Samut Sakhon Province
Encyclopedia
Samut Sakhon is one of the central provinces
(changwat) of Thailand
.
Neighboring provinces are (from the southwest clockwise) Samut Songkhram
, Ratchaburi
, Nakhon Pathom
and Bangkok
.
word Samudra meaning ocean
, and the word sakhon from Sanskrit sagara meaning lake
.
. At the coast to the sea are many fields used for sea salt
production.
Mahachai which was dug then and connected with the Tha Chin river near the town. It was renamed by King Mongkut
to its current name, however the old name Mahachai is still sometimes used by the locals.
shows a Chinese junk in front of the coast, with a smoking chimney. Both refer to the old trading tradition as well as the local industries.
Provincial tree is the Devil Tree (Alstonia scholaris). The provincial slogan is Fishing City, Factory Town, Agricultural Ground, Historic Site
The province is subdivided into 3 districts (Amphoe
). The districts are further subdivided into 40 communes (tambon
) and 288 villages (muban
).
Altogether there are 7 municipal (thesaban
) areas within the province - Samut Sakhon
is the only city (thesaban nakhon), Krathum Baen and Om Noi are the two towns (thesaban mueang), and there are further 4 townships (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administrated by 30 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Wat Suthiwat Wararam (วัดสุทธิวาตวราราม) or Wat Chong Lom (วัดช่องลม): a beautifully decorated royal temple and a model of the developed one. At the front of the temple is enshrined a statue of King Rama V, celebrating his royal journey to Tha Chalom and its establishment as the first sanitary district of Thailand.
Samut Sakhon Science Centre for Education (ศูนย์วิทยาศาสตร์เพื่อการศึกษาจังหวัดสมุทรสาคร): The building houses an exhibition on astrology and space. Outside the building, scientific gardens are organized such as geological garden, health garden, physics amusement park, organic agricultural garden and herb garden.
Wat Khok Kham (วัดโคกขาม): The interesting part of this temple is the old ubosoth
decorated around with Sema boundary markers. Adjacent is the Phanthai Norasing Shrine which was a temporary shrine and a store of antique objects concerning the story of Phanthai Norasing.
Phanthai Norasing Shrine (ศาลพันท้ายนรสิงห์): This shrine was constructed in memory of Phanthai Norasing. Phrachao Suea had Phanthai Norasing executed against the former’s own consent, ordered the construction of a temporary shrine and put Phanthai Norasing’s head as well as the broken figurehead of the Ekkachai royal barge in the shrine to be a symbol of his honesty and loyalty.
Khlong Khok Kham (คลองโคกขาม): A very winding canal. Some parts of it are 90-degree curves. The tide is so strong that it is very difficult to control a boat. This caused an accident when Phrachao Suea went along Khlong Khok Kham on his private trip by the Ekkachai royal barge. The barge hit a branch of a tree and Phanthai Norasing as the steersman took responsibility by being executed.
Pom Wichian Chodok (ป้อมวิเชียรโชฎก): It was constructed in 1828 during the reign of King Rama III because in that period, there was a conflict with the Vietnamese on Chao Anuwong of Vientiane. The fortress was made of bricks and cement with no guarding station, but fighting ones, while at the opening in the wall laid the cannons preventing the enemies coming through the mouth of the river.
The City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมือง): A sacred place as well as a special centre for the fishermen in the province. Every time before sailing off, they have to pay respect and light a firework in front of the city pillar shrine for good luck.
Talat Maha Chai (Tharuea Thetsaban) (ตลาดมหาชัย, ท่าเรือเทศบาล): It is a centre of commerce and transport of Samut Sakhon. Talat Maha Chai is a spot where there are boats to various districts. There are charters as well as regular long-tailed boats to Khlong Khok Kham.
Saphan Pla (สะพานปลา): The biggest fish bridge and a modern one, second only to that in Bangkok. Modern facilities are utilized to transfer large amount of sea products in every kind. Also, it is a wholesale centre of sea fish.
Wat Pa Chai Rangsi (วัดป่าชัยรังสี): The temple was constructed in 1982. Its unique pattern of architecture, similar to the stone sanctuaries in the Northeast of Thailand, is the most interesting aspect of the temple.
Wat Bang Pla (วัดบางปลา): An important temple of the Mon
minority in Samut Sakhon. King Rama V went to the temple when Luangpu Thao Kao Yot was the abbot. Moreover, Krommaluang Chumphon Khet Udomsak had a long covered walkway constructed with its eaves board being beautifully engraved.
