The Amphawa Chaipattana Nurak Foundation is a royal project initiated by Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn. She entrusted the foundation with the use of land donated by a villager from Amphawa for the benefit of the community, preserving Thai knowledge and fostering traditional ways of life. Within the grounds of the Amphawa floating market is a coconut palm grove whose cultivation method, using mounds and canals, is taught and practiced throughout the region to allow for pesticide-free farming. Further back, you'll find a small coconut processing facility, which I highly recommend. They also produce coconut cider there, which I haven't yet tried myself, and you can purchase other local products. Occasionally, there are performances of local music, dance, or handicrafts on the stage behind the pat fat shop. The foundation operates several shops along the market canal, including the Chanchala Café and the small Amphawa Community Museum a little further on. There, two remarkable women work, crafting hats from bamboo or coconut palm. The foundation promotes local production and the sale of goods to domestic tourists and visitors to the weekend market. This prevents tourism from negatively impacting local life, as so often happens. Instead, traditions, inherited knowledge, and crafts are preserved and strengthened.

Free entry. Ask at the Pat Fat Shop for a guide to the coconut grove. Chaipattana Foundation Information Service – Tel: 02 282 4425 or 02 252 9880 and website: www.amphawanurak.com

The coconut grove of the Amphawa Chaipattana Nurak Foundation is located just a few meters from the canal of the Amphawa floating market. The easiest way to reach it is to find the Chanchala beverage shop and cross it. Behind it is a promenade with handicraft stalls and a small massage parlor. Crossing the street, you will see the pat-fat shop and, behind it, the coconut grove with its small coconut sugar production facility.

How to get there

How do I get to the Amphawa Chaipattananurak Foundation? The Amphawa Chaipattana Nurak Foundation's coconut grove is located just a few meters from the Amphawa floating market canal. The easiest way to reach it is to find the Chanchala beverage shop and cross it. Behind it is a promenade with craft stalls and a small massage parlor. Cross the street, and you'll see the pat-fat shop, and behind it, the coconut grove with its small coconut sugar production facility.