Ancient City: A Journey Through Time in Samut Prakan

The Bear Team 7 min read

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Visit Thailand's Samut Prakan province, and you'll find plenty to get excited about for your next adventure. Will you get lost in the busy markets so iconic to Thailand? Will you find a spot on the shores of the Gulf of Thailand and spend your days lounging by the beach? Or are you the type of traveler who likes their journeys to come with a healthy dose of culture and history? 

If you are, you're in luck – on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, you'll find the Ancient City, and it's sure to impress even the pickiest of history buffs! The ancient city of Samut Prakan is a popular tourist destination for everybody to know Thai society's values and history.

So come with us to discover the historical value of the ancient city of Samut Prakan.

 Fun Fact!

Ancient City has been regarded as one of the largest open-air museums in the world.

An Outdoor Museum in Samut Prakan

The Ancient City of Samut Prakan is around 1-hour drive from the center of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). It is another famous tourist destination for people to know the value and understand the history of Thai society. There is a replica of the ancient site of beautiful and valuable architectural works of Thailand in all 4 regions.

It was built to replicate magnificent architecture that has been demolished and was replicated with the help of experts to ensure accuracy. You can visit the ancient city for a full day as it covers an area of ​​1.28 square kilometers. It was founded by Khun Lek Wiriyaphan, who intended to build this place as a place for Thai people to learn about the culture and architecture of the Thai people. It intends to create replicas of all ancient monuments to be as close to the real thing as possible, with exquisite and realistic beauty.

There are more than 100 architectural replicas in Samut Prakarn, divided into zones as follows:

• Suvarnabhumi Zone

• Southern Zone and the Buddhas of Anatta Universe (Free Zone)

• Central Zone

• Northern zone

• Northeastern Zone

The zone is open to tourists to visit free of charge. The ancient and floating market zones are at the entrance, including the Phuttha Wat area. Other zones have an entrance fee. Large tourist areas, therefore, provide tourist facilities as follows:

1. Trams and bikes
2. Electric golf cart
3. Private car

Must-Visit Locations in the Ancient City

• Antique Market
  • This is the starting zone of the ancient city with free entry.
  • If they have little time, tourists can come here without buying a ticket. It is an ancient market with antiques and many old Thai desserts.

• Pavilion Phra Arhat
  • It is a golden pavilion in the middle of the water that is very beautiful.
  • Inside the pavilion is a Buddha image as a tourist attraction for photographers.
  • If you take a photo in the morning, the pavilion will have a reflection on the water's surface.
  • It's even more beautiful, golden yellow, all glittering.

• Khao Phra Sumen
  • It was created from a painting in Wat Yai Intharam, Chonburi.
  • It is the creation of an imaginary building into reality.
  • The building has intricate construction art and is very beautiful.

• Sala Ramayana
  • It is a 5 pavilion built in the middle of the water.
  • In the middle of the pavilion is Phra Trimurti, the attitude of giving great treasures to give blessings on wealth, stability, fortune, and fulfillment of success.
  • It is a place where various rituals are performed within the Ramayana paintings decorated in the pavilion.

• Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall
  • The Sanphet Prasat Throne Hall, built from archaeological evidence, is impressive.
  • It is a symbol that represents the prosperity of the Ayutthaya period.
  • Although the actual building is left with only the castle base, it is beautifully designed here.

• Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall
  • The Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall replicates an actual building in Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).
  • Even though it's a replica, here it still feels very grand and like a natural building because of the detailed work and intentions of the builders.
  • It is one of the most popular places to visit for foreigners.

• Procession of His Majesty the King
  • It is a boat procession modeled on the royal procession that can be viewed from land.
  • In addition, you can take a cruise to see various attractions in the ancient city by taking a cruise for about 30 minutes.

• Prasat Hin Phimai
  • An old castle whose prototype is located in Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
  • Even though it's smaller, it's equally beautiful.

• Vajira Tham Cathedral Buddhavas of the Universe
  • It is a place to glorify 28 Buddhas that have already arisen and include 10 Buddhas that will be born in the future.
  • This point is in the free access zone.

  Trivia!

The best time to visit the Ancient City of Samut Prakan, if you're looking for warm weather, is from late November until early March. 

Why Visit the Ancient City in Samut Prakan?

The Ancient City's monuments are chronologically arranged so visitors can walk through history. Beginning in the Prehistoric Era and leading up to Rattanakosin, an era in the 25th century of the Buddhist calendar, you'll be able to watch the changes to Thailand as they unfold.

Samut Prakan's Ancient City covers 129.5 hectares of landscaped gardens on the outskirts of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok). It preserves Thailand's cultural heritage through scaled-down replicas of prominent temples, national parks, and monuments. 

Renting a motorbike is a more common and practical way to explore the Ancient City. Bicycle rentals are inexpensive, and riding through the monuments is a fantastic way to spend a relaxing day away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Bangkok.

How to Visit the Ancient City in Samut Prakan?

Ancient City is located 30 km from the center of Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) in the Samut Prakan district. You can enter this place through its south gate.

• Self-Drive
  • If you have a private car, you can drive to the Ancient city.
  • The drive might be chaotic inside Bangkok city.
  • But the surroundings get more pleasant as you move out of the city and the traffic decreases.

• Taxi
  • A taxi from the center of Bangkok to the Ancient city will cost you around 350 THB. You can flag down one on the road.
  • Or you can book online through the Grab app. After your tour ends, you will get a return taxi outside the Ancient city.

• MRT & Songthaew
  • This is the most suitable and cost-effective travel method.
  • To begin, you'll need to board the MRT on the light green line (BTS Skytrain) and ride it to the final station, Kheha. Then get down at Exit no: 1 or 3.
  • From there, hail a songthaew number 36. You can hop on after telling your destination.
  • Press the button inside the songthaew to get down as the driver will stop it. Get down and pay the driver. It costs around 10 THB for the ride.

• Bus
  • Buses in Thailand can be similar to MRT; bus number 511 runs from the city's center to Pai Na Fam Chon Khe, 6 km ahead of Ancient City.
  • If you stay in the old town, the bus starts from the Democracy monument and passes the Sukhumvit area.
  • Upon reaching Kheha, you can either hire a taxi or catch a songthaew if you disembark on the main road.
     

How to Get Around Inside the Ancient City in Samut Prakan?

The Ancient City in Samut Prakan is too large to walk on foot. You will need a vehicle to travel. You cannot take your vehicle inside, so here is what you can rent.

• Bicycle
• Tram
• Golf Cart

 Did you know?

The private outdoor museum was founded by Lek Viriyaphant, who established the nearby Erawan Museum and The Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya.

Maps & More Information 

Ancient City in Samut Prakan was built in 1963. It is a sprawling 320-hectare open-air museum where visitors to Samut Prakan can get to know the architecture and history of Thailand without having to travel outside the complex. It consists of 116 structures depicting Thailand's most famous monuments and buildings. While some of these structures are full-sized replicas of their originals, others are scaled down, allowing travelers to get a taste of a wide variety of Thai architecture.