Chatuchak Weekend Market

Part of the massive market with the clock tower shown in the middle.

Chatuchak (or Jatujak; Thai: จตุจักร) weekend market, situated on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, is the largest market in Thailand.[1] Chatuchak Market, also known as JJ Market, has more than 8000 stalls which are separated into 27 sections. Chatuchak Market has 9 kinds of goods: plants, antiques, pets, food and drinks, fresh and dry food, ceramics, furniture and home decoration, clothes, and book.[2]

Chatuchak Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 09:00 – 18:00, and Fridays 18:00 – 24:00. You can get to Chatuchak Market by the sky train (BTS) to Mo Chit Station and taking exit no.1 and follow the crowd until you see a small entrance to the market. Another way to get to the market is by taking the subway (MRT) to Chatuchak Park Station take exit no.1 and then following the crowd until you see a small entrance to the market.[3] Moreover, you can take taxis, buses and vans to get to Chatuchak Market or if you are driving to the market, you can park your cars at Chatuchak Park Ride and they have convenient shuttle buses between the parking lots and Chatuchak Market.

However, if you visit Chatuchak Market in the summer, the market will be crowded and uncomfortable, but the goods are still the same. Moreover, there will be restaurants all over the market, and along the path; you might see shows, such as live music, dancing, singing and playing musical skits. This can entertain your shopping experience.

In June 2008 the Chatuchak Market authorities introduced a complete smoking ban for the whole market, with a fine of 2,000 baht for offenders.[4]


History

Chatuchak Market has been open for more than 60 years since 2491.[5] [In 1948, which Jompol Por Pibulsongkraam was a prime minister.] He had policy in which every province was required to have their own market. However, Bangkok chose Sanam Luang to be held as the market. After a few months, the government had to move the market to Sanam Chai, but finally the market had moved back to Sanam Luang in 2501. Later in 2521, the government had used Sanam Luang as a recreational area, so the State Railway of Thailand donated the land at the south side of Chatuchak Park establish as a market. By 2525, all of the merchants had moved to Chatuchak completely. [Moreover, at that time the market was called Phahonyothin market.] In 2530, they had changed the name of the market to “Chatuchak Market” and have used it until now.[6]

Clock tower

The clock tower is the famous meeting point in Chatuchak Market. Clock tower was built in 2530 on the occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60 th Birthday Anniversary on the 5 th of December 2530, in the cooperation of the Market Administration and Thai-Chinese Merchant Association.[7]

27 section of Chatuchak Market


Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Agar, Charles (19 July 2006). Frommer's Thailand. John Wiley & Sons. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-470-04031-7.
  2. ↑ http://www.chatuchak.org/
  3. ↑ http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-market/popular-markets.htm
  4. ↑ "Smoking Ban for Chatuchak Market - Farang News Thailand". Farang.in.th. 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  5. ↑ http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/johnsun.hsu2-1978178-chatuchak-weekend-market-bangkok/
  6. ↑ http://www.jj-app.com/?p=97
  7. ↑ http://50.57.64.212/sme/%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%88%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3-%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AC%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2/#.VEB1bGeSzfJ
  8. ↑ http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-market/popular-markets.htm

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jatujak Market.

Coordinates: 13°48′03″N 100°33′05″E / 13.80083°N 100.55139°E