Chatuchak District

Chatuchak จตุจักร
—  Khet  —
Khet location in Bangkok
Coordinates: 13°49′43″N 100°33′35″E / 13.82861°N 100.55972°E / 13.82861; 100.55972Coordinates: 13°49′43″N 100°33′35″E / 13.82861°N 100.55972°E / 13.82861; 100.55972
Country	Thailand
Province	Bangkok Province
Seat	Chatuchak
Khet established	1989
Area
- Total	32.908 km2 (12.7 sq mi)
Population (2003)
- Total	176,501
- Density	5,363/km2 (13,890.1/sq mi)
Time zone	THA (UTC+7)
Postal code	10900
Geocode	1030

Chatuchak (Thai: จตุจักร; IPA: [tɕà.tùʔ.tɕàk]) is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by seven other districts (from north clockwise): Lak Si, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, Huai Khwang, Din Daeng, Phaya Thai and Bang Sue.

History

Chatuchak was originally part of Bang Khen district. It became a separate district in 1989.^[1] The name of the district came from its two major landmarks Chatuchak Park and Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Markets

The most well-known site in the district is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, the largest market in Thailand. Northwest of the weekend market is another market, Chatuchak Plaza selling clothes and many other products. Across the Kamphang Phet Road is Or Tor Kor Market (ตลาด อ.ต.ก.) belonging to The Marketing Organization for Farmers (องค์การตลาดเพื่อการเกษตร) offering fresh agriculture product and food. Just north of the market along Kamphang Phet Road is the area selling plants and gardening products.

Parks

Chatuchak Park

Adjoining the Chatuchak Weekend Market to the north is the Chatuchak Park complex, covering 1.13 km² of a former State Railway of Thailand golf course consisting of Chatuchak Park (สวนจตุจักร), Queen Sirikit Park (สวนสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ฯ), and Wachirabenchathat Park (สวนวชิรเบญจทัศ).

Chatuchak Park (0.304 km²) is the first park in the complex opened in December 1980. Located on Phahonyothin Road right next to the Mo Chit BTS station, it is the most accessible park of the three. Also included in this park is the Train Museum.

Wachirabenchathat Park

The Queen Sirikit Park (0.224 km²) is a botanical garden built to honor the Queen's 60th birthday in 1992. It was formally opened in December 1996. Some of the plants collected in the garden include hibiscus, plumeria and palms. Within the park compound is the Children's Museum. The park is located behind Chatuchak weekend market parking lot.

The Wachirabenchathat Park (0.600 km²) is the biggest and newest park of the complex. It was called State Railway Public Park (สวนรถไฟ, read Suan Rot Fai) but was renamed in July 2002 to honor HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's 50th birthday. It contains a butterfly park and the tallest fountain in Thailand.

Other places

Shopping

Central Plaza Lat Phrao

Major Cineplex Ratchayothin

Union Mall

• Central Plaza Lat Phrao is the biggest shopping center in the district, consisting of Central Department Store, Bangkok Convention Centre (first convention hall in Thailand), cinemas, and many retail shops.
• Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, featuring a 14-screen multiplex cinema.
• Union Mall, a populair 8 storey shopping mall for youngsters like MBK Center.
• The One Park, a wholesale mall located in front of Central Ladprao.
• Tesco Lotus Ladprao, a large hypermarket/mall.
• Index Living Mall, large furniture mall.
• JJ Mall, a large air conditioned mall located next to Chatuchak Weekend Market.
• IN Square, a 8 storey shopping mall currently under construction next to the weekend market opening 2012.
• The Avenue Ratchayothin, a lifestyle shopping plaza located next to Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.
• Equinox, a lifestyle shopping plaza currently under construction to open in 2012.
• SCB Park Plaza, a small shopping plaza.
• Carrefour Ladprao, a shopping mall with a hypermarket branch of Carrefour will be a Big C in near future.
• Terminus, a lifestyle mall under construction at Mo Chit skytrain station
• Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchadaphisek, a large shopping complex under construction at Ratchada/Ladprao intersection.
• Bon Marché

Markets

• Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the largest markets in the world.
• JJ Plaza, market area next to weekend market.
• Ratchayothin night market, a night market next to Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.
• Ratchadaphisek night market, a large night market at Ratchada/Ladprao intersection.
• Or-Tor-Kor Market, a large foodmarket next to the weekend market.

Elephant Tower (ตึกช้าง) is one of the most distinctive building in Bangkok. Shaped like an elephant, it consists of three towers (A, B and C) joined together at the top. It is utilized as condominium and office space.

Located on a large block bounded by Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Ngamwongwan Road and Phahonyothin Road is Kasetsart University, a renowned university originally focused on agricultural sciences such as agriculture, forestry, fishery but now it is expanded to cover many fields including business and engineering. Opposite the university on Vibhavadhi is Benchachida Building (UCOM headquarter) where Thai Art Museum is located on ground and mezzanine floors. Thawan Duchanee (ถวัลย์ ดัชนี, also written Tawan Datchanee), one of the artist highlighted, is considered one of the most famous modern day artist of Thailand.

Education

The Kasetsart University administration building

Kasetsart University is located in Chatuchak.

Traffic

The district is passed by the Bangkok Subway (MRT) with four stations - Kamphaeng Phet, Chatuchak Park, Phahon Yothin and Lat Phrao. Bang Sue MRT Station is just outside Chatuchak district. It is also the northern end-point of the Bangkok Skytrain with the Mo Chit station. Also the Northern Bus Terminal (often called Mo Chit Mai, หมอชิดใหม่) is located in the district, with the bus connection to all northern provinces starting there.

Government and infrastructure

The district is sub-divided into five sub-districts (Kwaeng).

1.	Lat Yao	ลาดยาว
2.	Sena Nikhom	เสนานิคม
3.	Chan Kasem	จันทรเกษม
4.	Chom Phon	จอมพล
5.	Chatuchak	จตุจักร

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has its headquarters in the district.^[2]

District Council

The District Council for Chatuchak has eight members, who serve four-year terms. Elections were last held on April 30, 2006. The results were:

• Thai Rak Thai Party - 8 seats

Economy

Thai Airways International's head office in Chatuchak

Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways have their head offices in Chatuchak.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ "ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนแปลงพื้นที่เขตบางเขนและตั้งเขตดอนเมือง และเขตจตุจักร" (in Thai). Royal Gazette 106 (155 ง ฉบับพิเศษ): 17. 1989-09-16. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2532/D/155/17.PDF. 
2. ^ Home. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Retrieved on 28 August 2010. "61 Pholyothin Road, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900." Thai address: 61 ถนนพหลโยธิน แขวงลาดยาว เขตจตุจักร กรุงเทพมหานคร 10900 (from here)
3. ^ "Details of Shareholders and Board of Directors." Thai Airways International. Retrieved on 4 March 2010.
4. ^ "Contact Us." Bangkok Airways. Retrieved on 12 May 2010.

External links

Thailand portal

• BMA website with the touristical landmarks of Chatuchak
• Chatuchak district office (Thai only)
• Chatuchak Park
• Queen Sirikit Park
• Wachirabenchatat Park
• Elephant Tower
• Thai Arts Museum