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

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in 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 estimated populati ...

. 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, 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, 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 (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 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 condition ...

. It is also a major site of cultural tourism of Bangkok. There are many houses of worship on both sides, such as Wat Molilokayaram, Wat Hongratanaram,

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 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 ori ...

, 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 guard ...

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