Samut Songkhram is one of the central
provincesThailand is divided into 75 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 76th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 75 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
(
changwat) of
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
.
Neighboring provinces are (from the south clockwise)
PhetchaburiPhetchaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Prachuap Khiri Khan...
,
RatchaburiRatchaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom,Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi...
and
Samut SakhonSamut Sakhon is one of the central provinces of Thailand.Neighboring provinces are Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok.- Etymology :...
. Local people call Samut Songkhram
Mae KlongThe Mae Klong is a river in western Thailand. The river begins at the confluence of the Khwae Noi or Kwai Sai Yoke and the Khwae Yai River or Kwai Si Sawasdi in Kanchanaburi, pass Ratchaburi Province and empties into the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Songkhram....
. The province is the smallest of all Thai provinces areawise.
Chang and Eng BunkerChang Bunker and Eng Bunker were the conjoined twin brothers whose condition and birthplace became the basis for the term "Siamese Twins".-Biography:...
, the famous Siamese twins were born here.
Etymology
The word
Samut originates from the
SanskritSanskrit is a historical Indo-Aryan language, one of the liturgical languages of Hinduism and Buddhism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. It is also declared as a classical language by the government of India....
word
Smudra meaning
oceanAn ocean is a large body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 75% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
, and the word
Songkhram from Sanskrit
Sangrama meaning
warWar is a reciprocated, armed conflict, between two or more non-congruous entities, aimed at reorganising a subjectively designed, geo-politically desired result...
. Hence the name of the province literally means
War Ocean.
Geography
Samut Songkhram is located at the mouth of the
Mae KlongThe Mae Klong is a river in western Thailand. The river begins at the confluence of the Khwae Noi or Kwai Sai Yoke and the Khwae Yai River or Kwai Si Sawasdi in Kanchanaburi, pass Ratchaburi Province and empties into the Gulf of Thailand in Samut Songkhram....
river to the
Gulf of ThailandThe Gulf of Thailand or Gulf of Siam is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:The Gulf of Siam is bordered by Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. The northern tip of the gulf is the Bay of Bangkok at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. The gulf covers roughly 320,000 km²...
. With several canals (
khlongA khlong is the general name for a canal in the central plain of Thailand. These canals are spawned by the Chao Phraya, the Tha Chin, the Mae Klong Rivers and their tributaries...
) the water of the river is spread through the province for irrigation. At the coast are many lakes for producing
sea saltSea salt, obtained by the evaporation of seawater, is used in cooking and cosmetics. Historically called bay salt, its mineral content gives it a different taste from table salt, which is pure sodium chloride, usually refined from mined rock salt or from sea salt...
. The sandbar
Don Hoi LotDon Hoi Lot is a sandbar off the coast of Samut Songkhram Province at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok. The sediments of the Mae Klong River together sediments from the sea form a system of mudflats, which is settled by the Razor Clam shell , which also gave the site its Thai name...
at the mouth of the river is famous for its endemic shell population of
Solen regularis.
History
In the Ayutthaya period the area of Samut Songkhram was known as Suan Nok (Thai สวนนอก,
Outer garden) and was administrated by Ratchaburi. During the reign of King
TaksinTaksin was King of Siam Empire. He was greatly revered for his leadership in liberation of Siam from the Burmese occupation after the Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 and unification of Siam under various warlords...
it was made a province. It was the birth place of Queen
AmarindraQueen Amarindra , was the Queen Consort of King Rama I of Siam. Her birth name was Nak . She was a daughter of a Mon richman from Bang Chang, in Samut Songkhram Province....
of King Rama I, who also initiated the name Suan Nok. The birth place of King
Rama IIPhra 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...
in
Amphawa districtAmphawa is a district of Samut Songkhram Province, located slightly inland at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok.-Geography:...
is now a Memorial Park.
Symbols
|
The provincial seal shows a drum swimming on a river. The Thai word for drum is klong, thus refers to the Mae Klong river, as well as the old name of the province, Mae Klong. On both sides of the river coconut trees are displayed as one of the main product of the province.
Provincial tree is Casuarina equisetifoliaCasuarina equisetifolia is a species of she-oak of the genus Casuarina, native to Australasia, southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean, from Burma and Vietnam east to French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, and south to Australia...
.
The provincial slogan is City of Hoi Lot, Top Lychee, King Rama II Memorial Park, the Mae Klong River, and Luangpho Ban Laem. |
Administrative divisions
The province is subdivided into 3 districts (
amphoeAn amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces. Amphoe are further subdivided into tambon....
). The districts are further subdivided into 38 communes (
tambonTambon 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 284 villages (
mubanMuban 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 is one town (
thesaban mueang) and three townships (
thesaban tambon).
- Mueang Samut Songkhram
Mueang Samut Songkhram is the capital district of Samut Songkhram Province, central Thailand.-History:The district was established in 1897, then named Lom Thuan and controlled by Monthon Ratchaburi. In 1900 the district office was moved to a temple area in Ban Prok. The district was named...
