MALLIKA CITY
1. Introduction
Mallika City, 1905 A.D. is a retro-city reflecting the Siamese lifestyle in the Chao Phraya River basin. Malika City was built on a budget of 200 million baht. It is an ancient city located on 60 rai of Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi. The city imitates the the living of Siamese people, which includes transportations, foods, costumes, and entertainments in the end of the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) era which he enacted the abolition of slavery on April 1, 2448. In the reign of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V), the way of life of the Siamese people during 1905 A.D changed many times, and the most obvious was the abolition of slavery. When slaves were freed, they had to live on their own, not under the mandate or care of the bureaucrats anymore. They had to live a life of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and in harmony with all other Siamese people which, later, these lifestyle changes became the cornerstone of today's Thai people.
2. Etymology
According to a famous Thai intellectual, Sulak Siviraksa, “Mallika” is the name of the river in Burmese Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar. The river was the center of ancient civilization of Southeast Asia hundred years ago. Nevertheless, the word Mallika in Thai dictionary means “jasmine”.
3. Story of Malika City
The architect of Malika City is Associate Professor Chatri Prakitnonthakan, Dean of Faculty of Architecture, Department of Thai Architecture, Silpakorn University. He designed the city by making up a story of Mali (jasmine), a beautiful daughter of a farmer living in Reuan Dieow, a detached house in a rural area. She, later, got married to a young government officer and started a trading business by building Reuan Pae, a floating house, to trade with foreigners. With her traditional Thai charm, her business went well while her husband was also climbing up the rank. They were getting rich. So, they built Reuan Kahabodi, a bigger house for the rich, which was more suitable for their social status. As the business expanded and with her husband’s higher work position, they were in contact with more foreigners and noblemen. They made a decision to build a group of houses or “Reuan Hmoo” in order to have spaces available for their guests of honor. All houses built by Mali and her husband in Mallika City represent all types of Thai traditional houses.
4. Mallika city has a lot of atractions
- Saphan Han (Turnable bridge) is a small bridge over the Khlong Rop Krung.
- Ancient Market Zone : In R.E.124, there were several market zones that were considered famous and modern for the era.
- City Tower used as a scenery point of the Mallika city.
- Reuan Dieow is a detached house for commoners.
- Reuan Khaha Bodi is a detached house for the rich.
- Cooking Kitchen includes rice production house, barn house, and preparing kitchen. It shows the process of rice winnowing, rice milling, rice pounding, and rice cooking by using a large frying pan.
- Reuan Hmoo is a shop houses, thus, located on the river banks.
- Reuan Pae is used by the rich as a visitor reception. It displays the living condition of these traditional Thai dancing teams.
- Jasmine Garden : Mallika, by Thai dictionary, means Jasmine. There are more than a hundred species of jasmine in Thailand that are unknown to newer generations. Mallika city, then, built a jasmine garden collecting various kinds of jasmine for your eyes and noses.
There are a number of shows
- Khon (classical Thai pantomime) : Battle of Ravana and Rama (The Battle). This show is a part of Ramayana, a play based on a story of a war between Rama, Lakshmana and their monkey army with Ravana, a demon King of Lanka city.
- Satchatri is popular for its unique southern style.
- Font-Pan : The dance moves are made up of northern style mixed with Thai dance
- Gliding Ginnaree : This show puts together two performances to make it more interesting. It is praised for its distinguished dance moves and costumes.
- Puppeteer is based on royal puppet and other kinds of local puppetry for various region including other performances and traditional dances.
- Laos Kratob Mai is a native play of Surin province, formerly known as Sak Dance.
- Sword Play is one of basic elements of Thai martial arts.
- Pirompatchanee Dancing : Malika City's Theatrical Art Department was inspired by the dress and manner of ladies in R.E 124. So, they invented beautiful dance moves, and chose the song that matches the atmosphere of R.E 124 to fit and suit the dance.