Taling Chan (, ) is one of the 50 districts (''khet'') of

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. Its neighbours, clockwise from the north, are Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi province and Bang Phlat, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok Yai, Phasi Charoen,

Bang Khae Bang Khae (, ) is one of the List of districts of Bangkok, 50 districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbouring districts, clockwise from north, are Thawi Watthana district, Thawi Watthana, Taling Chan district, Taling Chan, Phasi Charoe ...

, and Thawi Watthana Districts of

History

Taling Chan is an old district back when there was Thonburi province. Now

Thonburi __NOTOC__ Thonburi () is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which is ref ...

is merged into Bangkok. In 1998, part of the district was split into a new Thawi Watthana district. Historically, much of the area was used as orchards and kitchen gardens, many remaining there today. It has been called "Bangkok's Kitchen". The landscape of Taling Chan about 1,000 years ago is believed to have been part of the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...

delta. The area was a muddy mangrove forest and there was no evidence of human settlement. Two areas of Taling Chan, Bang Ramat and Bang Chueak Nang, were mentioned to in the '' Kamsuan Samut'' of the Ayutthaya period. They are regarded as among Bangkok's oldest zones. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, a southern railway line running through the district was one a target of Allied bombing. Taling Chan has a rectangular area and is full of many waterways that cross each other. It is also an agricultural area, therefore making it difficult to access by road. Today there are many roads passing through the area such as Kanchanaphisek, Borommaratchachonnani, Ratchaphruek, Phutthamonthon Sai 1, and Phran Nok-Phutthamonthon Sai 4, but the most convenient route is still by water. Taling Chan has both BMTA and affiliated buses service just a few lines. There was no electricity in the area until 1972.

Administration

The district is divided into six sub-districts (''

khwaeng A ''khwaeng'' (, ) is an administrative subdivision used in the fifty districts of Bangkok and a few other city municipalities in Thailand. Currently, there are 180 ''khwaeng'' in Bangkok. A ''khwaeng'' is roughly equivalent to a ''tambon'' in ot ...

'').

Places

Woman selling foods at Taling Chan market

Taling Chan Floating Market is on the

canal Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface ...

Khlong Chak Phra (คลองชักพระ) Canal in front of the district office. It is open only on weekends from about 08:30 to 16:00. Orchard produce such as

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

s, and

vegetable Vegetables are edible parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. This original meaning is still commonly used, and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including edible flower, flo ...

s, as well as

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

are sold from

boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size or capacity, its shape, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically used on inland waterways s ...

s. There is a live traditional Thai music performance from 11:00 to 14:00. The idea for the floating market here was initiated by Chamlong Srimuang in 1987 to honour King Bhumibol's 60th birthday. This is a new attraction since floating markets, an old way of life of the Thai people, had vanished entirely from Bangkok for quite a long time. In addition, There are also 4–5 other floating markets in the district, including Wat Champa Floating Market, which is on the way to Khlong Bang Ramat (คลองบางระมาด). Here, locals have a traditional way of life and preserve like the past. Now, there is a

homestay Homestay (also home stay and home-stay) is a form of hospitality and lodging whereby visitors share a residence with a local of the area (host) to which they are traveling. The length of stay can vary from one night to over a year and can be prov ...

in cultural tourism form for tourists. Flower Market Thailand is a new center flower trade of Thailand apart from Pak Khlong Talat in Phra Nakhon.

Accident

In 1979, 54 people were killed in the worst accident in Thai railway history when a commuter train collided with a freight train at Taling Chan.

References

External links

BMA website with the tourist landmarks of Taling Chan

Taling Chan district office
*
Planning Department maps of Taling Chan
{{Khet Bangkok Districts of Bangkok