- Bang Khonthi
Bang Konthi is a district of Samut Songkhram Province.-Geography:The district is located slightly inland at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok. Neighboring districts are Mueang Samut Songkhram, Amphawa, Wat Phleng, Mueang Ratchaburi and Damnoen Saduak, the latter three in Ratchaburi...
- Amphawa
Amphawa is a district of Samut Songkhram Province, located slightly inland at the northwestern tip of the Bay of Bangkok.-Geography:...
|
|
Sights
Don Hoi Lot: A sandbank on the mouth of the Mae Klong River. It was formed by the sedimentation of sandy soil which the villagers here call "Sai Khi Pet". In the area of the sandbank there are many shellfish such as Hoi Lot (
razor clamRazor clam may refer to clams in the genus Ensis or Siliqua, including:*Ensis directus, Atlantic jackknife clam*Ensis arcuatus, razor shell*Siliqua alta, the northern or Arctic razor clam*Siliqua costata, Atlantic razor clam...
), Hoi Lai (undulated surf clam), Hoi Puk (Ridged Venus clam), Hoi Pak Pet (tongue shell), Hoi Khraeng (
cockleCockle may refer to:* Cockle * Cockle * Berwick cockles, a confectionery from Scotland* The phrase 'warm the cockles of one's heart' refers to the ventricles of the heart...
) and many more.
Wat Satthatham or
Wat Mon: The ordination hall is made of golden teak with mother-of-pearl-inlay walls, both inside and outside. Housed inside the ordination hall are Buddha images: Luangpho Ban Laem, Luangpu Thuat Yiap Nam Thale Chuet, and Luangpho Phuttha Sothon.
Wat Khao Yi San: The Viharn on the hilltop is a boat-shaped hall where four Buddha footprints are enshrined. The Phra Non Cave has a reclining Buddha image with nine toes. At the lower part lies the sacred shrine of Luangpho Pu Si Racha which is respected by the villagers.
Ban Khao Yi San Museum: The museum presents the stories of the community which are important and worth a study. On the ground floor, there are displays of folk wisdom, life and culture, tools for making herbal medicine, and household utensils.
Wat Ban Laem or
Wat Phet Samut Worawihan: Inside the temple compound, there is a Sangha museum with displays of Buddha images, amulets of different periods, ancient artefacts, blue-and-white porcelain, and a
pulpitA pulpit is a small elevated platform from which a member of the clergy delivers a sermon in a house of worship....
of the
AyutthayaAyutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767 until it was invaded by the Burmese. 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...
period.
Chang-Eng Siamese Twins Memorial and Boat Museum: The statues were built in memory of Chang and Eng, the Siamese twins who made Thailand famous around the world. Chang and Eng were joined to each other at the chest. However, both of them could live a normal life to the age of 63.
Talat Nam Tha Kha: This floating market still is part of the villagers’ way of life. The villagers here do farming and grow various plants. They usually paddle a boat to bring their produce to sell to each other.
Wat Chula Mani: This ancient temple sits on the bank where the Amphawa Canal connects with the Phi Lok Canal. The back of the temple was initially the residence of Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat of King Rama I) and Khun Bunrot (Queen Si Suriyenthramat of King Rama II).
Wat Bang Kaphom: The old Wihan (image hall) is very interesting. In the centre of the hall, a large replica of four superimposed Buddha footprints in different sizes is enshrined. The footprint at the deepest level, which is made from mother-of-pearl inlaid wood, still retains its beautiful design.
Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram: It is a temple associated with the royal lineage of Bang Chang. The back of this temple was once a residence of Luang Yokkrabat (King Rama I) and Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat of King Rama I). The
UbosothAn ubosot is a building in a Buddhist Wat. It is the holiest prayer room, also called the "ordination hall" as it is where ordinations take place....
(ordination hall) and permanent structures within the temple were mostly formed in the early
RattanakosinRattanakosin may refer to*Rattanakosin Island, the center of Bangkok*Rattanakosin era, the times since 1782 when Bangkok was capital of Siam/Thailand*Rattanakosin style , a distinct period in the Thai art...
style of art and architecture.
King Rama II Memorial Park is the project to honour King Rama II by the King Rama II Memorial Foundation. The area is important since it was a birthplace of King Rama II. Within the King Rama II Memorial Park, is the King Rama II Museum, comprising four Thai-styled buildings separated into sections.
Ban Phaya So: "So" (a type of
fiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, including the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
) is a local musical instrument of the Central Thai Region. Ban Phaya So is a house of the alto fiddle (So U) maker who combines the art of traditional Thai music with carving. Nowadays, this art is rarely seen.
Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong: the Kudi Thong, a "golden- teak monk’s cell", has an unusual history where the father of Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat) had her fortune examined by the abbot of Wat Bang Li. The abbot foretold that the daughter would become a queen. The millionaire father, therefore, promised to build a Kudi Thong for the temple if the abbot’s words proved true.
