A Small Historic Town North of Khao Lak
Takua Pa is a small town about 30 kilometres north of Khao Lak, in Phang Nga Province. We drove up on a Sunday afternoon to see the walking street market. The town itself is quiet, a bit run-down in places, but the old part has some nice Sino-Portuguese shophouses similar to what you see in Phuket Old Town. Much smaller though, and far fewer tourists.
History and Architecture
Takua Pa was a tin mining centre in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The money brought Chinese immigrants, and you can still see their influence in the old shophouses. The area is called Sri Takua Pa Old Town. Colourful facades, wooden shutters, some with small courtyards. A few have been restored, others are crumbling. That’s part of what makes it interesting. It hasn’t been polished up for tourists yet.
What It’s Like
On a normal day, Takua Pa is very quiet. Locals going about their business, a few shops open, not much happening. We walked around for maybe an hour outside of market time. Some streets felt almost empty. If you’re expecting a busy old town like Phuket, this isn’t it. But that’s also why some people like it.
Takua Pa Sunday Market
The Sunday market is the main reason to visit. It runs in the late afternoon and evening along the old town streets. Food stalls, local snacks, clothes, some handmade stuff. Not huge, but busy enough. Mostly Thai visitors and families from nearby towns. We tried some grilled pork skewers and a coconut dessert. Good, cheap, nothing fancy.
The market changes the town completely. On other days it’s dead quiet. On Sundays there’s actually life.
Temples and Shrines
There are a few Chinese shrines and Thai temples scattered around town. Nothing major, but worth a quick look if you’re walking past. The Chinese shrines have the usual colourful decorations and dragon carvings. The Thai temples are simple local ones, not tourist attractions.
Cafés and Food
A few cafés have opened in the old shophouses. Coffee, cakes, air conditioning. One or two looked nice inside, restored with the old tiles and wooden beams kept intact. There are also basic noodle shops and local restaurants around town. Don’t expect a lot of choice, but enough for lunch or a coffee break.
Getting There from Khao Lak
Takua Pa is about 30 minutes by car from central Khao Lak. You’ll need your own transport or a taxi. No public buses that are convenient for tourists. Some tour companies include Takua Pa in half-day cultural trips, but honestly you can do it yourself in a couple of hours if you have a car or scooter.
Is It Worth Visiting?
If you’re staying in Khao Lak for a week and want something different from the beach, Takua Pa is a decent half-day trip. Go on a Sunday for the market. On other days, there’s not much to do unless you really like quiet old towns. We spent about 2 hours total, including the market and walking around. That felt like enough.
More Photos of Takua Pa
Takua Pa Map
More about Khao Lak
