Ban Khamin



Ban Khamin (บ้านขมิ้น, ; lit: "Village of Turmeric") is a road junction and historic neighborhood in the Siri Rat Subdistrict, Bangkok Noi District in Thon Buri side, Bangkok. It's the three-way of Arun Ammarin Road and Soi Itsaraphap 44 (Saeng Sueksa).

History & characteristics
The name "Ban Khamin" after this area in the Thon Buri period (1767–82) before the rise of Rattanakosin Kingdom (1782–present). It is a community of professionals who make turmeric powder (ban in Thai means "house, village" and khamin means "turmeric"). It is an important ingredient in traditional Thai medicine. Currently, the turmeric powder industry has been lost. There is only one shop in the Phran Nok Intersection which is nearby, but named "Ban Khamin" is still in use today. Apart from the junction, there is also Khlong Ban Khamin (คลองบ้านขมิ้น; Ban Khamin Canal), a small waterway with a length of only 1.5 km near Siriraj Hospital and San Chaopho Ban Khamin Pung Thao Kong (ศาลเจ้าพ่อบ้านขมิ้น (ปึงท้าวกง)), a small Teochew joss house built in the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing dynasty, located near the junction.

In the past, after World War II ended shortly, there was a cinema named Ban Khamin Theater located in the local market area. Even if it is only a second-class cinema. But it is very popular with locals, because at that time Thonburi side was still rural. It came to an end when it was totally burned down in the late morning of Sunday August 16, 1970. The entire wooden building burned down. One of the dead was a four-year-old boy who fled to hide in a jar. At present, the location of the cinema and market becomes a vet clinic and parking lot.

From Ban Khamin in Soi Itsaraphap 44, there is also a roadway (turn right) toward Ban Chang Lo (บ้านช่างหล่อ) in the area of Ban Chang Lo Subdistrict. It is one of the oldest communities in Thonburi; people in the community have a career casting the Buddha statue. And another roadway (turn left) to the Soi Matum (ซอยมะตูม; Matum Alley) or Trok Matum (ตรอกมะตูม; Matum Lane) in the Soi Arun Ammarin 23. People in this area have a business produced and selling sweet bael preserves (matum in Thai means "bael"). Originally named here "Ban Plueak Som O" (บ้านเปลือกส้มโอ; "House of Pomelo Peel") was later changed "Soi Suan Anan" (ซอยสวนอนันต์) and Soi Matum as the current.

Nearby places

 * Wat Rakhangkhositaram
 * Siriraj Hospital
 * Wang Lang Market
 * Wat Phraya Tham Worawihan
 * Thonburi Hospital
 * Navy Park Club

Transportation

 * BMTA bus: route 57, 208