Kudi Chin, Portuguese settlement in Thonburi, Thailand
Kudi Chin is a neighborhood along the western bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, with narrow lanes linking residential homes, churches, temples, and mosques. The settlement stretches in thin strips beside the water, where traditional architecture mixes with everyday life.
Portuguese settlers received this land from King Taksin in 1767 following Ayutthaya's fall and built Santa Cruz Church in 1769 as their spiritual center. The community developed over centuries with the church anchoring their presence.
The neighborhood brings together Buddhist temples, Catholic churches, Muslim mosques, and Chinese shrines where different religious communities coexist and practice their traditions side by side.
The neighborhood is best accessed by river ferry from various piers or by walking along the waterfront paths. Comfortable shoes are important because the lanes are uneven and narrow in places.
Local residents make khanom farang kudi chin, a Portuguese-influenced sweet made with wheat flour, duck eggs, and sugar baked over charcoal braziers. This dessert shows the culinary blend of Portuguese and Thai traditions that continues today.
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