Pratunam Shopping Centre in 2004, now called Paladium World Shopping Centre, Petchaburi road, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, Thailand.
It is a major market area with thousands of fashion stores that sell wholesale with cheap prices guaranteed, ( so they say ) especially if you are prepared to buy in bulk. Pratunam, also includes the areas of Victory Monument, Ratchathewi and Makkasan. The southern boundary of Pratunam is marked by the Saen Saep Canal. This canal was dug during the reign of King Rama III in the mid nineteenth century to connect the Chao Phraya River with the Bang Pakong River to the east. When Saen Saep was connected with Maha Nak Canal and Krung Kasem Canal, a gate was required to control the water level between them. Pratunam means water gate. It was not developed until the 1960's when rice fields dominated the landscape. Around that time, a fresh produce market was set up near the Indra Hotel at Ratchaprarop Road.
On the Phetchaburi Road, near Pratunam Market you will find Amari Watergate Hotel, 5 star hotel with 569 rooms available. Breeze Spa, Executive Lounge, Henry J. Bean's Bar & Grill, Heichinrou Chinese Restaurant, Swimming pool with jacuzzi and sun deck, Children’s pool, Fitness Centre featuring: squash courts, cardio vascular room, gymnasium, saunas, aerobics and work-out studio, steam rooms.
In Pratunam is Baiyoke Tower II. More than 300 metres high and with 88 storey’s, it is Thailand's tallest building and is a distinctive feature of Bangkok's skyline and represents the rising economy of both Pratunam and Thailand. Surrounding the building are plenty of other residential towers and hotels competing for trade in this central location. It also marks the spot for one of the city's all time, favourite pursuits: Shopping!
A huge amount and variety of goods are on offer, with something for everyone - no matter how deep or shallow your pocket may be. One of Bangkok's most colourful and chaotic areas, and famously popular for its fashion factory outlets, street markets, bazaars and armies of local vendors, Pratunam offers bargain prices for all kinds of clothing, fashion accessories, shoes, watches, jewellery, belts, luggage and much more.
This market is usually very busy and walking along the pavements can be exhausting. However the street markets here are very popular with Thai and foreign shoppers. Fresh produce has made way for fashion wear, textiles and accessories, but they are still sold at what is considered to be local prices. Endless small alleyways are packed with literally thousands of fashion stores, and they are so cheap because most of them actually sell at wholesale rates. I find that Khlong Thom market remains much cheaper than around here.
Getting to Pratunam.
From Ratchathewi BTS station to the south of Pratunam, it is only a 15 minutes walk to the centre of the action ( the intersection of Phetchaburi road and Ratchaprarop road ). Phaya Thai covers the central area of the district, while Victory Monument is located nearby. At Phaya Thai BTS station, you can switch onto the the Airport Rail Link, but as the systems are not integrated, you will have to buy a new ticket.
I have walked along Ratchadamri road many times taking photos and videos along the way. It is only a 500 metres walk north from Ratchaprasong intersection ( near Siam Square ). You will walk along passing many malls and hotels, knowing the goods you will buy in Pratunam will be much more competitively priced. Plus you can take your own photos and videos along the way.
After many years of delays, the Airport Rail Link finally opened in August 2010. I remembered seeing the great big concrete pillars of the railway line standing alone for so many years along the side of the Phetchaburi road. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Express Line misses all stations and brings you directly to Makkasan. This ride takes about 15 minutes and costs 150 Baht. Trains run every 30 minutes from 06:00 am to midnight. From Makkasan, you can continue your way by metro at Phetchaburi MRT station.
If you want to reach Ratchaprarop or Phaya Thai stations, that are more centrally located in Pratunam, you will need to take the City Line. Reaching Phaya Thai from Suvarnabhumi Airport takes about 30 minutes and sets you back 40 Baht. At Phaya Thai, you can transfer onto the Sky Train and continue your way using the Sukhumvit line to Siam or Mo Chit and beyond. This is the choice I made from Suvarnabhumi because I wanted to then take a Sky Train connection round to Nana. This journey is now so much quicker than it use to be, I still remember the taxi trip taking around two hours one day because of all the busy end of day workers going home.
