Charoen Krung Road
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Shophouses along Charoen Krung road with the Sathorn Unique Tower in the vicinity (2021) Charoen Krung Road ( th, ถนนเจริญกรุง, ) is a major road in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
and the first in
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
to be built using modern construction methods. Built during 1862–1864 in the reign of King
Mongkut Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
(Rama IV), it runs from the old city centre in
Rattanakosin Island Rattanakosin Island ( th, เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east t ...
, passes through
Bangkok's Chinatown Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. It was founded in 1782 when the city was established as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom, and served as the home of the mainly Teochew immigrant Chinese population, who ...
, continues into Bang Rak district, where it formerly served the community of European expatriates, and ends in Bang Kho Laem. Construction of the road marked a major change in Bangkok's urban development, with the major mode of transport shifting from water to land. Charoen Krung Road was Bangkok's main street up to the early 20th century, but later declined in prominence. It is still home to many historic buildings and neighbourhoods, which are beset by changes as extension of the underground
MRT MRT may refer to: Transport Rapid Transit Systems * Mass Rapid Transit (disambiguation) * MRT (Singapore) or Mass Rapid Transit, Singapore * MRT (Bangkok) or Metropolitan Rapid Transit, Thailand * Manila Metro Rail Transit System, Philippine ...
is poised to drive new development.


History

Until the mid-19th century, the primary means of transport in Bangkok (and Siam in general) was by boat. This began to change as the country opened up to Western ideas and influences, and underwent modernization during the reign of King
Mongkut Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibod ...
(Rama IV, r. 1851–1868). The signing of the
Bowring Treaty The Bowring Treaty was a treaty signed between the British Empire and the Kingdom of Siam on 18 April 1855. The treaty had the primary effect of liberalizing foreign trade in Siam, and was signed by five Siamese plenipotentiaries (among them Won ...
in 1855 marked the beginning of increasing Western political and economic influence, and many foreigners set up diplomatic missions, trading companies and residences on the east bank of the
Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Et ...
, just beyond the newly expanded city limits marked by Phadung Krung Kasem Canal, which had been dug in 1851. On 19 August 1861, Western consuls, complaining of ill health due to a lack of roads in which they could travel by horse-drawn carriage, requested that the King build a new road on the east side of the river behind the consulates and businesses. The King agreed to the request, and ordered the construction of a new system of roads. The first, which would serve the European district, was begun in 1862 and officially opened to traffic on 16 March 1864.G.B. McFarland, "Historical Sketch of Protestant Missions in Siam 1828–1928" Bangkok: White Lotus Press, 1999, p.62. At the time, roads were not officially named, and the road became known as ''Thanon Mai'' () or ''New Road''. King Mongkut later gave it the name ''Charoen Krung'', which means "prosperous city" or "prosperity of the city". The road, constructed in two phases, runs roughly parallel to the Chao Phraya River in a southerly direction from the city centre. The first section ran from the old city moat, crossed Phadung Krumg Kasem Canal, and continued through the European district to end in Bang Kho Laem, where the river made a sharp turn to the east. The second phase, within the old city walls, ran from
Wat Pho Wat Pho ( th, วัดโพธิ์, ), also spelled Wat Po, is a Buddhism, Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Grand P ...
to meet the earlier section at Saphan Lek ("iron bridge"). When the road was first built, locals remarked of its size and width that there just weren't enough people to walk such large a street. In fact, only one side of the road was regularly used until it was renovated and paved with asphalt in 1922. The construction of Charoen Krung Road—together with Bamrung Mueang, built shortly after—marked a major change in Bangkok's urban landscape. Land transport soon overtook canals in importance, and the growth of the city now followed roads instead. Charoen Krung remained the city's main road and largest thoroughfare up to the early 20th century, when development expanded in-land along the direction of Bamrung Mueang instead. The city's first tram line began operation on Charoen Krung in 1888. Originally horse-drawn, the tram was electrified in 1894. The service ran until its discontinuation in 1963. Charoen Krung's importance gradually declined as the city's rapid expansion in the latter half of the 20th century drew real estate development elsewhere. The southern section, although the site of many historic buildings, has lagged in economic potential; up to 20 percent of its commercial buildings were unoccupied in 2013. Lately, in an attempt at urban renewal, there have been efforts to promote the southern Charoen Krung neighbourhood as the Charoenkrung Creative District. Meanwhile, construction of the Blue Line extension of Bangkok's
MRT MRT may refer to: Transport Rapid Transit Systems * Mass Rapid Transit (disambiguation) * MRT (Singapore) or Mass Rapid Transit, Singapore * MRT (Bangkok) or Metropolitan Rapid Transit, Thailand * Manila Metro Rail Transit System, Philippine ...
system, which runs directly under Charoen Krung as it passes through the Chinatown and Rattnakaosin areas, has raised concerns that historic communities are being displaced by development.


