The Secret Stories of Potters' Village

This walk explores the historic heart of Rattanakosin, the old royal city founded as Siam’s capital in 1782 and still layered with canals, markets and early urban neighbourhoods. Beginning near Memorial Bridge at the edge of Pak Khlong Talat — Thailand’s largest wholesale flower market — the route leads into the streets once known as the Potters’ Village, home to Mon artisans who fled conflict in Burma and became renowned for their distinctive red-clay pottery. The potters themselves have long disappeared, but their legacy remains scattered through the area: hidden motifs on old buildings, decorative patterns worked into bridges and architecture, and subtle traces that reward anyone willing to look closely.

As the walk unfolds, it reveals the layered stories of migration and modernisation that shaped early Bangkok. You’ll pass through Little India and visit the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, (where if you're lucky, you can sit for their free vegan lunch). We will explore the historic Suan Kularb School — Bangkok’s first modern educational institution — and step into Wat Ratchaburana, linked not only to royal history but also to the city’s earliest experiments with electricity. Canals once used by traders, old commercial shophouses, and overlooked architectural details turn familiar streets into a series of discoveries.

The final stretch moves toward the site of Bangkok’s first power-generating station before ending at one of the city’s most curious landmarks — a reconstructed façade of Thailand’s original General Post Office, a striking reminder of how the city preserves memory in unexpected ways.

A contribution of 300 baht per walker will cover the costs of researching the area and creating the walking guide. Those who sign up for the walk will then receive the walking guide.

At between two and three hours, this walk offers a compact but richly layered journey through markets, craftsmanship, migration and innovation — perfect for anyone who wants to see beyond the obvious and rediscover the foundations of modern Bangkok.