Samut Songkhram
สมุทรสงคราม
Province
(Clockwise from top left) Bang Noi floating market, Mae Klong River, Amphawa Floating Market, King Rama II Memorial Park, Don Hoi Lot, 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
Map of Thailand highlighting Samut Songkhram province
Map of Thailand highlighting Samut Songkhram province
CountryThailand
CapitalSamut Songkhram
Government
 • GovernorCharas Bunnasa
(since October 2019)[1]
Area
[2]
 • Total417 km2 (161 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 77th
Population
 (2019)[3]
 • Total193,305
 • RankRanked 76th
 • Density465/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
  • RankRanked 7th
Human Achievement Index
[4]
 • HAI (2017)0.6203 "somewhat high"
Ranked 18th
GDP
[5]
 • 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

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

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.[6]

Toponymy

The word "samut" originates from the Sanskrit word समुद्र samudra meaning 'ocean', and the word "songkhram" from Sanskrit संग्राम saṃgrāma meaning 'war'.[7] Hence the name of the province literally means 'war ocean'.[8] However, this province is colloquially known as "Mae Klong" after the name of the main river that flows past the area.

Geography

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.[9]

This province is home to places of worship of the three major religions. There are 110 Buddhist temples, two Christian churches and one mosque.

History

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

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

Provincial government

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

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 a provincial fish.[10]

The provincial slogan is "City of Hoi Lot, Top Lychee, King Rama II Memorial Park, the Mae Klong River, and Luangpho Ban Laem".[11]

Economy

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 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.[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]
Maeklong Station
Talat Nam Amphawa

Transport

Rail

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'.[15] It is one of the largest seafood markets in Thailand, and is centred on the Maeklong Railway's track.[16] Whenever a train approaches, the awnings and shop fronts are moved back from the rails, to be replaced once the train has passed.[17]

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.[11]

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

Human achievement index 2017

Health Education Employment Income
45 75 9 74
Housing Family Transport Participation
76 69 77 19
Province Mae Hong Son, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.4637 is "low", occupies place 77 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.[4]

RankClassification
  1 - 15"high"
16 - 30"somewhat high"
31 - 45"average"
45 - 60"somewhat low"
61 - 77"low"

References

  1. ↑ "ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง แต่งตั้งข้าราชการพลเรือนสามัญ" [Announcement of the Prime Minister's Office regarding the appointment of civil servants] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 136 (Special 242 Ngor). 26. 28 September 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  2. ↑ 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)
  3. ↑ "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
  4. 1 2 Human achievement index 2017 by National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), pages 1-40, maps 1-9, retrieved 14 September 2019, ISBN 978-974-9769-33-1
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ Phataranawik, Phatarawadee (13 May 2018). "Descendants celebrate Siamese Twins and Thai-US friendship". The Nation. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "สงคราม - Wiktionary". Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "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)
  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. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 3 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. ↑ "Maeklong Railway Market: Marketplace With a Railway Track Through it". Amusing Planet. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.
  16. ↑ "The Mae Khlong Mahachai Railway". Thailand by Train. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  17. ↑ Cunningham, Susan. "The Market Where a Train Runs Through". Southeast Asia Traveler. Retrieved 12 Mar 2013.

13°24′46″N 100°0′6″E / 13.41278°N 100.00167°E / 13.41278; 100.00167

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