Wikipedia

Samut Songkhram province

Samut Songkhram (Thai: สมุทรสงคราม, pronounced [sā.mùt sǒŋ.kʰrāːm]) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand.

Samut Songkhram
สมุทรสงคราม
Province
Other transcription(s)
 • Teochew夜功
From top: Bang Noi Floating Market [th]; Don Hoi Lot; Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Bang Nok Khwaek; Wat Ban Laem; Amphawa Floating Market; Maeklong Railway Market, also known as Talat Rom Hup when the train arrives
Flag of Samut Songkhram
Flag
Official seal of Samut Songkhram
Seal
Nickname: 
Mae Klong
Motto(s): 
เมืองหอยหลอด ยอดลิ้นจี่ มีอุทยาน ร.2 แม่กลองไหลผ่าน นมัสการหลวงพ่อบ้านแหลม
("City of razor shells. Tops of the lychee trees. King Rama II Park. Passage of the Maeklong river. Worship the Buddhist image of Luang Pho Ban Laem.")
Map of Thailand highlighting Samut Songkhram province
Map of Thailand highlighting Samut Songkhram province
CountryThailand
CapitalSamut Songkhram
Government
 • GovernorNisakorn Wisitsora-at
(since November 2024)
Area
[1]
 • Total
417 km2 (161 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 77th
Population
 (2019)[2]
 • Total
193,305
 • RankRanked 76th
 • Density465/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
  • RankRanked 7th
Human Achievement Index
[3]
 • HAI (2022)0.6552 "somewhat high"
Ranked 18th
GDP
[4]
 • Totalbaht 22 billion
(US$0.8 billion) (2019)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code
75xxx
Calling code034
ISO 3166 codeTH-75
Websitewww.samutsongkhram.go.th

Neighbouring provinces are (from the south clockwise) Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi and Samut Sakhon. Local people call Samut Songkhram Mae Klong. The province is the smallest in area of all Thai provinces. Chang and Eng Bunker, the famous Siamese twins were born here on 11 May 1811.[5]

Toponymy

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The word "samut" originates from the Sanskrit word समुद्र samudra meaning 'ocean', and the word "songkhram" from Sanskrit संग्राम saṃgrāma meaning 'war'.[6] Hence the name of the province literally means 'war ocean'.[7] However, this province is colloquially known as "Mae Klong" after the name of the main river that flows past the area.

Geography

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Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram

Samut Songkhram is at the mouth of the Mae Klong River to the Bay of Bangkok (upper Gulf of Thailand). With several canals (khlong) the water of the river is spread through the province for irrigation. At the coast are many lakes for producing sea salt. The sandbar Don Hoi Lot at the mouth of the river is famous for its endemic shell population of Solen regularis.

It covers a total area of 416.7 km2 (about 160.9 sq mi). It can be considered the smallest province in Thailand. The total forest area is 30 km2 (12 sq mi) or 7.3 percent of provincial area.[8]

This province is home to places of worship of the three major religions. There are 110 Buddhist temples, two Christian churches and one mosque. Additionally, Samut Songkhram is also home to the oldest Chinese joss house and almshouse in Thailand, which is over 215 years old.[9]

History

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Samut Songkhram or Mae Klong or Suan Nok (outside garden) was a part of Mueang Ratchaburi in the past. The old name of Mae Klong is Bang Chang which was centered at Tambon Amphawa, Samut Songkhram (from the district at present). During the transition from the Ayutthaya to the Thon Buri periods, it was separated from Ratchaburi and named Mueang Mae Klong.

Samut Songkhram was historically important during the establishment of Thon Buri as the kingdom’s capital by King Taksin the Great. When the Burmese led an army to Tambon Bang Kung, the king gathered the people to build a fort and prevent the city from capture by the Burmese troops. This was an important act against the Burmese invaders at that time.

Mueang Mae Klong (actually pronounced "Mae Glawng"), changed its name into Samut Songkhram but the actual year is not known. It is assumed it occurred in 1752 to 1756 because the name of the province first appeared in the evidence from the first Thai enacted law: Later, a decree was found,issued from the reign of King Borom Urn Baromgoate in 1756 and was identified as ordered to The Lord Rattanathibet, the Grand marshal of the Court. Apparently Kun Wisetvanish (Chean Ar Pan Teck), Kun Thip, and Meun Rukka Auksorn were daring ask to establish casinos in Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi and Samut Prakan.

Samut Songkhram is the birthplace of many famous Thai people whether King Rama II who was born in 1767 in Amphawa District or Chang and Eng Bunker who were born in 1811.

Administrative divisions

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Map of Samut Songkhram province with districts
 
  Town municipality (thesaban mueang)
  Subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon)

Provincial government

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The province is divided into three districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 38 subdistricts (tambons) and 284 villages (mubans).

  1. Mueang Samut Songkhram
  2. Bang Khonthi
  3. Amphawa

Symbols

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The provincial seal shows a drum over 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 products of the province.