Places

Charoen Krung Road runs for through the districts of Phra Nakhon,
Pom Prap Sattru Phai Pom Prap Sattru Phai ( th, ป้อมปราบศัตรูพ่าย, , or popularly just called Pom Prap, ) is one of the 50 districts (khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighbouring districts are (from north clockwise) Dusit, Pathum Wan, ...
and
Samphanthawong Samphanthawong ( th, สัมพันธวงศ์, ) is one of the 50 districts (khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. Regarded as Bangkok's Chinatown, it is the smallest district in area but has the highest population density of Bangkok's districts. ...
(dividing the two), Bang Rak,
Sathon Sathon or Sathorn ( th, สาทร, ) is one of the 50 districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts (from north clockwise): Bang Rak, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, Yan Nawa, Bang Kho Laem, and Khlon ...
and Bang Kho Laem. It begins at
Sanam Chai Road Sanam Chai Road ( th, ถนนสนามไชย, , ) is a historic street in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon District. It continues from Ratchadamnoen Nai Road at the northeastern corner of the Grand Palace, and runs south to meet Rachini and Maharat ro ...
, at the corners of the
Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...
, Wat Pho,
Saranrom Park Saranrom Park ( th, สวนสราญรมย์, , ) is a public park in Bangkok. It is located opposite the Grand Palace, between Sanam Chai, Charoen Krung and Rachini roads in Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Distric ...
and the
Territorial Defense Command headquarters The Territorial Defense Command ( th, หน่วยบัญชาการรักษาดินแดน), known as the Army Reserve Command () from 2001–2009 and the Territorial Defence Department () before that, is a department of the Roy ...
. It heads east through the
Rattanakosin Island Rattanakosin Island ( th, เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east t ...
, crossing the inner moat at Saphan Mon (" Mon Bridge"), and passes the Ban Mo and
Wang Burapha Wang Burapha ( th, วังบูรพา, ) is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok, regarded as the first commercial and entertainment district in contemporary Thailand (after 1932 revolution). It is situated between Charoen Krung, Maha Chai, ...
neighbourhoods, as well as the
Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre ( th, ศาลาเฉลิมกรุง;) was originally a movie theatre in Bangkok, Thailand built in Modernist style on Charoengkrung Road. It was opened on 3 July 1933. After serving as a cinema for many y ...
. The road crosses Khlong Ong Ang (the outer moat) at Damrong Sathit Bridge, which is the site of the Saphan Lek market. From here, it serves
Bangkok's Chinatown Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. It was founded in 1782 when the city was established as the capital of the Rattanakosin Kingdom, and served as the home of the mainly Teochew immigrant Chinese population, who ...
, running southeast, roughly parallel to
Yaowarat Road Yaowarat Road ( th, ถนนเยาวราช, ; ) in Samphanthawong District is the main artery of Bangkok's Chinatown. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. It has been the main centre for trading ...
. It passes the historic
S.A.B. Intersection S.A.B. Intersection ( th, แยกเอส. เอ. บี., ) is formed by the intersection of Charoen Krung Road, Charoen Krung and Worachak Road, Worachak with Chakkrawat roads in Bangkok's Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Samphanthawong Districts nea ...
near the areas of Nakhon Khasem (Thieves' Market) and Khlong Thom, as well as the Chinese temple
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat Wat Mangkon Kamalawat ( th, วัดมังกรกมลาวาส, ), previously (and still commonly) known as Wat Leng Noei Yi ( th, วัดเล่งเน่ยยี่, ; ), is the largest and most important Culture of China, Chin ...
. The road continues straight until it meets
Rama IV Road Rama IV Road ( th, ถนนพระรามที่ 4, ; usually shortened to , ) is a main road in Bangkok, Thailand. It starts at Mo Mi Junction in the area of Bangkok's Chinatown in Samphanthawong and Pom Prap Sattru Phai Districts and e ...
