On the northern part of the island on Ayutthaya sits a small memorial thst most people have no idea about. It’s the childhood house of Thailands 8th prime minister, Pridi Panomyong.
Born in Ayutthaya in 1900, Pridi Panomyong was among the most influential and controversial Thai figures of the 20th century.
Pridi was instrumental in Thailand’s 1932 shift from absolute to constitutional monarchy. He then founded Thammasat University and took on several key ministerial posts prior to World War II, when he left the country and organised a “Free Thai” movement to resist the Thai military government’s alliance with Imperial Japan.
Pridi returned to briefly serve as Thai prime minister in 1946 and went on to resist subsequent military governments, taking exile abroad after a failed coup attempt in 1949. In 2000, 17 years after his death, UNESCO named Pridi as one of the world’s great personalities of the 20th century. He is widely credited with introducing constitutional government and democracy to Thailand.
The memorial to him is worth a short visit if you are happen to be near it but it’s small with no information in English. It’s something a dedicated history buff might enjoy.
Taling Chan Floating Market is a small market built on the banks of a local Klong (canal). It was founded in 1987 and has become a part of the local community.
In Thailand markets are part of the fabric of life, from morning fresh food markets to evening markets that seem to cover city blocks, shopping and food are necessities for Thai culture. One of the popular things to do is to take the family to a floating market to eat and shop from the locals.
Taling Chan Floating Market is just a short trip for people from Bangkok to escape the city and enjoy the market. About 30-45 minutes outside of downtown Bangkok it’s an easy trip to experience a great part of Thai culture.
In addition to food people can take boat tours on the canals and see more of the area. Worth a trip for anyone that has a half a day to spend making great memories.
Taling Chan Floating Market - Food, Shopping & Boat Tours - Bangkok Thailand 2025
Wat Chaiyaphrueksamala
Wat Chaiyaphrueksamala Ratchaworawihan วัดชัยพฤกษมาลาราชวรวิหาร known in short as Wat Chaiyaphrueksamala and Wat Chaiyaphruek is a second-class royal Buddhist temple in ratchaworawihan type. It is located beside Khlong Maha Sawat, around the mouth of the canal, where it converges with Khlong Bangkok Noi, northeast of Taling Chan District. Across Khlong Maha Sawat is an area of Tambon Wat Chalo, Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province.
The temple was built during the Ayutthaya period. On founding the new city at Thonburi in 1767, some brick structures of the temple were disassembled and the brick removed for use in the construction of the new city wall.
During the reign of King Rama I (1782–1809), the Crown Prince Chim (later King Rama II) attempted to rebuild this abandoned temple, but the construction was not completed because of the war with Burma. The work was not undertaken again until 1851 when King Rama IV (1851–1868) ...
Wat Worapho (Wat Rakang วัดระฆัง)
Wat Wora Pho is located in the west of Cha Krai Ya (Klong Toh) canal. It is unknown when it was built or by who. Records indicate that Phra Si Sin who later become King Song Tham (1620-1628) was a high ranked monk at this temple. So the temple was built before the reign of King Song Tham.
Formerly. the temple was know as Wat Rakang or the temple of the bell. In the reign of King Borommakot (1732-1758) the name of the temple was changed as Wa Wora Pho. This because of a sacred banyon tree was sent to the king from Ceylon and it was planted at this temple.
The temple design is much different than what is normally seen in Ayutthaya. It’s also near many other sites and worth a short stop to see.
Wat Wara Pho (Wat Rakang วัดระฆัง) - Ayutthaya Historical Park - With Drone Footage - Thailand 2025