Ao Maha Chai Mangrove Forest Natural Resource Study Centre (พื้นที่ศึกษาธรรมชาติป่าชายเลนอ่าวมหาชัย): Situated in Tambon Ban Ya Phraek at the mouth of the Tha Chin River. The centre is located in the area of the National Forest Reserve on the western side of Ao Maha Chai.
Shrimp Farms and Salt Fields (นากุ้งนาเกลือ): Samut Sakhon’s coast is appropriate for operating shrimp farms and salt fields, especially in Tambon Kalong, Tambon Na Khok, Tambon Ban Bo, Tambon Bang Thorat, Tambon Khok Kham and Tambon Phanthai Norasing.
Wat Nang Sao (วัดนางสาว) The important ancient monument of the temple is a brick ordination hall on a curved base similar to a junk
with one entrance which is called "Bot Maha Ut". It has an ancient style terracotta tiled roof, whose beams are made of logs. It also has twin sandstone boundary markers.
Plong Liam (ปล่องเหลี่ยม): It is the chimney of a Portuguese sugar factory, called Captain Hit. It is believed that the Portuguese who resided in Thailand during that period might support the villagers to plant sugar cane to supply sugar factories because in the past, this area was a good location for planting cane as evident from many sugarcane press factories, which are called by the locals as “Rong Hip”.
Orchard and Flower Garden Tour in Amphoe Krathum Baen and Amphoe Ban Phaeo. In both districts, the locals do orchards, vegetable plantation, orchid farms and coconut groves. The former one is famous for the orchards of Nam Hom (fragrant juice) coconuts, pomelo
s and orchid farms along Setthakit Road (3091), while in the latter, there are vineyards and guava
orchards along Highway No. 3097.
The Ban Phaeo Agriculture Fair is organized during February or March every year to promote the agricultural produce of the farmers in Amphoe Ban Phaeo, the most well-known place in the province and the biggest one in the country for the production of fruits, flowers and agricultural products.
The Chaopho Lak Mueang Procession takes place in June every year at the embankment in front of the city hall. The "Chaopho Lak Mueang" is then placed in a palanquin on a fishing boat, which is beautifully decorated with flags, and floated along the Tha Chin River from Talat Maha Chai to Tha Chalom in the area of Wat Suwannaram and further to Wat Chong Lom, providing an opportunity for the people to pay respect and gain good fortune.
The Tha Chalom Vegetarian Festival is organized during the period of days 1-9 of the waxing moon in the 9th Chinese lunar month every year. It is a serene vegetarian festival of a ceremonial nature. It purifies the body and spirit and it is attended by a large number of people.
The Honey Offering Festival takes place in Wat Khlong Khru, Amphoe Mueang, Samut Sakhon, on the full moon of the 10th lunar month to pass on the traditional culture and festival of the Thai Mon people
by paying respect to the monks. The monks will preserve the honey and use it as medicine. The Thai Mon people believe that those who offer honey to the monks will obtain good luck in return and gain prosperity financially and in honour, both in this and in the next life.
The Bodhisattva Kwan Yin Homage-paying Fair takes place from November 19 to 23 every year in the area of Wat Chong Lom to provide a chance for the public and tourists to pay homage to Bodhisattva
Kwan Yin.
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...
.
Neighboring provinces are (from the southwest clockwise) Samut Songkhram
Samut Songkhram Province
Samut Songkhram ) is one of the central provinces of Thailand.Neighboring provinces are Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi and Samut Sakhon. Local people call Samut Songkhram Mae Klong. The province is the smallest of all Thai provinces areawise...
, Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi Province
Ratchaburi is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom,Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi...
, Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom Province
Nakhon Pathom ) is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi...
and 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...
.
Etymology
The word Samut originates from the SanskritSanskrit
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...
word Samudra meaning ocean
Ocean
An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% 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 sakhon from Sanskrit sagara meaning lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
.
Geography
Samut Sakhon is located at the mouth of the Tha Chin Klong river, a distributary 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:...
. At the coast to the sea are many fields used for sea salt
Sea salt
Sea salt, salt obtained by the evaporation of seawater, is used in cooking and cosmetics. It is historically called bay salt or solar salt...
production.
History
The oldest name of the area is Tha Chin, probably referring to the fact that it was a trading port where Chinese junks arrived. In 1548 the city Sakhon Buri was established, and was renamed in 1704 to Mahachai after the khlongKhlong
A 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...
Mahachai which was dug then and connected with the Tha Chin river near the town. It was renamed by King Mongkut
Mongkut
Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramenthramaha Mongkut Phra Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama IV, known in foreign countries as King Mongkut , was the fourth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 1851-1868...
to its current name, however the old name Mahachai is still sometimes used by the locals.
