Making pla taphian at the small Sala Pla Thai in Ayutthaya.

Arts and craft

Join a workshop to create a traditional craft product called a pla taphian - a mobile of fish weaved from palm leaves.

Pla Taphian is a mobile with fish made from palm leaves, a traditional craft in Ayutthaya. – © Michael Turtle

Visitors can learn how to make a pla taphian out of dried palm leaves from the owners of Sala Pla Thai. – © Michael Turtle

Pla Taphian have been made in Ayutthaya for generations and are believed to bring good luck. – © Michael Turtle

Pla Taphian is a mobile with fish made from palm leaves, a traditional craft in Ayutthaya. – © Michael Turtle

Keep an eye out in Ayutthaya, and you may spot some decorations of fish made with palm leaves. Known as 'pla taphian' these local crafts have been made by hand in the region for generations. Using thin strips of dried palm leaves, artisans weave them together to create the shape of the barb fish, with an arrow-shaped head and large flashy tails. They can be left naturally coloured or painted in colourful patterns, depending on the style.

At the small workshop called Sala Pla Thai, visitors can purchase some of the crafts – or even join the owners for a workshop on how to make the pla taphian themselves. They may be small, but the process is quite intricate – although it's easy to be led through the steps to weave them from scratch.

Learning to make the fish mobiles underneath one hanging in the store. – © Michael Turtle

Traditionally, the fish were then attached to a mobile that hung above a child's bed. The fish is a symbol of prosperity and abundance and, as well as lulling the child to sleep, it is believed to bring good luck. The use of palm fronds also has an auspicious meaning because they were once used for Buddhist scriptures. These days, the pla taphian are used for decoration more generally as well.

The palm leaves are woven into the shape of a barb fish, which can be left naturally or painted with colours. – © Michael Turtle

South of Ayutthaya, you can discover more local products at the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre. As well as items for sale, there are exhibitions of crafts from across the region, and demonstrations from some of the expert artisans.