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Chatuchak (จตุจักร)

Area - 32.908 km2 (12.706 sq mi)

Population - 158,130

 

History

Chatuchak was originally part of Bang Khen District. It became a separate district in 1989. The name of the district came from its two major landmarks, Chatuchak Park and Chatuchak Weekend Market.

 

Markets

The most well-known site in the district is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the largest market in Thailand. Northwest of the weekend market is another market, Chatuchak Plaza selling clothes and many other products. Across the Kamphang Phet Road is Or Tor Kor Market (ตลาด อ.ต.ก.) belonging to The Marketing Organization for Farmers (องค์การตลาดเพื่อการเกษตร), offering fresh agriculture product and food. Just north of the market along Kamphang Phet Road is the area selling plants and garden products.

Other markets in the area include:

  • Ratchayothin night market, a night market next to Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.
  • Ratchadaphisek night market, a large night market at Ratchada/Ladprao intersection.

 

Parks

Adjoining the Chatuchak Weekend Market to the north is the Chatuchak Park complex, covering 1.13 km² of a former State Railway of Thailand golf course consisting of Chatuchak Park (สวนจตุจักร), Queen Sirikit Park (สวนสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ฯ), and Wachirabenchathat Park (สวนวชิรเบญจทัศ).

Chatuchak Park (0.304 km²) is the first park in the complex opened in December 1980. On Phahonyothin Road next to the Mo Chit BTS Station. It is the most accessible park of the three. Also included in this park is the Train Museum.

Queen Sirikit Park (0.224 km²) is a botanical garden built to honor the queen's 60th birthday in 1992. It was formally opened in December 1996. Plants collected in the garden include hibiscus, plumeria, and palms. Within the park compound is the Children's Museum. The park is behind Chatuchak Weekend Market parking lot.

The Wachirabenchathat Park (0.600 km²) is the biggest and newest park of the complex. It was called State Railway Public Park (สวนรถไฟ, Suan Rot Fai) but was renamed in July 2002 in honor of Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's 50th birthday. It contains a butterfly park and the tallest fountain in Thailand.

 

Location

Elephant Tower (ตึกช้าง) is one of the most distinctive building in Bangkok. Shaped like an elephant, it consists of three towers (A, B, and C) joined together at the top. It includes condominiums and office space.

On Vibhavadhi Road opposite Kasetsart University is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Bangkok. Thawan Duchanee (ถวัลย์ ดัชนี, also written Tawan Datchanee), one of the artists highlighted, is considered one of the most famous modern day artists of Thailand.

Central Plaza Lat Phrao is the biggest shopping center in the district, consisting of Central Department Store, Bangkok Convention Centre (first convention hall in Thailand), cinemas, and many retail shops. Other shopping centers in Chatuchak districk includes Major Cineplex Ratchayothin featuring a 14-screen multiplex cinema, Union Mall, an 8-storey shopping mall for youngsters.

 

Education

Kasetsart University is one of the top university in Thailand. It was originally focused on agricultural sciences, but now expanded to cover many fields including business and engineering. The university is located on a large block bounded by Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Ngamwongwan Road and Phahonyothin Road.

Saint John's University and Saint John's International School.

 

Traffic

The district is passed by the Bangkok MRT with four stations - Kamphaeng Phet, Chatuchak Park, Phahon Yothin and Lat Phrao. Bang Sue MRT Station is just outside Chatuchak district.

Chatuchak district is also the northern end-point of the Bangkok Skytrain at Mo Chit station. Also the Northern Bus Terminal (often called Mo Chit Mai, หมอชิดใหม่) is in the district, with the bus connection to all northern provinces starting there