Sam Chuk

Sam Chuk (Thai: สามชุก) is a district (Amphoe) in the northern part of Suphanburi Province, central Thailand.

History

Originally the district name was Nang Buat. In 1911 when the government separated a part of Nang Buat district and established Doem Bang district, they also moved the district office to Ban Sam Pheng, Tambon Sam Chuk. In 1939 the district name was changed to Sam Chuk as the central tambon.

Thailand's Sam Chuk Community and Old Market District along the Tha Cheen River not far from Bangkok, northwest of the Thai capital in Suphan Buri province, is a bit of Old China in once rural Siam. Witness to a disappeared way of life, the distinctive river and canal-side community was recently granted an Award of Merit in the 2009 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.

A century ago, Sam Chuk was a renowned centre for waterborne trade and commerce, when rivers and canals were Siam’s main mode of transport. But today, times have changed, and the old town’s way of living has changed accordingly. The negative impact on its survival was heightened when roads were cut through the old community, reducing the need for and importance of water transport, and cutting off easy access to places that had once been central.

Passed by the new ways of life, SamChuk was deteriorating, falling into ruin. Old wooden houses and buildings were decaying as a result of termites and accumulated damage from rain and old age.

Realising the changes taking place, local residents formed a Sam Chuk Market Conservation Committee. Rather than pulling down the old buildings, they organised to preserve what they received from their ancestors and restored 19 local buildings, adapting the old style architecture described in Thai as Khanompang Khing (ginger bread) style, into a contemporary market, welcoming to traditionalists and those with new style taste as well.

Local homes have been converted into welcoming shops, cafes and museums, where visitors can get a glimpse – touch, taste and feel the past – a sense of what it was like a century ago when the market was really bustling.

As a venue for its mouth-watering rare traditional dishes and old-style desserts, Samchuk Market has attracted visitors and habitués from all walks of life, particularly those Thais who are known for crossing cities or towns just in order to taste local delicacies.

Sam chuk community has an attractive old market.The merchants are friendly to travelers who visit there and they like to regale  the history of Samchuk. There is much to see at samchuk 100 years old market. It is well wort a visit and a good opportunity to take some photos of the following :

- Udomchok Hotel ( โรงแรมอุดมโชค ) the old classic hotel in this market. Although out of service now they open to show some of the interior rooms. There is the old style coffee shop on the first floor; Travellers can take some photos that take you back to the past.
- Silapa Thammachart photo shop ( ร้านศิลปธรรมชาติ ) – the classic & conservative photo shop in Samchuk market. More than 55 years before the electricity service, they had to use the sunlight to record the photos. And now the oldest daughter of the owner looks after this shop. She still uses the first camera to photo all customers. Its classic process has a look that you cannot find in this digital age.
- Bann khun chumnongjeenarak museum ( พิพิธภัณฑ์บ้านขุนจำนงจีนารักษ์ ) where you can see a miniature of samchuk market and many antiques to learn about the old local life in samchuk market. And More

Samchuk Market has a lot of small shops along a walkway where they serve  delicious Thai & Chinese food and local consumer products. Many older Travelers feel like they have gone back to a past with happy memories of when they were young

^Source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Chuk_District