Bangkok Phahurat
This is also known as the Little India in Bangkok. There is quite a large Indian community here!
How?
They arrived here when merchants from South India went ventured around Asia to seek their fortune. Most of the merchants today are Sikhs who are in the textile business.
Where?
Like Singapore’s Little India, Phahurat is the India quarters of Bangkok. It is located at the fringe of Chinatown. (To get here from Chinatown, walk down Sampheng Lane, then along Chakrawat Road.)
Cloth Centre
This is the place to buy Indian fabrics and savour Indian cuisine right in Bangkok! It is believed that their quality of fabric is the best in Bangkok, especially the Indian cotton and silk. This is also you can get shoulder bags at incredibly low prices. A must-buy is the shoulder bags made with Thai silk. Other buys include trinkets and household items.
Spice Centre
Not only is this place a cloth center, it is also a spice center. As you walk around the market, your nose may occasionally pick up wafts of aromatic spices and incense. I think the incense would be a nice gift to bring back, or to ‘spice’ up my living room.
Phahurat Market
The center piece of Phahurat is the multi –storey Phahurat Market, selling saris, sandals, silvery bangles. Indian community come here to buy their wedding essentials like saris, bangles, facial products, and wedding souvenirs. This is also where you get Bollywood films and songs in CDs and cassettes.
Second Largest Sikh Temple
Oh yes. Right behind the market is what is believed to be the second largest Sikh temple outside India!
Where to eat
For eats, go to Royal India Restaurant at 391/1 Chakraphet Road for North Indian cuisine. And if you have room for dessert, right next door is a shop selling yummy Indian sweets.
For English Lady Shoppers
An interesting thing to note; the Indian merchants here have a unique way of greeting female shoppers: calling “Khumying” which is a Thai royal titile similar to English Lady. So don’t get too freaked out.
Hotels Around Phahurat
- Bangkok Center Hotel
- The Grand China Princess Bangkok
- The Shanghai Inn
