Bang Phli Floating Market. Samut Prakan, Thailand.
At the 150-year-old Bang Phli Market in Samut Prakan (29 km from Bangkok), there are no boats selling goods but a wooden walkway is laid along both sides of the Samrong Canal where shop / houses are located. The market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 08.00 to 17.00 hours
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Located about 500 metres from Bueng Tako on the canal side of Khlong Samrong, Tambon Bang Phli Yai. The temple was formerly known as Wat Phlapphla Chai Chana Songkhram built to commemorate King Naresuan the Great’s victory over the Burmese. Later, a large bronze Buddha image of the Sukhothai style in the gesture of subduing Mara, with open eyes, was taken to be enshrined as the principal image of Phra Ubosot. The image became much revered by the people who have called it Luangpho To. Hence, the temple is otherwise known as Wat Luangpho To. During the annual Yon Bua or Rap Bua Festival which takes place one day before the full moon of the 11th lunar month, Luangpho To will be taken in a boat procession along the canal. There is an old canal side market near the temple where visitors can walk around and buy food and other useful items.
FLOATING MARKETS IN ANCIENT TIMES
In olden days most communities of Thailand were formed alongside rivers. Many criss crossing rivers and canals served as means of communication. Such ways of life of the riverside communities, especially in the Chao Phraya River Basin brought to the rise of several floating markets.
Floating markets had become a token of the communities in the central plain of Thailand for a long time. This form of market gained peak popularity in the Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767), thanks to the surrounding canals which suited for trading locations.
Early in the Rattanakosin Period (1782-1868) this kind of market was still lively. However, later on, more and more roads were constructed and people preferred road transportation to that by water, so some floating markets were forced to move onto the land, some were renovated and some were closed down.
