Chankasem Sub District

DISTRICT: Chatuchak

POSTCODE: 10900

Chan Kasem is a sub-district of Chatuchak which can be found to the north of central Bangkok. The area around Chan Kasem is famous for the Chatuchak Weekend Market (JJ Market) which is the largest of its kind in Thailand.

To the heart of Chan Kasem is Chandrakasem Rajabhat University which offers post-diploma certificate and degree level education from bachelor’s to masters and the occasional Ph.D in several majors.

The university was founded in 1940, and it became the first college for training secondary school teachers. And it was King Bhumibol Adulyadej who bestowed the current name on the university.

Chan Kasem National Museum in located in a former royal palace, and today it is looking rather tired, but facing the river the location is perfect and visitors can enjoy a fresh breeze. The buildings a rather an odd mix of traditional Thai, Chinese and European, and the museum houses a great collection of statues from the Lopburi period.

Wat Lat Phrao is a wonderful temple not too far from Chan Kasem, it is a little off the beaten track but well worth paying a visit to. It is situated several kilometers from Asoke Intersection on the Sukumvit Road.

The temple back on to an old canal and is definitely not a tourist trap. It is very much a neighbourhood temple in respect that it serves the local community around.

Quite quirky is the variety of animals that you can pay to be released, everything from eels, turtles, frogs, and birds!

Chan Kasem is very much a community place to live, and there are many modern small condominium developments in the area along with traditional Thai wooden buldings. Bangkok’s primary travel networks, the BTS and the MRT have many stations in the area which gives great access Chan Kasem.