Those visitors who may be looking for a truly fragrant, multicolored, and even romantic side of Bangkok should plan a trip to the city’s renowned flower market. The Bangkok Flower Market (Pak Khlong Talat in Thai), is Thailand’s largest wholesale flower market and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some say that Pak Khlong Talat is now one of the world’s largest flower markets.
Customer feedback – “A visit to Pak Khlong Talat is highly recommended. The market area has a photograph opportunity around every corner.”
While it may not be a typical tourist attraction, Pak Khlong Talat does appeal to visitors seeking Bangkok experiences that reveal the daily happenings in the city. The Bangkok Flower Market has a cramped and chaotic feel, similar to nearby Chinatown, and many first-time visitors can get lost amid the colorful sights and seductive smells of this sprawling market festooned with endless rows of roses, ornate orchids, crisp carnations, and miles of marigolds.
Customer feedback – “Flowers of every kind everywhere! It was lovely and amazing, I’ve never seen so many flowers in one place before! So worth seeing!”
While an incredible selection of inexpensive fresh flowers is certainly the main draw of Bangkok’s Flower Market, you can even choose to buy hand-made garlands, flower arrangement baskets, fresh fruits and vegetables, and local herbs and spices from many shops throughout the market.
Pak Khlong Talat means “market at the mouth of the canal” and the area originally started as a floating market in the early 18th century (during the reign of King Rama I). Later, in the 19th century, the area became a large fish market. In the 1950s, when local authorities grew tired of the market’s fish smell permeating central Bangkok, flower and produce vendors were allowed to occupy the area, which eventually developed into the current Bangkok Flower Market.
Things you will see at Bangkok Flower Market:
- Local Thai flowers – jasmine, chrysanthemum, gerbera, orchids, lilies, roses and more. Most of the flowers are grown in the provinces nearest to Bangkok like Nakhon Pathom. More rare species like tulips are shipped from northern Thailand provinces like Chiang Rai and Loei.
- Imported flowers – tulips, snapdragons, iris, lisianthus, delphinium and more.
- Phuang Malai – an ancient Thai art that entails tediously threading a needle through tiny buds repeatedly until something worthy of being offered to a god has been created. Skilled Thai artisans create the Phuang Malai garlands for all to see, making it one of the best places to witness this intriguing form of flower arrangement in person.
- Baisri – cone-shaped flower offerings made by adding chrysanthemum and other buds to rolled-up banana and pandan leaves. The shape of Baisri is meant to represent Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Hinduism.
- Fresh fruits & vegetables – Pak Khlong Talat has more than just flowers. Wander into the more distant corners of the market and you’ll find piles of fresh fruit and wholesale vegetables.
- Flower arrangement accessories – incense, candles, imitation flowers and more.
A visit to Pak Khlong Talat can be easily combined with a tour of the the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), or Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha).
