Khlong Bangkok Yai ( th, คลองบางกอกใหญ่, ; lit: 'Big Bangkok Canal') is a historic ''

khlong A ''khlong'' ( th, คลอง, ), alternatively spelt as ''klong'' () commonly refers to a canal in Thailand. These canals are spawned by the rivers Chao Phraya, Tha Chin, and Mae Klong, along with their tributaries particularly in the low-ly ...

'' (คลอง; canal) of

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 ...

. The current length is 6 km (about 3 mi), through various canals as far as it terminates when it meets

Khlong Mon Khlong Mon ( th, คลองมอญ, ) is a ''khlong'' (canal) in Bangkok's Thonburi side. Khlong Mon has been dug since Ayutthaya period and delineates the border between Bangkok Yai and Bangkok Noi Districts. It has a starting from the west ...

near the confluence of three canals, Khlong Chak Phra, Khlong Mon and Khlong Bang Chueak Nang. In total, the canal passes through three districts, namely Bangkok Yai,

Thon Buri __NOTOC__ Thonburi ( th, ธนบุรี) is an area of modern Bangkok. During the era of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, its location on the right (west) bank at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River had made it an important garrison town, which i ...

and Phasi Charoen.

History

The course of Khlong Bangkok Yai was originally a meandering part 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 ...

, which used to be longer than in the present day. Those who travel by boat must cruise along the river, which took more than one day. In the reign of King

Chairachathirat Chairachathirat ( th, ไชยราชาธิราช, ), or ''Chai'' reigned 1534–1546 as King of the Ayutthaya kingdom of Siam. His reign was remarkable for the influx of Portuguese traders, mercenaries, and early Modern warfare tech ...

(1534–46) of the

Ayutthaya Kingdom The Ayutthaya Kingdom (; th, อยุธยา, , IAST: or , ) was a Siamese kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. The Ayutthaya Kingdom is conside ...

, he ordered the construction of a canal bypassing a loop of the Chao Phraya River, known as ''Khlong Lat Bangkok'' (คลองลัดบางกอก; 'Bangkok Short-Cut Canal'), thus reducing travel times. The Chao Phraya then changed course along the new canal, and the old course became what is known today as Khlong Bangkok Yai (lower section) and

Khlong Bangkok Noi 250px, Khlong Bangkok Noi near Wat Sri Sudaram Khlong Bangkok Noi ( th, คลองบางกอกน้อย, ; lit 'Small Bangkok Canal') is a '' khlong'' (คลอง; canal) in Bangkok; its name is the origin of the name Bangkok Noi Dis ...

(upper section). left, 280px, View from Phra Nakhon side, the waterway was flanked by Wichai_Prasit_Fort_(right)_and_Wat_Kalayanamitr_(left)_is_the_mouth_of_Khlong_Bangkok_Yai.html" ;"title="Wat_Kalayanamitr.html" ;"title="Wichai Prasit Fort (right) and Wat Kalayanamitr">Wichai Prasit Fort (right) and Wat Kalayanamitr (left) is the mouth of Khlong Bangkok Yai">Wat_Kalayanamitr.html" ;"title="Wichai Prasit Fort (right) and Wat Kalayanamitr">Wichai Prasit Fort (right) and Wat Kalayanamitr (left) is the mouth of Khlong Bangkok Yai In the reign of King Taksin (1767–82) of the Thonburi Kingdom, he founded the new capital, Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. The banks of Khlong Bangkok Yai became the residence of many people, including much of the nobility, giving rise to the names ''Khlong Bang Luang'' or ''Khlong Bang Kha Luang'' (คลองบางหลวง, คลองบางข้าหลวง; 'Canal of Nobles'). Khlong Bangkok Yai was also the first canal in Thailand to have

lampposts A street light, light pole, lamp pole, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or path. Similar lights may be found on a railway platform. When urban electric power distribution ...

installed. Khlong Bangkok Yai is now a

waterway A waterway is any navigable body of water. Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on the nuance of the equivalent word in other languages. A first distinction is necessary b ...

and

drainage Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of a surface's water and sub-surface water from an area with excess of water. The internal drainage of most agricultural soils is good enough to prevent severe waterlogging (anaerobic conditio ...

. It is also a major site of

cultural tourism Cultural tourism is a type of tourism activity in which the visitor's essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/produ ...

of Bangkok. There are many

houses of worship A place of worship is a specially designed structure or space where individuals or a group of people such as a wikt:congregation, congregation come to perform acts of devotion, veneration, or religious study. A building constructed or used for th ...

on both sides, such as

Wat Molilokayaram Wat Molilokkayaram Ratchawarawihan or simply Wat Molilokkayaram ( th, วัดโมลีโลกยาราม ราชวรวิหาร, วัดโมลีโลกยาราม) is an ancient Wat, Thai temple site between Wat Arun ...

Wat Hongratanaram Wat Hong Rattanaram Ratchaworawihan, or just called Wat Hong Rattanaram ( th, วัดหงส์รัตนารามราชวรวิหาร, วัดหงส์รัตนาราม) is an ancient Thai Buddhist temple located in ...

Wat Nuannoradit Wat Nuannoradit ( th, วัดนวลนรดิศ) is the 3rd ranked temple in Thailand. It is on the western side of the Khlong Bangkok Yai (Bangkok Yai canal) and opposite Wat Praduchimplee and Wat Nuan Noradit School. History Wat Nuann ...

Wat Kalayanamitr Wat Kalayanamitr Varamahavihara ( th, วัดกัลยาณมิตรวรมหาวิหาร, , ) is a Buddhist temple (wat) in Bangkok, Thailand. The temple is located in Wat Kanlaya sub-district, on the Thonburi bank of the Chao ...

Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen ( th, วัดปากน้ำภาษีเจริญ, ) is a royal ''wat'' ('temple') located in Phasi Charoen district, Bangkok, at the Chao Phraya River. It is part of the Maha Nikaya fraternity and is the orig ...

, Wat Kuhasawan, Bang Luang Mosque,

Tonson Mosque Ton Son Mosque ( th, มัสยิดต้นสน) is a historic mosque affiliated with the Sunni religion of Islam. Located on the left bank of Khlong Bangkok Yai canal, Wat Arun Subdistrict, Bangkok Yai District, Bangkok's Thonburi sid ...

, and Kudi Charoenphat, and also historic places such as

Khlong Bang Luang Artist House Baan Sinlapin ( th, บ้านศิลปิน, link=no), The Artist's House is an art gallery and puppet theater situated at 315 Wat Tong Salangam, Phet Kasem 28, Thanon Phet Kasem, Phasi Charoen, Bangkok, Thailand. The building dates back ov ...

Talat Phlu 300px, Thoet Thai Road is the main thoroughfare of Talat Phlu quarter Talat Phlu or Talad Phlu ( th, ตลาดพลู, ) is a community and marketplace by the canal Khlong Bangkok Yai in Talat Phlu subdistrict, Thon Buri district, Thonburi si ...

Wichai Prasit Fort The fortifications of Bangkok consist of several series of defensive structures built to protect the city during the late Ayutthaya to early Rattanakosin periods. The earliest structures were built when Bangkok was an outpost of Ayutthaya guardi ...

References

{{coord, 13, 46, 45.3, N, 100, 27, 46.6, E, display=title Canals in Thailand Bangkok Yai district Thon Buri district Phasi Charoen district History of Bangkok Tourist attractions in Bangkok Chao Phraya River

History

See also

References