Ban Dontri or
House of Music: A school building is used for instructing traditional Thai music. The Samut Songkhram Primary School Office has envisioned that the cultural value of folk wisdom should be preserved and inherited to the next generation for their pride in the future.
Wat Bang Khae Yai: The large Ubosot (ordination hall) is more than 150 years old. At the front, the square
ChediChedi may refer to:* Chedi Kingdom, an early kingdom in India* Chedi , a part of a Buddhist temple...
(pagoda) with twelve indented corners is in the style of the Ayutthaya period. The
lateriteLaterite is a surface formation in hot and wet tropical areas which is rich in iron and aluminium and develops by intensive and long lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock. Nearly all kinds of rocks can be deeply decomposed by the action of high rainfall and elevated temperatures...
principal Buddha image in the ordination hall is in the posture of Subduing
MaraIn Buddhism, Māra is the demon who tempted Gautama Buddha by trying to seduce him with the vision of beautiful women who, in various legends, are often said to be his daughters. In Buddhist cosmology, Mara personifies unskillfulness, the "death" of the spiritual life...
.
Ban Maeo Thai Boran is a house where the species of genuine Siamese cats have been conserved. It also gives information on genuine features of Siamese cats, supports research, exchanges knowledge and views between members, and exchanges research experiences and breeding with relevant bodies.
Wat Bang Khae Noi: The most interesting item is the ordination hall’s interior walls which are woodcarvings depicting the Lord Buddha’s history, birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, as well as stories of the Lord Buddha’s Ten Incarnations or Jatakas.
Wat Intharam: There are many interesting points within the temple compound. Luangpho To, the Buddha image here, is over 300 years old. The Ubosoth (ordination hall), which was built from marble, has teak doors and window panels carved with proverbs.
Church of the Virgin Mary or
Atsana Wihan Maephra Bangkoet: This is a sacred place of worship for the Christians living in the area. It is a building in the French
GothicGothic architecture is a style of architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style, coated with pounded lime. The interior is decorated with coloured stained glass.
Wat Charoen Sukharam Worawihan: Within the temple, there is the Ubosoth (ordination hall) built in a unique style with its ceiling curved like a boat’s roof. The hall houses Luangpho To, a Buddha image of the
SukhothaiSukhothai may mean:* Sukhothai , the historic city* Sukhothai historical park* Sukhothai Kingdom, the historic Thai kingdom* Sukhothai ProvinceSukhothai may also mean:* Amphoe Mueang Sukhothai, a district* New Sukhothai, a city...
period.
Bang Kung Camp: Within the camp compound, there is the Ubosoth (ordination hall) commonly called "Bot Luangpho Dam". The hall is wholly covered by four species of
ficusFicus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The so-called Common Fig Ficus ...
plants: Pho (Bodhi), Sai, Krai, and Krang. Therefore, it is also called "Bot Prok Pho" (ordination hall covered by Bodhi trees). The monument of King Taksin the Great is in its vicinity.
Wat Bang Kung: Within the temple, there is an old ordination hall which houses a large sculptured Buddha image commonly called by villagers as Luangpho Bot Noi. Mural paintings from the late Ayutthaya period depict Lord Buddha whilst sitting in the niche and preaching, flanked by the disciples paying respect to him.
Activities
Cruising the Mae Klong River:. Among the houses are rarely seen traditional ones called Ruean Panya or hip-roof houses. Furthermore, there are riverside temples, such as Wat Amphawan, Wat Bang Khae Yai, Wat Bang Khae Noi, Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong, etc.
Sino Phattra Boat House is situated at 24 Mu 6 on the Samut Songkhram – Bang Nok Khwaek Road, Tambon Bang Khonthi, Amphoe Bang Khonthi. The boat which was once used for carrying rice will cruise the Mae Klong River, past the Bang Kung Camp, the King Rama II Memorial Park, and Wat Bang Khae Yai.
Festivals
The
Fair in Honour of King Rama II is held in early February at the King Rama II Memorial Park in Amphoe Amphawa. There are performances, a demonstration of traditional Thai desserts, folk plays, outdoor classical Thai masked dance.
The
Lychee Fair is held from around the end of March until early April in Amphoe Amphawa (subject to the produce of each year).
The
Luangpho Ban Laem Fair is held between 13-19 April at Wat Phetsamut Worawihan in Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
The
Sunset at Don Hoi Lot Fair and Board Sliding Competition is held in May at Don Hoi Lot in Chuchi village, Mu 4, Tambon Bang Chakreng, Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
The
Khao Yai PomeloThe pomelo, , is a citrus fruit native to South East Asia. It is usually pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white flesh and very thick spongy rind. It is the largest citrus fruit, 15-25 cm in diameter, and usually weighing 1-2 kg...
Fair is held yearly at the end of August.
The
Annual Long Boat Race is held on
Loy KrathongLoy Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand.-Overview:Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November."Loi" means "to float"...
Day at Wat Rat Peng in Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram.
The
Mackerel Eating and Mae Klong Famous Products Festival is held in front of City Hall in December.
External links