are often said to be Mara's daughters. In Buddhist cosmology, Mara personifies unwholesome impulses, unskillfulness, the "death" of the spiritual life...
enshrined.
Wat Prot Ket Chettharam (วัดโปรดเกศเชษฐาราม): It is the only Thai-buddhist temple in Phra Pradaeng as other temples within the area are Mon
Mon people
The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand...
-buddhist. Wat Prot Ket was built by Phraya Phetphichai (Ket) during the reign of King Rama II in a Chinese architecture style, without the traditional Thai style roof decorations.
Wat Song Tham Worawihan (วัดทรงธรรมวรวิหาร): The temple contains a large Mon-style Chedi and a Wihan built of brick and mortar with traditional teak roof decorations housing the Buddha’s footprint.
Si Nakhon Khuean Khan Public and Botanical Park (สวนสาธารณะและสวนพฤกษชาติศรีนครเขื่อนขันธ์): It was established as a public park for recreational and exercising purposes as well as for studying the ecological system of the local flora and fauna.
Hua Chiao Chaloem Phra Kiat Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์หัวเฉียวเฉลิมพระเกียรติ): It was constructed to provide assistance for fellow men and the university’s philosophy in sustaining arts and culture as well as doing research for the public benefits. The museum exhibits various aspects of the Sino-Thai relationship from past to present.
Nong Ngu Hao Farm and Tiger Farm (ฟาร์มหนองงูเห่า): It began operation in 1986 and covers a total area of approximately 10 rai
Rai (area)
A rai is a unit of area, equal to 1,600 square metres , used for measuring land area. Its current size is precisely derived from the metre, but is neither part of nor recognized by the modern metric system, the International System ....
where various species of cobra are bred and venom extraction and snake catching demonstrated.
Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai (วัดบางพลีใหญ่ใน): The temple was built to commemorate King Naresuan the Great’s victory over the Burmese. Later, a large bronze Buddha image of the Sukhothai style in the gesture of subduing Mara, with open eyes, was taken to be enshrined as the principal image of Phra Ubosot. The image became much revered by the people who call it Luangpho To.
Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang (วัดบางพลีใหญ่กลาง): The temple contains an immense reclining Buddha image of approximately 53 metres long known as Somdet Phra Sakayamuni Si Sumet Bophit.
Bang Phli Cultural Centre, Bang Phli Rat Bamrung School
(ศูนย์วัฒนธรรมอำเภอบางพลี โรงเรียนบางพลีราษฎร์บำรุง): The upstairs exhibits folk wisdom and cultural heritage that has been exchanged among people of different ethnic origins. The downstairs displays models of the folk ways of living.
Bang Pu Seaside (สถานตากอากาศบางปู): Migratory seagulls flock to the seaside during November and April
Local Products
Local products and souvenirs from Samut Prakan include:Khanom Chak: a sweet made from flour, coconut and sugar
Pu Khai: Crab with eggs
Pla Salit: snakeskin gourami
Gourami
Gouramis are a family, Osphronemidae, of freshwater perciform fishes. The fish are native to Asia, from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and north-easterly towards Korea. The name "gourami" is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. "Gouramis" is an example of...
, salted and dried
Mamuang Nam Dokmai: a sweet breed of mango, available during January and February
Kung Yiat: stretched and dried prawn
Festivals
Pak Lat (Phra Pradaeng) Songkran Festival (งานเทศกาลสงกรานต์ปากลัด/พระประแดง) Every year on the first Sunday following the Songkran Day (13 April), the people of Phra Pradaeng and District will cooperate to hold the Mon-style Songkran Festival, with the Nang Songkran procession, bird and fish release merit-making, as well as folk games and entertainment like Saba Game, Thayae Mon and Mon Ram.
Song Khao Songkran Tradition (ประเพณีส่งข้าวสงกรานต์): A Mon tradition of rice offering believed to have originated from the Songkran Legend. One house in a village will be responsible for cooking plain rice which will then be soaked in jasmine-scented water to be served with savoury dishes like salted egg, fish, cabbage and beef as well as various spicy salads, sweet and fruits. All dishes will be put in banana leaf cups and arranged in a tray, waiting for young women to take them to the temples early in the morning.
Phra Samut Chedi Fair (งานนมัสการองค์พระสมุทรเจดีย์): An annual fair that attracts people from around the country to pay homage to Phra Samut Chedi for 9 days and nights, starting from the 5th day of the waning moon of the 11th lunar month. The main feature is a float contest of the procession of the red wrapping cloth for the Phra Samut Chedi around Pak Nam Market before changing to a boat procession along the Chao Phraya River to Phra Pradaeng District Office and back to the Phra Samut Chedi. Other activities include a candlelight procession around the Phra Samut Chedi, boat races on the Chao Phraya River, various forms of entertainment and booth displays of numerous products.
Rap Bua or Yon Bua Festival (ประเพณีรับบัวหรือโยนบัว): A tradition long inherited by the people of Bang Phli held annually on the 13th day of the waxing moon of the 11th lunar month and early next morning. The main feature is the respect paying and procession of the Luangpho To image both by land and water. The event also features competitions of folk activities like lotus arrangement on a footed tray, boat contests and folk entertainment such as Phleng Ruea or boat song. Early next morning will be the Rap Bua or Yon Bua tradition in which people will toss Dok Bua or lotus flowers onto the boat carrying the image of Luangpho To.
Luangpho Pan Fair (งานนมัสการหลวงพ่อปาน) Bang Bo’s annual fair is held at Wat Mongkhon Khothawat around the 8th day of the waxing moon of the 12th lunar month in order to pay respect and remember the virtue of Luangpho Pan.