at
Mo Mi Junction Mo Mi ( th, หมอมี, ) is a large intersection located in the centre of Bangkok's Chinatown quarter overlaps between Pom Prap of Pom Prap Sattru Phai district and Talat Noi with Samphanthawong of Samphanthawong district. This intersec ...
, where it bends slightly south. From near the road's beginning at Sanam Chai to Mo Mi Junction, the extension of the MRT's Blue Line runs beneath Charoen Krung, and serves its neighbourhoods via Sam Yot and Wat Mangkon stations, which opened in 2019. From Mo Mi Junction, Charoen Krung heads south to meet Yaowarat Road at the
Odeon Circle Odeon Circle and Chinese gate., 300px Odeon Circle or Wongwian Odeon ( th, วงเวียนโอเดียน, ; zh, 崇聖牌樓; pinyin: ''Chóng shèng páilóu'') is a roundabout in Bangkok. It is the intersection of Yaowarat, Charoen ...
, where the Chinatown Gate and
Wat Traimit The Golden Buddha, officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon ( th, พระพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร; sa, Buddhamahāsuvarṇapaṭimākara), commonly known in Thai as Phra Sukhothai Traimit ( th, ...
are located. The road then passes the neighbourhood of
Talat Noi Talat Noi or Talad Noi ( th, ตลาดน้อย, ) is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok. It roughly occupies the area of the sub-district of the same name in Samphanthawong District. On the periphery of Bangkok's Chinatown, Talat Noi has b ...
, before crossing Phadung Krung Kasem Canal at Phitthayasathian Bridge. Here, the road enters Bang Rak District and runs along the former European quarter of Bang Rak Subdistrict, branching off to historic side-streets (''
soi ''Soi'' ( th, ซอย ) is the term used in Thailand for a side-street branching off a major street (''thanon'', th, ถนน). An alley is called a ''trok'' ( th, ตรอก). Overview Sois are usually numbered, and are referred to by th ...
'') such as Soi Charoen Krung 30 (
Captain Bush Lane Captain Bush Lane, now officially known as Soi Charoen Krung 30 ( th, ซอยเจริญกรุง 30), is a side-street (''trok'' or ''soi'') branching off Charoen Krung Road in Bang Rak District of Bangkok, Thailand. It was hom ...
, location of the Portuguese embassy), Soi Charoen Krung 36 ("Rue de Brest", named to commemorate diplomatic relations with France, whose embassy is located here, along with the
Customs House A custom house or customs house was traditionally a building housing the offices for a jurisdictional government whose officials oversaw the functions associated with importing and exporting goods into and out of a country, such as collecting c ...
and Haroon Mosque), and Soi Charoen Krung 40 (Soi Burapha, location of the Oriental Hotel, Assumption Cathedral, the Catholic Mission and Assumption College). The
General Post Office The General Post Office (GPO) was the state postal system and telecommunications carrier of the United Kingdom until 1969. Before the Acts of Union 1707, it was the postal system of the Kingdom of England, established by Charles II in 1660. ...
building is located on the corner of Soi Charoen Krung 32, and Soi 42/1 is home to Wat Suan Phlu and the
Shangri-La Hotel Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts () is a multinational hospitality company. Founded in 1971 by tycoon Robert Kuok in Malaysia, the company now has over 100 luxury hotels and resorts with over 40,000 rooms in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East ...
. As it passes through Bang Rak, Charoen Krung meets several roads branching off to the northeast, running parallel to each other. Built during the turn of the 19th–20th centuries as the city expanded southward following the development around Charoen Krung, these roads are Si Phraya, Surawong,
Si Lom Si Lom Road (also written as Silom, th, สีลม, ) is a major street in the Thai capital Bangkok, best known for its commercial neighbourhood, which, along with the nearby and roughly parallel Sathon Road, forms one of the city's main busi ...
and
