Talk:Amphawa/Listings

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This district has an important record in Thai history during the late Ayutthaya to the early Rattanakosin periods. Initially, it was a small community called ‘Khwaeng Bang Chang’ which flourished in agriculture and trade. According to evidence, in the reign of King Prasat Thong, Khwaeng Bang Chang had a marketplace called ‘Talat Bang Chang.’ The market mistress ‘Noi,’ held a title of Thao Kaeophaluek and she was in a wealthy family of Bang Chang which later became a royal lineage of ‘Na Bang Chang.’

In 1760, King Ekkathat of Ayutthaya appointed Nai Thongduang (King Rama I) as Luang Yokkrabat to rule Ratchaburi, the fourth level city of Ayutthaya. Luang Yokkrabat later married Khun Nak, a daughter of the wealthy family in Bang Chang, and moved to live behind Wat Chulamani. When his house was burnt by a fire, he resettled behind Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram. In 1767 when the Ayutthaya Kingdom was destroyed by the Burmese, Luang Yokkrabat decided to evacuate his family into the deep forest. During the time, Than Kaeo (Somdet Krommaphra Si Sudarak), an elder sister of Luang Yokkrabat, gave birth to a daughter named ‘Bunrot’ who later became Somdet Phra Si Suriyenthramat Borommarachini, the queen of King Rama II.

During the Thon Buri period, Phraya Wachiraprakan gathered enough forces to successfully dispel the Burmese out of the kingdom, and established himself as Phrachao Taksin (King Taksin). Luang Yokkrabat moved his family back to town and then his wife, Khun Nak, gave birth to the fourth son named ‘Chim’ (King Rama II). Luang Yokkrabat returned to work with King Taksin the Great and was given the title of Phra Ratchawarin Chao Krom Phra Tamruat Nok Khwa. He was later promoted as Somdet Chao Phraya Maha Kasatsuek and was crowned as King Rama I, the founder of the Royal House of Chakri and the Rattanakosin Kingdom. His wife, Khun Nak, was appointed as queen named Somdet Phra Ammarinthramat and her mother, Khun San, was given the title of Somdet Phra Rupsirisophak Mahanaknari.

Since Queen Ammarinthramat was a native of Bang Chang, she had immediate relatives who did farming there. As the queen was a member of the royal lineage of Bang Chang, they, therefore, became members of the royal lineage by their relation to the queen. The queen usually went to visit them. Until the reign of King Rama IV, the district of Bang Chang had been referred to as ‘Suan Nok’ (outside garden) while ‘Suan Nai’ (inside garden) was the royal palace in Bangkok. Hence, Amphoe Amphawa has had a place in Thai history for a long time.

Talat Nam Tha Kha is located in Tambon Tha Kha. This floating market still remains the villagers’ way of life in nature. The villagers here do farming and grow various plants. They usually paddle a boat to bring their produce to sell to each other. The vegetables and fruits from their orchards include chili, shallot, garlic, coconut sugar, guava, coconut, rose apple, pomelo, etc. The market is held every five days on the second, seventh, and twelfth days of the waning or waxing moon in the lunar month from around 8.00 – 11.00 a.m. A boat service is also available for visitors to paddle around the village and fruit orchards. For more information, contact the Tha Kha Sub-district Administration Organization at Tel. 0 3476 6208 or Uncle Charun at Tel. 0 3476 6123.

To get there Take Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). At Km 32 (after a junction to Wat Ko Kaeo), turn right for another 5 km. Alternatively, take a bus from the market in town in front of the TMB Bank. The Tha kha – Wat Thep Prasit bus is available from 7.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. and leaves every 20 minutes.

Wat Chula Mani is located on Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae) between Km 34-35 in Tambon Bang Chang. This ancient temple sits on the bank where the Amphawa Canal connects with the Phi Lok Canal. The temple was built in the Ayutthaya period during the late reign of King Prasatthong. It was presumed that Thao Kaeophaluek (Noi), Mistress of the Bang Chang Market and a forebear of the royal lineage of Bang Chang, built the temple. 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 is located between Km 37-38 on Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). This ancient temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period. The old Wihan (image hall) is very interesting. On the upper part of the walls, there are unusual mural paintings in the form of stucco reliefs depicting the Lord Buddha’s history. On the lower part of the walls, there are niches with Buddha images inside. In the centre of the hall, a large replica of four superimposing Buddha’s footprints in different sizes is enshrined. It was presumed that the footprints were built in the Thon Buri period. Initially, they were covered by silver sheets which were later stolen during a war. The footprint at the deepest level which is made from mother-of-pearl-inlaid wood still retains its beautiful design. On the temple grounds, a small coffee shop offers traditional tasty tea and coffee.