The provincial tree is Casuarina equisetifolia. Siamese giant carp (Catlocarpio siamensis) is the provincial fish.[10]

The provincial slogan is "City of razor shells. Tops of the lychee trees. King Rama II Park. Passage of the Maeklong river. Worship the Buddhist image of Luang Pho Ban Laem."[11]

Economy

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Samut Songkhram is a leader in Thai salt production, with 4,535 rai worked in 2011 by 111 households to produce salt.[12]

Aside from salt Samut Songkhram 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".[13] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Local festivals

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  • 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.[11]
  • Mackerel festival: organized regularly at the end of the year (November or December) to promote the consumption of Pla thu at Provincial Hall.[13]
  • Loy Krathong Kab-kluai: Samut Songkhram's Loy Krathong is unique, as krathongs here are made from banana leaf-sheaf (Kab-kluai in Thai), adorned with locally renowned incense sticks that burn for a long time. The event takes place at Wat Phumarin Kudi Thong by the Mae Klong River.[15]

Transport

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Rail

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Maeklong Station

Samut Songkhram's main station, Maeklong railway station, is on the Maeklong Railway. The railway is known for its route through the Maeklong Railway Market, nicknamed (Thai: ตลาดร่มหุบ; RTGS: talat rom hup), meaning the 'umbrella pulldown market'.[16] It is one of the largest seafood markets in Thailand, and is centred on the Maeklong Railway's track.[17] Whenever a train approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are moved back from the rails, to be replaced once the train has passed.[18]

Road

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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.[11]

The famous floating market, Talat Nam Amphawa can be reached by this road.[11]

Human achievement index 2022

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Health Education Employment Income
       
9 7 7 12
Housing Family Transport Participation
 
 
    
61 72 10 70
Province Samut Songkhram, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.9552 is "somewhat high", occupies place 18 in the ranking.

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]

Rank Classification
  1 - 13 "high"
14 - 29 "somewhat high"
30 - 45 "average"
46 - 61 "somewhat low"
62 - 77 "low"

References

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  1. ^ Advancing Human Development through the ASEAN Community, Thailand Human Development Report 2014, table 0:Basic Data (PDF) (Report). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-974-680-368-7. Retrieved 17 January 2016, Data has been supplied by Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Wayback Machine.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)[dead link‍]
  2. ^ "สถิติทางการทะเบียน" [Registration statistics]. bora.dopa.go.th. Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). December 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2020. Download จำนวนประชากร ปี พ.ศ.2562 - Download population year 2019
  3. ^ a b "ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved 12 March 2024, page 74{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  4. ^ "Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition". <>. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). July 2019. ISSN 1686-0799. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  5. ^ Phataranawik, Phatarawadee (13 May 2018). "Descendants celebrate Siamese Twins and Thai-US friendship". The Nation. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  6. ^ "สงคราม - Wiktionary". Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  7. ^ "สมุทรสงคราม มาจากไหน? ค้นหลักฐานเมืองจากสมัยสมเด็จพระบรมไตรโลกนาถ" [Where did Samut Songkhram come from? search for the city evidence from the King Borommatrailokkanat's reign]. Silpa Wattanatham (in Thai). 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
  8. ^ "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  9. ^ พระเครื่อง – หน้า 15, เปิดเมนูเด็ดเทศกาลกินเจ 'ศาลเจ้าซิ่วฮกตั๊ว'เลี้ยงฟรีตลอดงาน. ข่าวสด วันพุธที่ 2 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2567 ปีที่ 34 ฉบับที่ 12,362 Thai: ภาษาไทย
  10. ^ Suraset Meesin (story) and Editorial Team (photos), ปลาเด็ด 77 จังหวัด #6 (Cool fish in 77 provinces #6), Aquarium Biz, Vol. 4 Issue 44 (February 2014) Thai: ภาษาไทย
  11. ^ a b c d koi_la_zy (22 September 2011). "จังหวัดสมุทรสงคราม" [Samut Songkhram province]. Mthai (in Thai). Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  12. ^ Wattanavanitvut, Phongthai (10 September 2016). "Salt industry prepares for a shake-up". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  13. ^ a b c Srimaneekulroj, Kanin (11 December 2015). "Fish for a compliment". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  14. ^ Bunnag, Rome (2018-11-16). "ปลาทู อาหารคนจนจริงหรือ? เปิดตำนาน "ข้าวต้มสามกษัตริย์" ตำรับ ร.๕ ทรงประดิษฐ์!!" [Pla thu really poor food? opening the legend of "Khao tom sam kasat", recipe of Rama V the royal invented!!]. ASTV Manager (in Thai). Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  15. ^ ""ลอยกระทงกาบกล้วย" เอกลักษณ์งานลอยกระทงแห่งเมืองแม่กลอง สมุทรสงคราม" [“Banana Leaf-Sheaf Loy Krathong”, the unique identity of the Loy Krathong festival in Mae Klong, Samut Songkhram]. ASTV Manager (in Thai). 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  16. ^ "Maeklong Railway Market: Marketplace With a Railway Track Through it". Amusing Planet. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
  17. ^ "The Mae Khlong Mahachai Railway". Thailand by Train. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  18. ^ Cunningham, Susan. "The Market Where a Train Runs Through". Southeast Asia Traveler. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
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13°24′46″N 100°0′6″E / 13.41278°N 100.00167°E / 13.41278; 100.00167

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