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 a Chinese junk in front of the coast, with a smoking chimney. Both refer to the old trading tradition as well as the local industries.
Provincial tree is the Devil Tree (Alstonia scholaris). The provincial slogan is Fishing City, Factory Town, Agricultural Ground, Historic Site
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 40 communes (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 288 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...
).
- Mueang Samut SakhonAmphoe Mueang Samut SakhonMueang Samut Sakhon is the capital district of Samut Sakhon Province, central Thailand.-History:Mueang Tha Chin name was firstly found in Ayutthaya law that refer to the governor position, Phra Samut Sakhon. The city was managed into the southern cities group that controlled by the Defence ministry...
- Krathum BaenAmphoe Krathum BaenKrathum Baen is a district in the northern part of Samut Sakhon Province, central Thailand.-History:Krathum Baen area was a part of Mueang Samut Sakhon district. It was created in 1900...
- Ban PhaeoAmphoe Ban PhaeoBan Phaeo is a district in the northern part of Samut Sakhon Province, central Thailand.-History:In the past the area of the district was covered with deep forest. Hunters who traveled to hunt wild animals there always lost the way, so they agreed to make meeting points by using Phaeo flags. When...
Altogether there are 7 municipal (thesaban
Thesaban
Thesaban are the municipalities in Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities - city, town and subdistrict municipality. Both Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities outside the thesaban system....
) areas within the province - Samut Sakhon
Samut Sakhon
Samut Sakhon is a town in Thailand, capital of the Samut Sakhon province....
is the only city (thesaban nakhon), Krathum Baen and Om Noi are the two towns (thesaban mueang), and there are further 4 townships (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administrated by 30 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Sights
Wat Yai Chom Prasat (วัดใหญ่จอมปราสาท): It is an ancient temple constructed approximately 400 years ago. Inside the temple, there are important historical remains. The Fine Arts Department registered the temple as a national ancient monument on 27 September, 1936.Wat Suthiwat Wararam (วัดสุทธิวาตวราราม) or Wat Chong Lom (วัดช่องลม): a beautifully decorated royal temple and a model of the developed one. At the front of the temple is enshrined a statue of King Rama V, celebrating his royal journey to Tha Chalom and its establishment as the first sanitary district of Thailand.
Samut Sakhon Science Centre for Education (ศูนย์วิทยาศาสตร์เพื่อการศึกษาจังหวัดสมุทรสาคร): The building houses an exhibition on astrology and space. Outside the building, scientific gardens are organized such as geological garden, health garden, physics amusement park, organic agricultural garden and herb garden.
Wat Khok Kham (วัดโคกขาม): The interesting part of this temple is the old ubosoth
Ubosoth
A phra 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....
decorated around with Sema boundary markers. Adjacent is the Phanthai Norasing Shrine which was a temporary shrine and a store of antique objects concerning the story of Phanthai Norasing.
Phanthai Norasing Shrine (ศาลพันท้ายนรสิงห์): This shrine was constructed in memory of Phanthai Norasing. Phrachao Suea had Phanthai Norasing executed against the former’s own consent, ordered the construction of a temporary shrine and put Phanthai Norasing’s head as well as the broken figurehead of the Ekkachai royal barge in the shrine to be a symbol of his honesty and loyalty.
Khlong Khok Kham (คลองโคกขาม): A very winding canal. Some parts of it are 90-degree curves. The tide is so strong that it is very difficult to control a boat. This caused an accident when Phrachao Suea went along Khlong Khok Kham on his private trip by the Ekkachai royal barge. The barge hit a branch of a tree and Phanthai Norasing as the steersman took responsibility by being executed.
Pom Wichian Chodok (ป้อมวิเชียรโชฎก): It was constructed in 1828 during the reign of King Rama III because in that period, there was a conflict with the Vietnamese on Chao Anuwong of Vientiane. The fortress was made of bricks and cement with no guarding station, but fighting ones, while at the opening in the wall laid the cannons preventing the enemies coming through the mouth of the river.
The City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมือง): A sacred place as well as a special centre for the fishermen in the province. Every time before sailing off, they have to pay respect and light a firework in front of the city pillar shrine for good luck.
Talat Maha Chai (Tharuea Thetsaban) (ตลาดมหาชัย, ท่าเรือเทศบาล): It is a centre of commerce and transport of Samut Sakhon. Talat Maha Chai is a spot where there are boats to various districts. There are charters as well as regular long-tailed boats to Khlong Khok Kham.
