Samut Sakhon Tourist Attractions
|
|
The once important port of Samut Sakhon lies on the estuary of the river Tha Chin in the Gulf of Thailand. Today the port is overshadowed by Bangkok (35 km (22 mi.) to the north-east) and is important only for fishing. To the north of Samut Sakhon the Klong Mahachai from Thonburi, which links the Menam Chao Phraya and the Menam Tha Chin, joins the Tha Chin.By car: from Bangkok highways 4 or 35 (35 km (22 mi.)).By rail: station on the narrow-guage Mae-Klong railway from Bangkok to Thonburi to Samut Songkhram.By boat: charter boat from Menam Chao Phraya via Klong Mahachai from Bangkok (about 2 hours; very scenic).The harbor is a hive of activity from morning until late at night. It is most interesting to see the fishing boats land their usually plentiful catches early in the morning. The jetty is in the center of the town and close to the tall clock tower. Samut Sakhon is also renowned for its numerous excellent fish restaurants.
Wat Yai Chom Prasat
A few kilometers north of Samut Sakhon the Wat Yai Chom Prasat stands on the bank of the Tha Chin. The entrance to the wiharn, built in Ayutthaya style has elaborately decorated doors. The wat is also accessible by boat.
Wat Chom Long
It is worth taking a charter boat to the Wat Chom Long in the south which is situated directly on the estuary of the Tha Chin in the gulf; the trip takes in houses built on stilts where the fishermen's families live. The wat's extensive grounds are laid out attractively and the buildings are chiefly modern; there is a noteworthy wiharn from the Ayutthaya period.
