Rating: 3.8/5 (6 votes)

Open Days: Daily

Opening Hours: According to religious activities and prayer times (it’s recommended to call ahead before visiting)

 

Sulukul Muttaqin Mosque (Ban Krua) is a key religious landmark for the Muslim community of Ban Krua along the Banthat Thong corridor in Ratchathewi District. Many people know this area as an inner-city zone that’s easy to reach and close to learning hubs, arts and culture venues, and major shopping districts in central Bangkok. But once you step deeper into Ban Krua’s small lanes and alleys, the city’s rhythm changes—into something quieter, simpler, and more community-driven. The mosque is therefore not only a place for religious duties, but also a “marker” that helps visitors understand Bangkok through people, roots, and ways of life that have been carried forward for generations.

 

The story of Sulukul Muttaqin Mosque begins more with community than with architecture. Originally, the mosque was established in Ban Krua Tai as a small wooden building known locally as “Surae Yipa.” Community accounts say it was built during the reign of King Rama VI, around 1917 (B.E. 2460). Later, it was dismantled and relocated across the canal, and rebuilt in Ban Krua Tawan Tok. The second construction took place in 1932 (B.E. 2475) during the reign of King Rama VII. After that, it was registered under Thailand’s Islamic mosque law in 1947 (B.E. 2490) under the name “Sulukul Muttaqin Mosque,” a name understood in a moral and spiritual sense as “the way of life of those who practice self-restraint.” Before 1997 (B.E. 2540), the mosque underwent another major transition, becoming the current marble mosque that people see today.

 

When people mention “Ban Krua,” many immediately think of today’s lively food scene around Banthat Thong. Yet the community’s real meaning runs much deeper. Ban Krua is traditionally divided into Ban Krua Nuea, Ban Krua Tawan Tok, and Ban Krua Tai, with mosques serving as the village centers for each cluster of homes. Some older wooden houses in the area reflect local craftsmanship and a Pattani Malay architectural influence. Houses often stand closely together, connected by narrow walkways that weave between them—sometimes giving a maze-like feeling. This is part of Ban Krua’s charm: walking here is not merely moving from point to point, but passing through memory and a way of life that many big-city neighborhoods have already lost.

 

Another layer that makes Ban Krua especially interesting is its ethnic roots and language history. In the past, Cham Muslims in the community used Cham or Khmer in everyday communication, and community narratives also speak of ancestral ties connected to Battambang, as well as inter-ethnic marriages that led Khmer to become a primary spoken language in many households at one point. Over time, Thai became the main language for younger generations. Still, some elders remain who can speak Khmer, while many younger people may understand it when listening but cannot form full sentences, retaining mainly kinship terms and short phrases used within the community. This is not just language history—it is evidence of how people have adapted while living alongside Bangkok for more than a century.

 

Every way of life carries food with it, and Ban Krua is associated with dishes that locals describe as “hard to find” elsewhere, such as Khmer-style sour curry with beef, Vietnamese-style “bob” (a local dish name used in the community), and “sam khern.” These foods reflect cultural blending within a Cham–Khmer Muslim community in Thailand. For visitors who want to learn through taste, the best approach is respectful: support community vendors politely, don’t rush, and understand that some foods may not appear as famous street-front shops, but exist more within the community’s everyday rhythm.

 

Because the mosque sits in a central city area, some visitors may wish to stop by as part of a “Bangkok cultural trip,” learning about a religious site and an old community neighborhood. The essentials are basic etiquette: dress modestly, keep noise low, avoid disturbing prayer times, do not walk directly in front of someone praying, ask permission before taking photos, and if you’re unsure about the best time to come, calling ahead helps ensure your visit is smooth, comfortable, and respectful to both the place and the worshippers who use it.

 

Getting There The mosque is located at No. 358, Ban Krua Village, Soi Trok Wat Phraya Yang (along the Phaya Nak lane line), Banthat Thong Road, Thanon Phetchaburi, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400. For first-time visitors, the most practical “anti-lost” method is to pin the destination using the coordinates 13.750940, 100.523201 and follow map navigation into the Ban Krua area. As you approach, main roads gradually turn into smaller lanes and community walkways, so it’s wise to allow extra time. If you’re using public transport, the overall idea is to start from the Siam–National Stadium–Phaya Thai–Ratchathewi zone, then take a short connecting ride to Banthat Thong/Phaya Nak and enter Trok Wat Phraya Yang according to the real route suggested by your map. Once you are near the mosque, lower your voice, slow your pace, and prioritize the peace of the community.

 

In trip-planning terms, Sulukul Muttaqin Mosque can easily be part of a one-day itinerary that mixes “community learning–museum stop–art viewing–shopping,” because the surrounding areas include major Bangkok destinations around Siam and Pathum Wan. The key to doing it well is aligning your schedule with religious activity times and keeping respect for the prayer space as the top priority.

 

 

A: It is in Ratchathewi District, Bangkok, in the Ban Krua–Banthat Thong area of Thanon Phetchaburi.

 

A: It is a long-established community mosque in inner Bangkok, closely tied to Ban Krua’s history and identity, with a development history from an early wooden structure to the present-day mosque, surrounded by distinctive community walkways and older wooden houses.

 

A: Pin “Trok Wat Phraya Yang, Ban Krua, Banthat Thong” and use the coordinates 13.750940, 100.523201 for more accurate navigation.

 

A: Dress modestly, keep the area quiet, respect prayer times, ask permission before taking photos, and avoid disturbing the prayer space unless necessary.

 

A: The verified contact number is 02-611-2286 (it’s recommended to call ahead before visiting, especially if you plan to enter during prayer or religious activity times).

 

A: Walk quietly, lower your voice, avoid peeking into private home areas, do not photograph people or inside homes without permission, and if you plan to support local food vendors, do so politely and at the community’s pace.