Pratunam Shopping Centre in 2004, now called Paladium World Shopping Centre, Petchaburi road, Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, Thailand.
It is a major market area with thousands of fashion stores that sell wholesale with cheap prices guaranteed, ( so they say ) especially if you are prepared to buy in bulk. Pratunam, also includes the areas of Victory Monument, Ratchathewi and Makkasan. The southern boundary of Pratunam is marked by the Saen Saep Canal. This canal was dug during the reign of King Rama III in the mid nineteenth century to connect the Chao Phraya River with the Bang Pakong River to the east. When Saen Saep was connected with Maha Nak Canal and Krung Kasem Canal, a gate was required to control the water level between them. Pratunam means water gate. It was not developed until the 1960's when rice fields dominated the landscape. Around that time, a fresh produce market was set up near the Indra Hotel at Ratchaprarop Road.
On the Phetchaburi Road, near Pratunam Market you will find Amari Watergate Hotel, 5 star hotel with 569 rooms available. Breeze Spa, Executive Lounge, Henry J. Bean's Bar & Grill, Heichinrou Chinese Restaurant, Swimming pool with jacuzzi and sun deck, Children’s pool, Fitness Centre featuring: squash courts, cardio vascular room, gymnasium, saunas, aerobics and work-out studio, steam rooms.
In Pratunam is Baiyoke Tower II. More than 300 metres high and with 88 storey’s, it is Thailand's tallest building and is a distinctive feature of Bangkok's skyline and represents the rising economy of both Pratunam and Thailand. Surrounding the building are plenty of other residential towers and hotels competing for trade in this central location. It also marks the spot for one of the city's all time, favourite pursuits: Shopping!
A huge amount and variety of goods are on offer, with something for everyone - no matter how deep or shallow your pocket may be. One of Bangkok's most colourful and chaotic areas, and famously popular for its fashion factory outlets, street markets, bazaars and armies of local vendors, Pratunam offers bargain prices for all kinds of clothing, fashion accessories, shoes, watches, jewellery, belts, luggage and much more.
This market is usually very busy and walking along the pavements can be exhausting. However the street markets here are very popular with Thai and foreign shoppers. Fresh produce has made way for fashion wear, textiles and accessories, but they are still sold at what is considered to be local prices. Endless small alleyways are packed with literally thousands of fashion stores, and they are so cheap because most of them actually sell at wholesale rates. I find that Khlong Thom market remains much cheaper than around here.
Getting to Pratunam.
From Ratchathewi BTS station to the south of Pratunam, it is only a 15 minutes walk to the centre of the action ( the intersection of Phetchaburi road and Ratchaprarop road ). Phaya Thai covers the central area of the district, while Victory Monument is located nearby. At Phaya Thai BTS station, you can switch onto the the Airport Rail Link, but as the systems are not integrated, you will have to buy a new ticket.
I have walked along Ratchadamri road many times taking photos and videos along the way. It is only a 500 metres walk north from Ratchaprasong intersection ( near Siam Square ). You will walk along passing many malls and hotels, knowing the goods you will buy in Pratunam will be much more competitively priced. Plus you can take your own photos and videos along the way.
After many years of delays, the Airport Rail Link finally opened in August 2010. I remembered seeing the great big concrete pillars of the railway line standing alone for so many years along the side of the Phetchaburi road. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Express Line misses all stations and brings you directly to Makkasan. This ride takes about 15 minutes and costs 150 Baht. Trains run every 30 minutes from 06:00 am to midnight. From Makkasan, you can continue your way by metro at Phetchaburi MRT station.
If you want to reach Ratchaprarop or Phaya Thai stations, that are more centrally located in Pratunam, you will need to take the City Line. Reaching Phaya Thai from Suvarnabhumi Airport takes about 30 minutes and sets you back 40 Baht. At Phaya Thai, you can transfer onto the Sky Train and continue your way using the Sukhumvit line to Siam or Mo Chit and beyond. This is the choice I made from Suvarnabhumi because I wanted to then take a Sky Train connection round to Nana. This journey is now so much quicker than it use to be, I still remember the taxi trip taking around two hours one day because of all the busy end of day workers going home.