A Fragrant Affair : Bangkok Flower Market

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When you set foot in the area of Pak Khlong Talat you enter a fragrant world of exquisite flowers and vibrant colours.   You can sense the history and community here as most of these shops are family businesses passed down from generations.
 It is fascinating to see how the shopkeepers and flower sellers put together their arrangements and displays to sell.
Everybody is busy taking care of their delicate flowers, some are on their phones taking orders and others are having their daily conversation with fellow vendors. That is a glimpse of life in the Flower market.
The Flower Market portrays the softer, romantic side of  Bangkok and is a feast for the eyes and senses.

Beautiful Roses

The meaning of flowers in Thai Culture
Flowers have great significance in Thailand and is often given as offerings, lucky charms and decorations. You can always spot flower garlands in temples, hanging from taxi rear view mirrors and at shrines. Cars always pull up at roadsides to purchase fresh garlands from sellers to please the goddess of journeys Mae Yanang to protect them on the roads.

Life at the Market
History of the Flower Market
It is thought that the Flower Market began operating near Chinatown as a floating market around the 18th century. It evolved into a fresh produce market and eventually became the number one place for floral needs 60 years ago. The historic street flower market was closed down in 2016 to remove vendors from the sidewalks. The original vendors from Talad Pak Khlong were able to relocate to other places around the city.  But the main flower hub still remains in the Old part of the City with many shop houses and street sellers that are still there. A new market also opened on the Thonburi side of the river in 2017  - Pak Khlong Talad 2. This large warehouse provides flower wholesale merchants with a convenient place to trade.  Some sellers have moved their operations entirely across the river while others remained in the community where they grew up and had businesses for many years.
Sunflowers

Huge selection of flowers and seductive smells.
Here you can find almost any kind of flower and plant you can think of. The prices are very affordable and imported flowers are also available.  There are aromatic and colourful displays of marigolds and roses next to each other. Carnations, Jasmine, Lilies and Chrysanthemums are laid out on display tables or see them in flower arrangements.  Thailand is the biggest exporter of Orchards and you can find them in the market in all colours and sizes.  I also saw Sunflowers and  Tulips.

Tulips

What else can you find at the Flower Market?
Pak Khlong Talad is also one of the biggest fresh fruit and vegetable markets in Bangkok.  You will find a large assortment of tropical fruits and vegetables here. Some stalls also sell things needed to make flower arrangements with from ribbons, plastic pots to leaves and twigs.

Deliveries

The best time to visit.
The flower market is open 24 hours but is busiest from midnight to early hours when deliveries arrive. The market is quieter during the day and maybe the best time to visit for browsing and taking pictures.

Vibrant colours of Chillies

How to get there.
Map to the Flower market.  - click to see the map

The market is situated in Old Town Bangkok near China Town.
It is easiest to get to by Taxi or Tuk Tuk and any Taxi driver will understand the name Pak Khlong Talad.
You can also take the express boat on the river from any other pier and get off at Saphan Phut Pier and just walk straight across the bridge. Not far from the Pier you will find the Flower Market.  (see map for directions)

Street with Flower Shops


The last word
A visit to this market is an experience of daily life in Bangkok. I highly recommend that you lose yourself amidst the colourful sights and seductive smells of this sprawling market.  It is certainly one of my favourite places in the City of Angels.

Greetings from Bangkok.
M

Yellow Chrysanthemums

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