Sri Takua Pa - Old Takua Pa
Phuket is an island, but only just. Unlike other islands such as Phi Phi, Koh Samui or Koh Chang, you can drive to Phuket from the mainland, across the Sarasin Bridge which was first built in 1967. The old bridge has since been replaced and another new one is being built at the moment. So we are not "cut off" here! Phuket is a big island, but it's also very easy to head north over the bridge into Phang Nga province and beyond. Back in April we headed to Khao Sok national park and stayed a night at the Cliff and River Jungle Resort. To get there from Phuket you drive via Khao Lak and Takua Pa. Simple enough, but we took a wrong turn in Takua Pa town and followed a winding road to an old town which looked very similar to old Phuket. We didn't stick around, we wanted to get to Khao Sok, but thought it looked interesting.. We went to Khao Sok again at the end of September and on the way home we stopped again in the little town of Sri Takua Pa for a walk.
I know nothing of this towns history, so if any scholars are reading, please do leave a comment! Looks like much of the town was built in the early 20th century around the same time as Phuket Town, and the local people seem to be Thai-Chinese. When we stopped, the shrine in the center of town was being painted ready for the vegetarian festival due to start a week later.
The town was very quiet. Nearby Takua Pa is a busy place and a major junction where the road heads east to Surat Thani, south to Phuket and north to Ranong. Maybe Sri Takua Pa was once more important, but it seemed to me like the town that time forgot! There are only a couple of streets and we walked up the largest, passing another Chinese shrine and stopping at a little hardware store with a very friendly owner. The kids found a little steel tape measure which dad bought for them. My 5 year old boy likes to measure things and is always happy to "help" dad with odd jobs around the house :)
We loved this little place. So friendly and quiet. I reckon this used to be on the main road but when the new road came... Sri Takua Pa became a forgotten place. Some of the shops were like a timewarp. Tell me the photo below was not taken in 1960!
Another shop at the crossroads opposite the shrine had an almost empty display with some olde style toys - I am sure we'll pass through again and if the train is still there, I'll buy it for my boy!
You can see the covered walkway behind my son in the photo above, much like can be found along Thalang Road in Phuket. The old style shophouses had these covered walkways to allow people to pass from shop to shop out of the sun (or rain). Sri Takua Pa does look a bit faded, and there are a few newer buildings, but in parts, it's just as nice as the old part of Phuket Town and many houses had these little shrines outside like the one below:
Sri Takua Pa is definitely not a "happening" place, but IS a good place to get a taste of real life, and well worth a visit. It's not so far from Khao Lak, and certainly a worthwhile stop off on the way to Khao Sok.. if you can find it. We found the town by accident first time, and on this visit we couldn't remember which wrong turn we'd taken the first time, but eventually figured it out!
A couple more local shops...
• More Photos of Sri Takua Pa
It's for places like Sri Takua Pa that I like to explore the backroads, and proof that taking a wrong turn now and then can be a good thing! I mean, I know most people are happy to stay on the beach, take a few tours, eat some good food, but if you stick to the well beaten path in Phuket, you don't really see Thailand. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I ... I took the one less traveled by.
I know nothing of this towns history, so if any scholars are reading, please do leave a comment! Looks like much of the town was built in the early 20th century around the same time as Phuket Town, and the local people seem to be Thai-Chinese. When we stopped, the shrine in the center of town was being painted ready for the vegetarian festival due to start a week later.
The town was very quiet. Nearby Takua Pa is a busy place and a major junction where the road heads east to Surat Thani, south to Phuket and north to Ranong. Maybe Sri Takua Pa was once more important, but it seemed to me like the town that time forgot! There are only a couple of streets and we walked up the largest, passing another Chinese shrine and stopping at a little hardware store with a very friendly owner. The kids found a little steel tape measure which dad bought for them. My 5 year old boy likes to measure things and is always happy to "help" dad with odd jobs around the house :)
We loved this little place. So friendly and quiet. I reckon this used to be on the main road but when the new road came... Sri Takua Pa became a forgotten place. Some of the shops were like a timewarp. Tell me the photo below was not taken in 1960!
Another shop at the crossroads opposite the shrine had an almost empty display with some olde style toys - I am sure we'll pass through again and if the train is still there, I'll buy it for my boy!
You can see the covered walkway behind my son in the photo above, much like can be found along Thalang Road in Phuket. The old style shophouses had these covered walkways to allow people to pass from shop to shop out of the sun (or rain). Sri Takua Pa does look a bit faded, and there are a few newer buildings, but in parts, it's just as nice as the old part of Phuket Town and many houses had these little shrines outside like the one below:
Sri Takua Pa is definitely not a "happening" place, but IS a good place to get a taste of real life, and well worth a visit. It's not so far from Khao Lak, and certainly a worthwhile stop off on the way to Khao Sok.. if you can find it. We found the town by accident first time, and on this visit we couldn't remember which wrong turn we'd taken the first time, but eventually figured it out!
A couple more local shops...
• More Photos of Sri Takua Pa
It's for places like Sri Takua Pa that I like to explore the backroads, and proof that taking a wrong turn now and then can be a good thing! I mean, I know most people are happy to stay on the beach, take a few tours, eat some good food, but if you stick to the well beaten path in Phuket, you don't really see Thailand. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I ... I took the one less traveled by.
Sri Takua Pa - Old Takua Pa | Jamie's Phuket Blog
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Thank you Jamie for your wonderful blog! I am a 44 y.o. Swede with an apartment in near Chalong (but residing most of the year in Stockholm), and I thoroughly enjoy your tips from our beloved island. I especially love your off-the-beaten tracks recommendations. Cheers!
Hi Jamie!
Thank you for the ultimate blog. It's a great way to get an understanding of the real culture and people, which obviously still exist also in Phuket.
The best way to experience the real things is of course to live them. I've visited in Thailand couple of times. The latest time was as an exchange student, and that experience really opened up my eyes for the true Thai way of living. Maybe someday you could write something about studying possibilities in Phuket?
Hi Niko,
Yes, to get to know a country you do have to live there, as a visitor you get just a fleeting glimpse. I would write about studying in Phuket if I knew anything about it, but.. this is my blog and limited to my experiences :)
A really interesting blog, thanks Jamie.
I was an exchange student in Takuapa from March 1983-March 1984 and attended the local school, Takuapa Senanukul School. The place made such an impression on me that I still think about it every day. Outside of the bus station, it was rare indeed to see a westerner in town back then and there was not a single resort, hotel or guest house on the magnificent beaches that ran all the way form Nam Kem to Khao Lak. You could literally walk along the beach all day without seeing a soul. It was a true tropical paradise, and a place to which I returned often over the years.
On Phuket, Patong was a single street strip of shops and there wasn't much development anywhere else on the island either.
I have such wonderful memories of that place and time and remain in touch with friends from 'Sena' School.
Historically, the port at Takuapa (Takola) was once among the finest on the Malay peninsula and Takuapa was an important trading centre. More recently Australians and others resided there seeking their fortune in tin and, perhaps, you can still see the houses they lived in during the pre-Second World War years if you drive on the backroads that run into the countryside from the old market town.
A wonderful place, hope you enjoy your visits there.
Cheers
Ian
Hi Ian,
I can imagine 30 years ago that a foreigner in Takua Pa would have been a real novelty. We will maybe pass that way again in the next couple of months. I have put off "tsunami tourism" but would like to visit the museum and Ban Nam Kem, and visit Sri Takua Pa again. Bit of a drive for a day trip from home, but maybe on the way to Khao Sok. next holidays won't be until end of April though!