Samut Songkhram, Thailand

Etymology | Geography | History | Economy | Local traditions | Transport : Rail : Road

🇹🇭 Samut Songkhram is the capital of Samut Songkhram Province.

Etymology The word "samut" originates from the Sanskrit word "samudra" meaning "ocean", and the word "songkhram" from the Sanskrit "sangrama" meaning "war". Hence the name of the province literally means "war ocean".

Geography Samut Songkhram is at the mouth of the Mae Klong River to the Gulf of Thailand. By means of canals (khlong) the water of the river is spread through the province for irrigation. At the coast are many evaporation ponds for producing sea salt.

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 Taksin it became a province. It was the birthplace of Queen Amarindra of King Rama I, who also initiated the name Suan Nok. The birthplace of King Rama II in Amphawa District is now a memorial park.

Economy Samut Songkhram Province is a leader in Thai salt production, with 4,535 rai worked in 2011 by 111 households to produce salt.

Aside from salt Samut Songkhram Province is also known for the variety of fruits, especially lychee, pomelo and coconut.

Pla thu (ปลาทู, 'short mackerel') is regarded as an important commercial fish and the most famous product of the province. Mackerel of Samut Songkhram is well known as "Pla thu Mae Klong". Because the area of the province borders the Bay of Bangkok which is rich in plankton, they are regarded as the staple food of this fish species. Therefore, short mackerel of Samut Songkhram has a large body size and the meat is delicious. They can be cooked to a variety of foods such as Pla thu tom madan (ปลาทูต้มมะดัน, 'Pla thu in spicy and sour soup'), Chu chee pla thu (ฉู่ฉี่ปลาทู, 'Pla thu in red curry sauce'), Pla thu sa tia (ปลาทูซาเตี๊ยะ, Pla thu in sweet black soup), burger Pla thu, Pla thu meat, made into a burger filling which can be eaten only in Samut Songkhram. And exclusive Khao tom sam kasat (ข้าวต้มสามกษัตริย์, lit: "three kings porridge"), porridge with the main ingredients, Pla thu, prawn and fresh squid, recount that this menu has its origin from the King Rama V visiting the people at Mae Klong. He has prepared this menu based on his own original ideas until it became a legendary food.

Local traditions • The Celebrations of King Rama II: organized every early February, which was the birth month of King Rama II at King Rama II Memorial Park. • Worship and bathing Luangpho Ban Laem ceremony: organized every mid April, which falls on Songkran festival at Wat Ban Laem. • Mackerel festival: organized regularly at the end of the year (November or December) to promote the consumption of Pla thu at Provincial Hall.

Transport: Rail Samut Songkhram Province's main station, Maeklong railway station, is on the Maeklong Railway. The railway is known for its route through the Maeklong Railway Market, nicknamed the 'umbrella pulldown market'. It is one of the largest seafood markets in Thailand, and is centred on the Maeklong Railway's track. Whenever a train approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are moved back from the rails, to be replaced once the train has passed.

Transport: Road Rama II Road is a main road of Samut Songkhram, it is a road that leads to south as well as Petchkasem Road, starting from Bangkok's Thonburi side. Its named in honour to King Rama II. Samut Songkhram is about 63 km (39 mi) from Bangkok by this road.

The famous floating market, Talat Nam Amphawa can be reached by this road.

Bangkok Time 
Bangkok Time
Image: Adobe Stock fotoslaz #81304221

Samut Songkhram has a population of over 28,495 people. Samut Songkhram also forms the centre of the wider Samut Songkhram Province which has a population of over 193,305 people.

To set up a UBI Lab for Samut Songkhram see: https://www.ubilabnetwork.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/UBILabNetwork

Twin Towns - Sister Cities Samut Songkhram has links with:

🇺🇸 Mount Airy, USA
Text Atribution: Wikipedia Text under CC-BY-SA license

Antipodal to Samut Songkhram is: -80,-13.4

Locations Near: Samut Songkhram 100,13.4

🇹🇭 Ratchaburi 99.813,13.536 d: 25.2  

🇹🇭 Samut Sakhon 100.283,13.533 d: 34  

🇹🇭 Nakhon Pathom 100.05,13.817 d: 46.6  

🇹🇭 Bang Khun Thian 100.433,13.65 d: 54.4  

🇹🇭 Bang Bon 100.464,13.698 d: 60.1  

🇹🇭 Bangkok 100.483,13.75 d: 65.1  

🇹🇭 Bang Yai 100.4,13.867 d: 67.5  

🇹🇭 Sao Thong Hin 100.417,13.865 d: 68.6  

🇹🇭 Bang Na 100.583,13.667 d: 69.7  

🇹🇭 Bang Bua Thong 100.4,13.967 d: 76.4  

Antipodal to: Samut Songkhram -80,-13.4

🇵🇪 Callao -77.15,-12.067 d: 19672.3  

🇵🇪 San Isidro -77.033,-12.083 d: 19661.6  

🇵🇪 Lima -77.033,-12.05 d: 19660  

🇵🇪 Villa El Salvador -77,-12.05 d: 19656.7  

🇵🇪 Ancón -77.15,-11.733 d: 19654.5  

🇵🇪 Pisco -76.2,-13.717 d: 19602.8  

🇵🇪 Chincha Alta -76.133,-13.45 d: 19596.8  

🇵🇪 Ica -75.733,-14.067 d: 19548.3  

🇵🇪 Chimbote -78.583,-9.067 d: 19509.1  

🇵🇪 Huaraz -77.533,-9.533 d: 19508  

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