Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge ( th, สะพานผ่านพิภพลีลา, , ; 'King's Cross Bridge') is a

bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...

across

Khlong Khu Mueang Doem 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 ...

(), or old

moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...

, in Phra Nakhon District,

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 bridge connects

Thanon Ratchadamnoen Nai Ratchadamnoen Avenue ( th, ถนนราชดำเนิน, , , also spelled Rajdamnern) is a historic road in the Phra Nakhon and Dusit Districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Ratchadamnoen Avenue may be the most politically charged thoroughfare ...

(Inner Ratchadamnoen Road) with Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang (Central Ratchadamnoen Road). Following the construction of

Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge ( th, สะพานมัฆวานรังสรรค์, , ; usually shortened to "Makkhawan Bridge") is an historic bridge of inner Bangkok. The bridge spans Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem (Phadung Krung Kasem canal) ...

(; 'Bridge by the God

Indra Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...

') in 1809, the construction of Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge began in 1902 at the command of 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� ...

who desired to have an elegant bridge connected with the newly built Thanon Ratchadamnoen Nai. Construction was completed in 1906. King Chulalongkorn presided over the opening ceremony on 15 November 1906, at which time the name "Phan Phiphop Lila" was also declared. The bridge was originally decorated with attractive

wrought iron Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content (less than 0.08%) in contrast to that of cast iron (2.1% to 4%). It is a semi-fused mass of iron with fibrous slag Inclusion (mineral), inclusions (up to 2% by weight), which give it a ...

railings, but these were moved when the bridge was enlarged in 1941 to a pedestrian bridge crossing the northern part of

and located close to the intersection of Chakrabongse Road (

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

: ถนนจักรพงษ์) and Chao Fa Road (

: ถนนเจ้าฟ้า). Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge has a sister bridge,

Phan Fa Lilat Bridge Phan Fa Lilat Bridge ( th, สะพานผ่านฟ้าลีลาศ, , ; lit: 'bridge on which the ruler of heaven proceeds', refers to "King's Cross Bridge"; usually shortened to "Phan Fa Bridge") is a historic bridge across Khlong Ban ...

(; 'King's Cross Bridge'.)

Notes

The northern part of "Khlong Khu Mueang Doem" was formerly known as "Khlong Rongmai" (). "Khlong Khu Mueang Doem" is also called popularly "Khlong Lord" (). Both the names "Phan Phiphop Lila" and "Phan Fa Lilat" mean a 'king's cross', 'king's walk', or 'king's movement'. But, literally, "Phan Phiphop Lila" means ' he bridge on whichthe Ruler of the Universe gracefully walks' and "Phan Fa Lilat" means ' he bridge on whichthe Lord of Heaven majestically walks'.

References

External links

* Historical pictures and history of the Phanphiphop Lila Bridge (in Thai): http://www.resource.lib.su.ac.th/rattanakosin/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181 Road bridges in Bangkok Bridges completed in 1906 Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok 1906 establishments in Siam {{Thailand-bridge-struct-stub

See also

Notes

References

External links