Sathon Sathon or Sathorn ( th, สาทร, ) is one of the 50 districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts (from north clockwise): Bang Rak, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, Yan Nawa, Bang Kho Laem, and Khlon ...
. The latter two form Bangkok's financial district, and on the corner of Charoen Krung and Si Lom stands the State Tower. Charoen Krung meets Sathon Road under the ramps of
Taksin Bridge The Taksin Bridge ( th, สะพานสมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช, , ; usually abbreviated to simply , ), or commonly known as Sathon Bridge (, , ) is a bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River in Ban ...
, near the Saphan Taksin Station of the
BTS Skytrain The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain ( th, รถไฟฟ้าบีทีเอส '' TS'), is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL (BTSC), a ...
. From here, it enters Sathon District, where it passes
Wat Yan Nawa Wat Yannawa (), commonly known in English as "the boat temple", is a Buddhist temple (Buddhist temple, Wat) in Bangkok on Charoen Krung Road, Sathon district. The temple has a long history from the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Ayutthaya era to the present ...
,
Sathorn Unique Tower Sathorn Unique Tower is an unfinished skyscraper in the Thai capital city Bangkok. Planned as a high-rise condominium complex, construction of the building was halted during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, when it was already about 80 percent com ...
, the
Bangkok Dock Company The Bangkok Dock Company (1957) Limited ( th, บริษัทอู่กรุงเทพ จำกัด) is a Thai shipbuilding company. It operates as a state enterprise under the oversight of the Ministry of Defence. It was founded in 1 ...
and Wat Suthiwararam School. As the road enters Bang Kho Laem District, the area becomes mostly residential. It passes
Shrewsbury International School Shrewsbury International School Bangkok ( th, โรงเรียนนานาชาติโชรส์เบอรี กรุงเทพ, ) is a coeducational British international school in Charoeng Krung, Bang Kho Laem District, Bangko ...
, the Protestant Cemetery, and the
Asiatique Asiatique: The Riverfront is a large open-air mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It occupies the former docks of the East Asiatic Company, and faces the Chao Phraya River and Charoen Krung Road. The complex opened in 2012 after extensive renovation of ...
night market. The final stretch of Charoen Krung Road, after it intersects Rama III Road under
Rama III Bridge The Rama III Bridge ( th, สะพานพระราม 3, , ), also known as the New Krungthep Bridge, is a bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. The bridge was completed in 1999 and was designed to alleviate traffic co ...
, is known as
Thanon Tok 250px, Thanon Tok in 2020 Thanon Tok ( th, ถนนตก, ) is a road junction in the Bang Kho Laem Subdistrict, Bang Kho Laem District, Bangkok. It is a crossroad of Charoen Krung, Rama III and Mahaisawan Roads, with considered as the last ...
(, "falling road"), a reference to the fact that if the road continued on, it would fall into the river. At the end of the road, adjacent to
Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital ( th, โรงพยาบาลเจริญกรุงประชารักษ์, link=no) is a hospital in Thailand located in Bang Kho Laem District, Bangkok. It is a public hospital operated by the Medic ...
, is the Yan Nawa office of the
Metropolitan Electricity Authority The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) ( th, การไฟฟ้านครหลวง) is a Thai state enterprise under the Ministry of Interior. It was established on 1 August 1958 by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority Act 1958 ( ...
, where one of Bangkok's former trams is preserved as a tourist attraction.


See also

*
History of Bangkok The history of the city of Bangkok, in Thailand, dates at least to the early–15th century, when it was under the rule of Ayutthaya. Due to its strategic location near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, the town gradually increased in importanc ...


References

{{Coord, 13, 44, 50, N, 100, 29, 40, E, region:TH-10_type:landmark, format=dms, display=title Streets in Bangkok