Poramin Bridge ( th, สะพานปรมินทร์), also known as Ban Dara Bridge (สะพานบ้านดารา) is a railway bridge over the

Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The provinces ...

in Tambon Ban Dara, Amphoe Phichai, Uttaradit Province in

northern Thailand Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is geographically characterised by several mountain ranges, which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them. Though like most of Thailand ...

. It is located south of

Ban Dara Junction railway station Ban Dara Junction ( th, สถานีชุมทางบ้านดารา, ) is a railway station located in Phichai District, Uttaradit. It is a Class 3 Station and serves as a junction for the Sawankhalok Branch. Ban Dara Junction is l ...

and is between Rai Oi and Ban Dara railway stations. The historic bridge's name translates to ''"The Great One Bridge"''. It was built in 1906, and King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร� ...

(Rama V) opened it ceremonially on December 7, 1909. The originally nameless area was named by King Chulalongkorn when he was waiting for his train to add firewood and water. He asked the train staff "Where is here?", to which he received the response "This place has no name yet". He therefore gave the name "Ban Dara" after

Dara Rasmi Dara Rasami (; th, ดารารัศมี, , , August 26, 1873 – December 9, 1933), was a princess of Chiang Mai and Siam (later Thailand) and the daughter of King Inthawichayanon, Inthawichayanon of Chiang Mai and Que ...

, one of his princess consorts, who was a northern person. Poramin Bridge was built by German engineer and considered the largest railway bridge in the northern region. During 1942–48 when Thailand was fighting in World War II, the bridge damaged by bombing. After the war ended, restorations were completed in 1953.

References

* {{Coord, 17, 22, 18.8, N, 100, 04, 34.2, E, region:TH_type:landmark, display=title category:Bridges completed in 1909 category:Railway bridges in Thailand Buildings and structures in Uttaradit province