Pathum Thani (ปทุมธานี) is a city in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region in Thailand.

Understand

Pathum Thani has been a residential area for not less than 300 years since the reign of King Narai the Great of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. In 1659, Mang Nanthamit gathered the Mon families in Martaban town to migrate from the Burmese war, and asked for protection from King Narai the Great. The king allowed the Mon families to settle in Sam Khok village, and the Sam Khok community has continuously developed. Then, during the reign of King Taksin the Great of Thon Buri, the Mons migrated from Burma to ask for the king’s protection for a second time. The king also allowed them to settle in Sam Khok. The last migration of the Mons was during the reign of King Rama II. It was a major migration from Martaban town to Thailand called "Mon Yai". The king allowed some of the Mons to settle at Sam Khok village as well. Therefore, from being a small-sized community, "Sam Khok village" has later become "Sam Khok town".

King Rama II took care and assisted the Mons in Sam Khok. In the eleventh lunar month in 1815, the king visited Sam Khok town and resided at the pavilion by the left side of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Sam Khok town, creating an overwhelming feeling among the Mons. A large number of the Mons often visited and offered lotuses to the king, creating great satisfaction for him. As a result, the king gave the new name for Sam Khok town as "Prathum Thani' (town of lotus) on the 23 August 1815. It was considered as the beginning of Prathum Thani town.

In 1918, King Rama VI transformed the word Mueang (town) to Changwat (province) and also changed its spelling from “Prathum Thani” to “Pathum Thani”. In 1932, King Rama VII ordered the merging of Thanyaburi province into Pathum Thani province.

Since the period that King Rama II gave the name to Pathum Thani, the province has continuously been prosperous with arts and culture, as well as, other identities which the people of Pathum Thani are proud of. It is also a very flourishing peripheral province. The centre of Pathum Thani is 46 kilometres north of Bangkok, covering an area of 1,565 square kilometres.

Get in

By car

From Bangkok, motorists can travel by using 3 routes to Pathum Thani as follows:

1. Bangkok – Bang Khen – Rangsit - Pathum Thani.
2. Bangkok – Nonthaburi – Pak Kret - Pathum Thani.
3. Bangkok – Bang Yai – Bang Bua Thong – Lat Lum Kaeo – Pathum Thani.
4. Bangkok – Take the Bang Pa-in – Pak Kret Expressway to exit at Bang Phun and turn left into the Rangsit – Pathum Thani route (Highway No. 346).

By bus

There are several buses from Bangkok to Rangsit district of Pathum Thani. The 29, 39, 59, 503, 510, and 555 bus lines pass Future Park shopping centre.

Several specified buses of 29, 39 and 510 go past Bangkok University and Thammasat University (their Rangsit campuses). Their destination signs are written only in Thai. You can ask other passengers if the bus passing is going to the universities.

Bus 555 connects with the new international airport. It departs from the front of Major Cineplex Rangsit

By train

There are regional trains from Bangkok to Ayuttaya (Bang-Pa-In) and Lop Buri which stop at Lak Hok, Rangsit, Chiang Rak and Thammasat station. But you must check time table before. Services north- and southbound run in intervals ob about 90 mins. - ordinary train fares to Bangkok are 9 baht. All trains on the northern and northeastern route pass through the province. Rangsit being the only major station with a stationmaster's office and advance ticket sales on all Thai routes. Express trains don't stop at the minor stations.

Get around

Pathum Thani is still a part of Greater Bangkok and hence the famous Bangkok's taxis can be found everywhere. The major hubs of the city is Pathum Thani City's downtown bus station.

Pathum Thani City still has an abundance of pedal powered rickshaws at your service, riverboat transportation on the Chao Phaya is often only limited to cross-river transits by ferry.

Eat

Pathum Thani is a province located on the alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. Therefore, there are many rice fields. It is also a planting location of vegetables supplied for fresh markets in town and the two gigantic central markets of the country; namely, Si Mum Mueang Market and Talad Thai. It is a centre of various kinds of fruits such as tangerines, mangoes, bananas, durians, lychees, longans, and mangosteens, as well as, other products of natural plants such as palmyra fruit and lotus calyx.

In addition to the agricultural produce, the municipality market and that by the river at Wat San Chao offer various kinds of delicious dishes of Pathum Thani. The famous ones are noodles; Khanom Kuichai stuffed with vegetable, taro, and bamboo shoots, fried shredded pork and beef, and various kinds of Thai desserts which can be purchased as souvenirs.

The most well-known food of Pathum Thani that should be tasted is boat noodle which is sold everywhere, especially along the Rangsit – Nakhon Nayok route, while the city usually offers their famous dishes such as Kung Ten – jumping prawn - and grilled fish.

• Mahachai Restaurant, on the way to Wat Hong Temple. In the heart of Pathum Thani City, the restaurant is known for its "coconut ice cream". It's served with a variety of toppings and an egg. Also Thai style curry-rice dishes and Pad Thai. 

Go next

Rangsit is not far east, and is a city of the future—including hypermodern shopping malls and technology institutes.