Phra Nakhon District

Phra Nakhon
พระนคร
Khet

300px

Arch celebrating King's 80th birthday, Ratchadamnoen Road

Khet location in Bangkok
Coordinates: 13°45′52″N 100°29′57″E / 13.76444°N 100.49917°E / 13.76444; 100.49917Coordinates: 13°45′52″N 100°29′57″E / 13.76444°N 100.49917°E / 13.76444; 100.49917
Country  Thailand
Province Bangkok
Seat Wat Sam Phraya
Khwaeng 12
Area
 • Total 5.536 km2 (2.137 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 • Total 56,684
 • Density 12,407.3/km2 (32,135/sq mi)
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
Postal code 10200
Geocode 1001
The city pillar shrine (หลักเมือง, Lak Mueang) marks the center of Bangkok
Thai architecture brightly lit in yellow at Lan Plabpla Maha Chedsada Bodin, 222nd anniversary of Bangkok

Phra Nakhon (Thai: พระนคร; IPA: [pʰráʔ náʔkʰɔ̄ːn]) is one of the 50 districts (khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including Rattanakosin Island. Neighboring districts are, starting from the north, clockwise: Dusit, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Samphanthawong, and across the Chao Phraya River Thonburi, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok Noi, and Bang Phlat.

Phra Nakhon was also the name of Bangkok Province, until it was merged in 1972 with Thonburi to form the present day Bangkok metropolis.

Location

The district is bounded by the Chao Phraya River to the west, Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem in the north, and Ratchadamnoen Road and Khlong Ong Ang to the east. The center of Bangkok, marked by the city pillar shrine (lak mueang), is in the district. Also surrounding the large open space of the Sanam Luang are the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, the National Museum in the former palace of the Vice King, and the main campus of Thammasat University as well as Silpakorn University.

Other significant landmarks in the district include Wat Pho, the Giant Swing, Wat Suthat, Wat Ratchanadda (with Loha Prasat) and the Democracy Monument. Also the well-known Khaosan Road is in the district. Another significant temple is Wat Bowonniwet, where several Thai kings were ordained as monks.

Of the original 14 forts protecting Bangkok only two survive. Fort Phra Sumen in the northern corner of the district, and Fort Mahakan in the east of the district. Since 2000 a small park named Santichaiphrakarn around Fort Phra Sumen was built.

In 2005 the complete riverfront of the Phra Nakhon District, from King Rama I Bridge (Memorial Bridge) in the south to the Wasukri Pier (Dusit District), was submitted to the UNESCO for consideration as a future world heritage site.

Another landmark is Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre on Charoen Krung Road. It is Bangkok's oldest cinema and was the first air conditioned theater in Thailand. Built at the order of King Prajadhipok and named by him, it was opened on 2 July 1933. It is the only theater from the first "golden age" of Thai cinema still standing. No longer regularly showing movies, the theater has been renovated and is principally used for Thai dance performances.[1] Another point of interest is the Pak Khlong Talat flower market. Tha Phrachan pier is famous as a Thai amulets market.

The area around Phahurat Road (พาหุรัด) can be considered as Thailand's "Little India". The road was constructed during King Chulalongkorn's reign over a century ago and Indian community started to form after that. Siri Guru Singh Sabha, Thailand's first Sikh temple was built in 1933 near the road. The area is well known for Indian fabric shops and Indian cuisine.

History

Phra Nakhon was once an amphoe named Amphoe Chana Songkhram (อำเภอชนะสงคราม). The administration was overhauled on 15 October 1915 when 25 new amphoes were created for the inner part of Bangkok. On 12 March 1928, six of these amphoes, Amphoe Phahurat, Amphoe Samran Rat, Amphoe Phra Ratchawang, Amphoe Chana Songkhram, Amphoe Sam Yot, and Amphoe Bang Khun Phrom were merged to form Amphoe Phra Nakhon. It became Khet Phra Nakhon in 1972.

Festivals

Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, is celebrated throughout the country from 13–15 April of each year. Khaosan Road (or Khao Sarn Road) in Phra Nakhon District is one notable place to celebrate the event where lots of people, both locals and tourists, come and splash water.

During another famous festival, Loy Krathong, on the 15th day of 12th lunar month, the Chao Phraya river bank in the district, with numerous piers and Phra Sumen fort, is a popular place to come and float lanterns in the water.

Ratchadamnoen Road is often heavily decorated with lights around the King's birthday (5 December) and the Queen's birthday (12 August) and other major anniversaries. Sanam Luang and recently created Lan Plabpla Maha Chedsada Bodin (ลานพลับพลามหาเจษฎาบดินทร์) in front of Wat Ratchanadda and its Loha Prasat are open spaces that frequently used to celebrate various events.

Administration

District map

The district is divided into 12 sub-districts (Khwaeng).

1.Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang พระบรมมหาราชวัง  7.Bowon Niwetบวรนิเวศ
2.Wang Burapha Phiromวังบูรพาภิรมย์ 8.Talat Yotตลาดยอด
3.Wat Ratchabophitวัดราชบพิธ 9.Chana Songkhramชนะสงคราม
4.Samran Ratสำราญราษฎร์ 10.Ban Phan Thomบ้านพานถม
5.San Chaopho Sueaศาลเจ้าพ่อเสือ 11.Bang Khun Phrom บางขุนพรหม 
6.Sao Chingchaเสาชิงช้า 12.Wat Sam Phrayaวัดสามพระยา

References

  1. ↑ Chalermkrung Royal Theatre (Sala Chaloem Krung) in Bangkok, DiscoveryThailand.com (retrieved 12 August 2006).
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.