250px, Khlong Chedi Bucha in 2015. Khlong Chedi Bucha ( th, คลองเจดีย์บูชา, ) is a ''

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 ...

'' (canal) in

central Thailand Central Thailand (Central plain) or more specifically Siam (also known as Suvarnabhumi and Dvaravati) is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand (Isan) by ...

. This khlong has a similar origin to the

Khlong Maha Sawat Khlong Maha Sawat ( th, คลองมหาสวัสดิ์, ), also known as Khlong Chaiyaphruek (คลองชัยพฤกษ์, ), is a ''khlong'' (canal) in Thailand. It is a man-made waterway dug in 1859–1860 in the reign of ...

, that continues westward all the way to

Phra Pathom Chedi Phra Pathommachedi or Phra Pathom Chedi ( th, พระปฐมเจดีย์) is a Buddhist stupa in Thailand. The stupa is located in the Wat Phra Pathommachedi Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan ( th, วัดพระปฐมเจดีย์ร ...

, the country's largest and oldest

pagoda A pagoda is an Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taoist, ...

with one of its most revered. Both khlongs were dug during the 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)'s reign to shorten travel time for the monarch and other pilgrims from Bangkok who wish to visit the grand pagoda. After the restoration of Phra Pathom Chedi was completed in the year 1853 by Somdet Chao Phraya Borom Maha

Prayurawongse ''Somdet Chao Phraya'' Borom Maha Prayurawongse ( th, สมเด็จเจ้าพระยาบรมมหาประยูรวงศ์; ; 1788 - 26 April 1855) or Dit Bunnag ( th, ดิศ บุนนาค; ) was a prominent polit ...

(Tish Bunnag). The king ordered the digging of a khlong to be used as a path to worship Phra Pathom Chedi, the khlong separate from Nakhon Chai Si River (

Tha Chin River The Tha Chin river ( th, แม่น้ำท่าจีน, , ) is a distributary of the Chao Phraya river, Thailand. It splits near the province of Chai Nat and then flows west from the Chao Phraya through the central plains, until it empt ...

) at Nakhon Chai Si District, straight to Phra Pathom Chedi at

Mueang Nakhon Pathom District Mueang Nakhon Pathom ( th, เมืองนครปฐม, ) is the capital district ('' Amphoe Mueang'') of Nakhon Pathom province, central Thailand. History The district was created in 1895 named Phra Pathom Chedi District, under control o ...

, total distance is about . But the excavation was not completed, the project director Prayurawongse had died before. The whole excavation mission was transferred to his son,

Chaophraya Thiphakorawong Chaophraya Thiphakorawong (born Kham Bunnag ( th, ขํา บุนนาค; ); 1 October 1813–1870) was a Thai aristocrat, government official, and scholar. Family Kham Bunnag was born in 1813 into the powerful Bunnag family, a powerf ...

(Kham Bunnag), who hired Chinese laborers to continue dig. In which the king issued personal funds as expenses. It was completed in the year 1862, and royally named as "Khlong Chedi Bucha", meaning "worshipped pagoda canal". In the past, Khlong Chedi Bucha was considered the main route from Bangkok to Nakhon Pathom Province, since in those days there was no

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

. At the beginning of the khlong was a bustling

market Market is a term used to describe concepts such as: *Market (economics), system in which parties engage in transactions according to supply and demand *Market economy *Marketplace, a physical marketplace or public market Geography *Märket, an ...

and community known as "Talat Tonson" (ตลาดต้นสน, "pine market"). It can be considered as a center of various goods. There were people from different regions traveling to trade and shop. The most famous goods was the black dyed fabric from indigo, which was very popular among farmers in those days. The emerge of the Khlong Chedi Bucha resulting in province of Nakhon Pathom being more lively and prosperous too. King Mongkut also built a palace named "Pathomnakhon Palace" (พระราชวังปฐมนคร) to be used as a residence while he traveling to pay homage to the pagoda, it had steps leading down the khlong. Nowadays, it remains only ruins on an empty space beside the pagoda. In addition, there are also many markets, such as "Talat Lang" (ตลาดล่าง, "lower market") and "Talat Bon" (ตลาดบน, "upper market") northward of the pagoda, because when traveling along the khlong, it will reach the Talat Bon first. Currently, they are maintained by

Crown Property Bureau The Crown Property Bureau (CPB) ( th, สำนักงานทรัพย์สินพระมหากษัตริย์; ) is legally the administrative agency responsible for managing the property of the King of Thailand. It has no ...

(CPB). Before 1918, the bridge over khlong from

Nakhon Pathom Railway Station Nakhon Pathom railway station is a railway station located in Phra Pathom Chedi subdistrict, Mueang Nakhon Pathom district, and is located from Thon Buri railway station. It is a class 1 railway station and is the main railway station of Nakhon ...

to Phra Pathom Chedi, presumably only a wooden bridge. Later, this bridge was renovated into a modern concrete bridge named "Charoen Sattha" (เจริญศรัทธา, "prosperous faith"), designed by Prince

Narisara Nuwattiwong Prince Chitcharoen, the Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong ( th, นริศรานุวัดติวงศ์ ; 28 April 1863 – 10 March 1947), Prince Naris for short, né Chitcharoen (), was a member of the royal family of Siam (now Thailand), ...

in the King

Vajiravudh Vajiravudh ( th, วชิราวุธ, , 1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth monarch of Siam under the Chakri dynasty as Rama VI. He ruled from 23 October 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts ...

(Rama VI)'s reign. At present, Khlong Chedi Buch is not the main route anymore, including the Talat Tonson, being in a lonely state.

References

{{Coord, 13, 49, 16, N, 100, 03, 46, E, region:TH_type:landmark, display=title category:Canals in Thailand Geography of Nakhon Pathom province