A trip to Mallika City in Kanchanaburi
(dreamloveyou / Shutterstock.com)
If you are planning a holiday in Thailand, Kanchanaburi province is an excellent choice. There is so much to see and experience, of course the history of the Second World War in and around the city of Kanchanaburi, the many beautiful waterfalls, the river Mae Kwae and much more.
Mallika City, 1905 AD
A visit to Mallika City should not be missing from that list. It is an artificial retro town, which is built in the style of Siam as it was around 1905. Spread over 60 rai, it has a cluster of classical Thai houses, European buildings, a floating house and several outlets with a rare selection of more than 150 Thai dishes, delicacies and sweets, based on original recipes.
To accentuate the Siamese lifestyle of that time along the Chao Phraya River, all staff are dressed in traditional clothes and play the role of traders, craftsmen, farmers and villagers.
King Chulalongkorn, Rama V
That Siamese lifestyle in reflects the way of life in the Chao Phraya River basin during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1873-1910 AD). People's lives were then greatly changed, especially the abolition of slavery. When the residents were released, these former Siamese slaves had to live independently and earn a living without support from their nobles and masters. They had to live a life of self-sufficiency, self-reliance and in harmony with all other Siamese.
(BalazsSebok / Shutterstock.com)
The beginning of Mallika City 1905 AD
The name Mallika refers to one of the river sources of the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar. The river was the center of the ancient civilization of Southeast Asia hundreds of years ago. Nevertheless, the word Mallika means "jasmine" in the Thai dictionary.
Mallika City was designed by Associate Professor Chatri Prakitnonthakan of Silapakorn University's Chair of Architecture and Related Arts. He designed the city by making up a story about Mali (jasmine), a beautiful daughter of a farmer from Reuan Dieow, a detached house in a rural area.
She later married a young government official and started a trading company, built Reuan Pae, a floating house, to trade with foreigners, especially sugar. With her traditional Thai charm, her business thrived, while her husband also rose to the ranks. They got rich. So they built Reuan Kahabodi, a bigger house for the wealthy, more suited to their economic and social status. As the business grew and with her husband's senior working position, they came into contact with more foreigners and noblemen. They decided to build a group of houses or “Reuan Hmoo” so that space would be available for guests of honor. All traditional Thai houses of Mali and her husband can be viewed in Mallika City.
Finally
Earlier, the Bangkok Post had an extensive travel report of a visit to Mallika City with good texts and beautiful photos. You can read and see that at: www.bangkokpost.com/
There are several websites with a lot of information and pictures of Mallika City and the website of Mallika itself is certainly worth mentioning. For detailed information about all attractions, please visit www.mallika124.com/en
Below another video with an impression of Mallika City 1905 AD
About this blogger
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Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
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Been there about 3 years ago.
The payment method is also separate. Satangs, metal coins with holes in them. Counts as payment.
Can you buy at the entrance. I don't remember how many but they sit on a string that is tied together. I think about 20 per pack.
You can also rent classic costumes at the entrance that you can walk around in…. for the enthusiasts then.
Lived in Sanghklaburi for 4 years and regularly came to Kanchanaburi city, but never heard of Mallika, thanks for the tip, seems worth it
About 20 km outside Kanchanaburi, take the 323 towards Sai Yok.
https://goo.gl/maps/djFnrWmiq529DyjW6
Been there a few years ago with my then Thai girlfriend. Very nice and farang paid the same entrance fee as a Thai . Recommended.
It is great fun there, you can choose an entrance ticket with a dinner and traditional costume at the entrance. You can then choose from different garments. And dinner is in a restaurant on stilts where they give several dance performances during dinner. Very nice.
It is definitely worth going here.
Hank Ellert
Nice tip. I showed it to my wife and she said she had always wanted to go there. It's on the schedule! Thank you!