The atmosphere is buzzing, people push and shove past you, manoeuvering through the narrow sois en route to find their next great bargain in the jumble of items piled up in one of about 8000 sellers' shops. This is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, also known as the Jatujak Market, located on 35 acres northeast of Bangkok, attracting 200 000 visitors every weekend to tackle the maze of stalls.
Hidden outside the main sections of Chatuchack Market within a couple stalls are where you can find handcrafted and manufactured wood work. The scent of the wood hits you before you see the goods; it is warm and inviting, and entices you to linger as long as possible. Here you can find kitchen essentials such as cutting boards, mortars and pestles, trivets, and many more. There is also a wide range of wooden lanterns, as well as indoor and outdoor lights with different shades of coloured glass panels incorporated into the design. It is worth seeing if you are looking to bring natural elements into your home.
Thailand historically had a vast supply of workable woods that led to the carving, shaping and sculpting of some of the most intricate decorative designs and Buddhist images in the world. This profusion of skilled artisans has also made Thailand one of the leading cultures in producing traditional wooden housewares, kitchenware, decorative items, furniture and small knickknacks. Skilled Thai artisans once produced items for their own use in rural villages, such as carved wooden mortars and pestles, bowls, and tools. Now they also apply these skills to produce practical and decorative items for sale, as well as more esoteric products like architectural trim and mouldings. Today we can see temples incorporating ancient wooden designs rising up in busy cities, and wooden items in abundance for sale everywhere. The craftsmanship remains astounding and beautiful.
Thailand has a long history of woodcarving and it can be seen here at the Market. Some of the best-known hand carved sculptures and practical items have originated from Thailand and the skilled craftsman who have past down their knowledge through the years. The use of traditional hand tools - chisels, hammers and mallets - is still common today, and the results are just as beautiful as they were centuries ago. Today, due to high demand and lower cost, many everyday wooden products are now produced in factories - but do not let this deter you from visiting the stalls of Chatuchak Market.
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Located about 11km Northeast of downtown Bangkok, Thailand
Easily accessed by MRT Subway and the BTS Skytrain
MRT Subway: Get off at Kamphaeng Phet, and you will pop up inside the market
Click here for more information about the MRT Subway
BTS Skytrain: Get off at Mo Chit Station, follow the crowds down onto Phahonythin Rd., follow it southwest about 1 Kilometre and turn right onto Kamphaeng Phet 3 Rd. until you reach one of the entrances on the left hand side of the street
Click here for more information about the BTS Skytrain
Location of Wood Work
Section 27 - Soi 68
The Administration of Chatuchak Market
Tel: 02-727-4440-1
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 9am-6pm
Free Admission
Maps are available at each entrance
Click here for an online map of Chatuchak Market
Toilets are located throughout the market
-Section 7, Soi 66 and 67
-Section 4, Soi 52, 49
-Section 2, Soi 38
-Section 27, Soi 67 and 64
-Section 1
The main streets inside the market are wheelchair and stroller accessible
The pin on the map above is centrally located in the area where you will find the greatest concentration of woodwork vendors in Chatuchak Market.