Phra Samut Chedi is located
at Tambon Pak Klong Bang Pla Kot, on the banks of the Chao
Phraya River, opposite Samut Prakan City Hall. Formerly, this
chedi was located on a small island in the middle of Chao Phraya
River’s mouth behind Phisuea Samut Fortress. Subsequently,
however, the little island became linked to the right bank of
the river due to the water turning shallow. Then, King Rama II
granted the construction of the Chedi but it was not completed
in his time. Later, during the reign of King Rama III,
construction was resumed and the 20-metre high pagoda was
completed. Finally, King Rama IV commanded that the shape of the
chedi be changed and also increased the chedi’s height to 38
metres. Inside the pagoda, contained Lord Buddha’s relics, Phra
Chai Wat and Phra Ham Samut Buddha images (Buddha image in the
attitude of Pacifying the ocean).
Naval
History Park at Chulachomklao Fortress is situated at the mouth
of Chao Phraya River, Tambon Laem Fa Pha. You can get there
using the Suksawat Road from the Phra Samut Chedi intersection.
The fortress’s compound houses a magnificent standing monument
of King Rama V, which is located in the front of the fortress.
Pom Phra Chulachomklao is a modern fortress and has
played an important role in protecting the sovereignty of
Thailand during 1893 against unfriendly forces. It is the
fortress forever in the memory of all Thais and a very important
part of Thai history. During King Rama V’s reign, there was a
period during which England and France were hunting for
colonies. All neighbouring countries around Thailand were
colonised by England and France. This was indeed a grave
situation endangering Thailand so he sought ways to protect the
country. Particularly, protection of the water of Thailand, he
commanded that the fortresses at the river’s mouth be renovated
and re-equipped, and also hired a foreigner who was a naval
specialist as a consultant for planning the development of the
Thai navy.
Pom Puen Suea Mop (Machine Gun),
used in the battle against unfriendly forces, is situated at the
lower base of the fortress. Exhibition Hall
displays the picture of damage from the wars and pictures
related to the development of the Royal Thai Navy. H.M.S.Mae
Klong Battleship Museum is a battleship that served in the
Royal Thai Navy for over 60 years, the longest period of service
for any vessel. The Ministry of Defense, seeing the battleship
was no longer fit for active duty, de-commissioned the
battleship and converted it into a museum. There are also
walking paths for visitors who are interested in nature and
ecological preservation. Visitors can see the mangrove forest,
which is home to egrets, sea gulls, mudskippers, and many kinds
of crabs. There is also a garden filled entirely with plants and
trees from the mangrove forest. Getting there: by car: 7
kilometres on Highway No. 303; by bus: take the bus line number
20 which will pass the fortress, or you can take a Song Thaeo
from Phra Samut Chedi to fortress, or alternatively, you can
take a micro bus (Bang Pakok route) which will stop inside the
fortress.
The fortress is open daily
from 8.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. without any admission fee. To get in,
visitors must seek permission by exchanging their identification
cards from the on-duty officers unit at the gate. For groups of
visitors that should wish to have a guide should send a request
letter to H.M.S.Mae Klong Battleship Museum.
Call 0-2475-6109, 0-2475-6259, and 0-2475-6357
for more information.