Saphan Pla (สะพานปลา): The biggest fish bridge and a modern one, second only to that in Bangkok. Modern facilities are utilized to transfer large amount of sea products in every kind. Also, it is a wholesale centre of sea fish.
Wat Pa Chai Rangsi (วัดป่าชัยรังสี): The temple was constructed in 1982. Its unique pattern of architecture, similar to the stone sanctuaries in the Northeast of Thailand, is the most interesting aspect of the temple.
Wat Bang Pla (วัดบางปลา): An important temple of the 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...
minority in Samut Sakhon. King Rama V went to the temple when Luangpu Thao Kao Yot was the abbot. Moreover, Krommaluang Chumphon Khet Udomsak had a long covered walkway constructed with its eaves board being beautifully engraved.
Ao Maha Chai Mangrove Forest Natural Resource Study Centre (พื้นที่ศึกษาธรรมชาติป่าชายเลนอ่าวมหาชัย): Situated in Tambon Ban Ya Phraek at the mouth of the Tha Chin River. The centre is located in the area of the National Forest Reserve on the western side of Ao Maha Chai.
Shrimp Farms and Salt Fields (นากุ้งนาเกลือ): Samut Sakhon’s coast is appropriate for operating shrimp farms and salt fields, especially in Tambon Kalong, Tambon Na Khok, Tambon Ban Bo, Tambon Bang Thorat, Tambon Khok Kham and Tambon Phanthai Norasing.
Wat Nang Sao (วัดนางสาว) The important ancient monument of the temple is a brick ordination hall on a curved base similar to a junk
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
with one entrance which is called "Bot Maha Ut". It has an ancient style terracotta tiled roof, whose beams are made of logs. It also has twin sandstone boundary markers.
Plong Liam (ปล่องเหลี่ยม): It is the chimney of a Portuguese sugar factory, called Captain Hit. It is believed that the Portuguese who resided in Thailand during that period might support the villagers to plant sugar cane to supply sugar factories because in the past, this area was a good location for planting cane as evident from many sugarcane press factories, which are called by the locals as “Rong Hip”.
Activities
Cruising is one of the interesting water activities for tourists in Samut Sakhon. The route starts from the Phanthai Norasing Shrine at Khlong Khok Kham.Orchard and Flower Garden Tour in Amphoe Krathum Baen and Amphoe Ban Phaeo. In both districts, the locals do orchards, vegetable plantation, orchid farms and coconut groves. The former one is famous for the orchards of Nam Hom (fragrant juice) coconuts, pomelo
Pomelo
The pomelo is a citrus fruit native to Southeast Asia. It is usually pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white flesh and very thick albedo . It is the largest citrus fruit, 15–25 cm in diameter, and usually weighing 1–2 kg...
s and orchid farms along Setthakit Road (3091), while in the latter, there are vineyards and guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
orchards along Highway No. 3097.
Festivals
The Seafood Festival takes place during February or March every year at the embankment in front of the City Pillar Shrine to promote the reputation of seafood products of the province as well as the agricultural produce of the Ban Phaeo people such as fruits and flowers, including the processed food industry. Also, there is a fair offering seafood and handicraft products.The Ban Phaeo Agriculture Fair is organized during February or March every year to promote the agricultural produce of the farmers in Amphoe Ban Phaeo, the most well-known place in the province and the biggest one in the country for the production of fruits, flowers and agricultural products.
The Chaopho Lak Mueang Procession takes place in June every year at the embankment in front of the city hall. The "Chaopho Lak Mueang" is then placed in a palanquin on a fishing boat, which is beautifully decorated with flags, and floated along the Tha Chin River from Talat Maha Chai to Tha Chalom in the area of Wat Suwannaram and further to Wat Chong Lom, providing an opportunity for the people to pay respect and gain good fortune.
The Tha Chalom Vegetarian Festival is organized during the period of days 1-9 of the waxing moon in the 9th Chinese lunar month every year. It is a serene vegetarian festival of a ceremonial nature. It purifies the body and spirit and it is attended by a large number of people.
The Honey Offering Festival takes place in Wat Khlong Khru, Amphoe Mueang, Samut Sakhon, on the full moon of the 10th lunar month to pass on the traditional culture and festival of the Thai Mon people
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...
by paying respect to the monks. The monks will preserve the honey and use it as medicine. The Thai Mon people believe that those who offer honey to the monks will obtain good luck in return and gain prosperity financially and in honour, both in this and in the next life.
The Bodhisattva Kwan Yin Homage-paying Fair takes place from November 19 to 23 every year in the area of Wat Chong Lom to provide a chance for the public and tourists to pay homage to Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
Kwan Yin.