Ban Khrua
Ban Krua, (Template:Lang-th; other spellings include RTGS: Ban Khrua and Baan Krua[1]) is a historic community neighborhood along the Bangkok's Khlong Saen Saep (คลองแสนแสบ; Saen Saep canal) covers an area of 14 rai (about 5.5 acres) on both banks of the canal.[2] It's divided into three parts are Ban Khrua Nuea (บ้านครัวเหนือ; North Ban Khrua), Ban Khrua Tai (บ้านครัวใต้; South Ban Khrua) in Ratchathewi district, and Ban Khrua Tawan Tok (บ้านครัวตะวันตก; West Ban Khrua) in Pathum Wan district. The main artery is Ban Khrua Nuea in Soi Kasem San 3 (Kasem San 3 alley), Rama I road, boundary between Ratchathewi and Pathum Wan districts.[3]
History & legacy
Ban Krua is a community of Islamic Thai Cham descent. It's the oldest Islamic community in Bangkok.[2] The ancestors of the people in community are Cham who migrated from the Jumpa realm (currently in central and southern Vietnam) since the Ayutthaya period. In the reign of King Rama I, which was at the beginning of Rattanakosin period. There's Burmese–Siamese war in 1785–86, their ancestors were part of the Siamese army. Until the war ended, His Majesty allowed them to build houses and lived on the banks of canal (later on, it's a Khlong Saen Saep) until the present day.[3] [4]In later times, in the reign of King Rama III, which corresponds to 1837, there was a need to canalized for the purpose of transporting armaments in the Siamese-Vietnamese wars (for 14 years). Ban Krua people also an important part of this constructing until finished as Khlong Saen Saep in today.
Most of the people here has career is silk weaving by loom, which is how it has since ancient times. In the early 1950s, Jim Thompson, an American businessman who living in Thailand, he bought silk from here and published it to world class until Thai silk is famous throughout. It was used as a costume for the cast of Broadway's musical The King and I in 1951 and Hollywood's film Ben-Hur in 1959. Ban Krua so bustling and has become one of the most important centers of silk industry in Bangkok and Thailand.[5]
Until the mysterious disappearance of Thompson in 1967 in the deep forests of Malaysia, silk production of the Ban Krua is gradually declining.[5]
Currently, only elderly here can still speak Khmer as their ancestors and there're three mosques in the community.[4] In the production of silk, there're only few people in silk weaving but they still maintain the traditional way of production, and Ban Krua became an important attraction for cultural tourism in Bangkok. [3] In addition, Ban Krua people have also been in conflict with the government for more than 25 years for their homes to be expropriated for tollway.[2]
Nearby attractions
- Jim Thompson House
- Chaloemla 56 Bridge or Saphan Hua Chang (Elephant's Head Bridge)
- Siam Square
- Sra Pathum Palace
- Ratchaprasong Shopping Center
- Erawan Shrine
- Pratunam Market
Transportation
- BTS Skytrain: Ratchathewi Station, National Stadium Station
- BMTA bus: route 2, 10, 11, 15, 16, 23, 47, 48, 50, 59, 60, 67, 73, 73ก, 79, 93, 99, 113, 183, 204, 508, 511
- Khlong Saen Saep Boat Service: Baan Krua Nua Pier, Saphan Hua Chang Pier, Sapan Charoenpol Pier, Pratunam Pier
See also
References
- ^ "ชุมชนบ้านครัวเหนือ". Don Mueang International Airport (in Thai). 2015-07-16.
- ^ a b c สงวนเสรีวานิช, พนิดา (2018-02-13). "บุกกองอาสาจาม 'บ้านแขกครัว' มุสลิมบางกอก เสน่ห์ชุมชนเก่าที่ยังมีลมหายใจ". Matichon (in Thai).
- ^ a b c หนุ่มลูกทุ่ง (2006-07-26). "เที่ยว "บ้านครัว" ชมชุมชนทอผ้ากลางกรุง". Manager Daily (in Thai).
- ^ a b Laothamatas, Dr. Anek (2011-08-24). "ชุมชนบ้านครัว : พันเรื่องถิ่นแผ่นดินไทย". Kom Chad Luek (in Thai).
- ^ a b "จิม ทอมป์สัน ยุคใหม่ ยุคธุรกิจ "ครบวงจร"". Manager Magazine (in Thai). September 1999.
External links
- Baan Khrua from Lonely Planet
- BAAN KRUA NHUA COMMUNITY from Tourism Authority of Thailand (TTA)