Talat Nam Yam Yen Amphawa is an afternoon floating market by the canal near Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram (parking area is available). On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, during 12.00 a.m. – 8.00 p.m., the Amphawa Canal is occupied by vendors who pack their boats with food and drinks, such as fried sea mussel, noodles, coffee, O-liang (iced black coffee), sweets, etc. There are also things for sale on wheelbarrows on the bank. Visitors can enjoy a cosy atmosphere and music broadcast by the community members, explore the market, have food, and hire a boat to see fireflies at night.

To get there By car Take Highway 35 (Thon Buri – Pak Tho) to Km 63. Drive through the town of Samut Songkhram to take Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). At Km 36-37, take a left turn toward the King Rama II Memorial Park. The Market is near the King Rama II Memorial Park.

By bus Take the Bangkok – Ratchaburi – Damnoen Saduak bus to get off at Amphawa Market.

Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram is next to the King Rama II Memorial Park. It is a temple associated with the royal lineage of Bang Chang. Presumably, it was built during the reign of King Rama I. The back of this temple was once a residence of Luang Yokkrabat (King Rama I) and Khun Nak (Queen Ammarinthramat of King Rama I). It was believed that the area where the Prang (pagoda) is standing was the birthplace of Khun Nak’s son or Khun Chim who later became King Rama II.

Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram was renovated several times by Kings Rama III, IV, and V. At present, it is a royal temple of the second class. The Ubosot (ordination hall) and permanent structures within the temple are mostly formed in the early Rattanakosin style of art and architecture. The ordination hall is a beautiful building. Furthermore, there is a Monument of King Rama II.

To get there By car Take Highway 35 (Thon Buri – Pak Tho). At Km 63, drive through the town of Samut Songkhram and go on for another 6 km to turn right to Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). Take a left turn between Km 36-37 for around 1 km. By bus Take a bus at the Municipal Market of Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram, routing from Mae Klong to Bang Nok Khwaek and Ratchaburi, and get off in front of Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram.

King Rama II Memorial Park is the project to honour King Rama II by the King Rama II Memorial Foundation under Royal Patronage, for the royal graciousness of bestowing exquisite art and culture as a national treasure, which qualified King Rama II to be praised as a Person of the World by UNESCO. The construction site of the Memorial Park, which was given by Phra Ratchasamutmethi, an abbot of Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram, covers an area of around 11 rai. The area is important since it was a birthplace of King Rama II.

Within the King Rama II Memorial Park, there are many interesting spots:

King Rama II Museum is comprised of four Thai-styled buildings separated into sections. The Central Hall houses the statue of King Rama II and displays artefacts from the early Rattanakosin era, such as Bencharong pentachrome porcelain, pottery, Khon masks, etc. The Male Room presents the living quarters of heroic Thai men, with a Buddha image and a bed which is believed to have belonged to King Rama II. The Female Room displays living quarters of Thai women in the past, with a dresser, a mirror, etc. The Veranda imitates that of a traditional Thai house, decorated with pots of dwarfed trees and decorative plants. The Kitchen and Restroom display a Thai kitchen with kitchenware and crockery, and a restroom of the middle class.

In addition, there is an open theatre and a botanical garden where plants in Thai literature have been collected. A shop here offers local products and young plants. The Park is shady with traditional Thai ambience. It is open daily, from 8.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. on Monday to Friday, and 8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission fee, adults: 20 Baht; children: 5 Baht. For more information, call Tel. 0 3475 1666, Fax: 0 3475 1376.

To get there By car Take Highway 35 (Thon Buri – Pak Tho) to Km 63 and drive through the town of Samut Songkhram. Switch to Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). Take a left turn between Km 36-37 for around 1 km. By bus Take a bus at the Municipal Market of Amphoe Mueang Samut Songkhram, routing from Mae Klong to Bang Nok Khwaek and Ratchaburi, and get off in front of the Park.

Ban Phaya So ‘So’ or a fiddle is a local musical instrument of the Central Region. Ban Phaya So is a house of the alto fiddle (So U) maker who combines the art of traditional Thai music with carving. A coconut that is used for making a fiddle will be carved with different designs, such as character figures, changeable rose flowers, name initials, names of the twelve astrological years, etc. Nowadays, this art is rarely seen. Visitors can see the art of carving and learn to play the fiddle at Khun Somphon Ketkaeo’s house, at 43 Mu 5, Tambon Bang Phrom, Amphoe Bang Khonthi. For more information, call Tel. 0 3476 1949, 08 1742 1786.

To get there From the town of Samut Songkhram, follow Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae) and take a left turn toward the King Rama II Memorial Park between Km 36-37. Ban Phaya So is around 3 km from the Park.

Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong is by the Mae Klong River, at the mouth of the Pracha Chom Chuen Canal on the west bank, in Tambon Suan Luang. There are many interesting items within the temple. Kudi Thong or a golden- teak monk’s cell has an unusual story that 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. Wat Bang Li was later named Wat Bang Li Kudi Thong. When the temple soil was eroded and destroyed by water, the Kudi Thong was moved to be restructured at Wat Phummarin. Hence, Wat Phummarin was renamed ‘Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong.’ Furthermore, there is a Wat Phummarin Museum and an Educational Park, where valuable artefacts worth a study and conservation have been collected, such as Buddha images, traditional Thai books, blue-and-white porcelain and brassware. A Buddha image here, which is over three hundred years old, is a gilded stucco image in the posture of Subduing Mara, called ‘Phra Phuttha Rattana Mongkhon or Luangpho To.’ There is also a monument of King Rama II. For more information, contact Phra Palat Thawonpiyatharo at Tel. 0 3475 1492, 0 3475 1085, 08 1409 0567.

Ban Dontri or House of Music is located in the temple compound of Wat Kudi Thong. 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. A voluntary group of traditional Thai musicians in the past has been formed to give music lessons for a new generation, so that the spirit of the music city would be passed down. The House of Music has operated since 1 July, 1999. It is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call      Tel. 0 3475 1500. Wat Bang Khae Yai is located on the bank of the Mae Klong River, at the mouth of the Bang Khae Canal in Tambon Khwae Om. It was built in 1814. Inside the temple, there are ancient monuments and artefacts. The large Ubosot (ordination hall) is more than 150 years old. At the front, the square Chedi (pagoda) with twelve indented corners is the art of the Ayutthaya period. The laterite principal Buddha image in the ordination hall is in the posture of Subduing Mara. There are seven Dharma Chedis built in 1872 with a boundary wall. On a separating wall in a monk’s cell, a tempera mural painting from the late reign of King Rama II depicts a battle between the Siamese and the Burmese, probably the one that King Rama II sent troops to obstruct the enemy at Ratchaburi in 1821. Admission is subject to permission in advance.

To get there Take Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae) and turn left to cross the Phra Si Suriyen Bridge. Then, turn right to Highway 3062 for about 2 km, past Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong, and see Wat Bang Khae Yai.

Ban Maeo Thai Boran is a house where species of genuine Siamese cats have been conserved. It is located at 2/1 Mu 7, Tambon Khwae Om. The house of traditional Siamese cats was created by lovers of Siamese cats to promote and support the conservation of Siamese cats to be a treasure of the nation. 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. Khun Pricha Phukkhabut, the co-founder and caretaker of the traditional Siamese cat house, told that “my mother raised Siamese cats of the Wichian Mat species when I was young. At that time, I did not pay much attention to them. When I grew up, I was to feed them. There were not many cats in my house. My family continued to keep Wichian Mat cats and I had developed a bond with them. Later, some friends who were cat lovers talked about the conservation of the cat since it was clever, graceful, attractive, and had pleasing habits.” Apart from the species of Wichian Mat, Siamese cats also include Si Sawat, Supphalak, and Koncha. Inside the house, there is a breeding section divided into cages of various types of Siamese cats. This is an interesting place for the study on a genuine species of Siamese cats. For more information, call Tel. 0 3473 3284, 08 4003 4194.

To get there Take Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). Turn left to cross the Phra Si Suriyen Bridge and then turn right to Highway 3062. Cross the Pracha Chom Chuen Canal, past Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong and Wat Bang Khae Yai, and see the sign of the traditional Siamese cat house.

Wat Bang Khae Noi is located in Tambon Khwae Om by the Mae Klong River. This temple was built by Khunying Chui (Noi) Wongsarot in 1868. Initially, the Ubosot (ordination hall) was built on the bamboo raft tied to a Bodhi tree on the river bank. At present, the temple is well restored. The most interesting thing is the ordination hall’s inside 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. The beautiful and explicit design was made by craftsmen from Phetchaburi province where woodcarving is famous. For more information, call Tel. 0 3476 1222.

Wat Intharam is located in Tambon Mueang Mai. This ancient temple was built in 1757 during the Ayutthaya period. It was renovated during the reign of King Rama III. There are many interesting points within the temple compound. Luangpho To, the Buddha image here is over 300 years old. The Ubosot (ordination hall), which was built from marble, has teak doors and window panels carved with proverbs. At the temple’s pier, there is a pond of Taphian carp and visitors can feed them. The temple sets aside an area as a mental rehabilitation centre using herbs and Dharma practice to treat drug addicts. Furthermore, an ancient boat museum project will be implemented here. For more information, call Tel. 0 3476 1888,      0 3473 5515.

To get there Take Highway 325 (Samut Songkhram – Bang Phae). Turn left to cross the Phra Si Suriyen Bridge and then turn right to Highway 3062. Turn right again to Highway 2002, past Amphawa Hospital, and follow Highway 2007. Alternatively, visitors can take bus No. 8131 from Samut Songkhram to Wat Kaeo Charoen’s pier.

--(WT-en) globe-trotter 00:16, 3 February 2010 (EST)