Phra Khanong ( th, พระโขนง) is a neighbourhood 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 ...

, divided between Phra Khanong Subdistrict in

Khlong Toei District Khlong Toei (also Klong Toey, th, คลองเตย, ) is a district in central Bangkok, long known for its slum. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River and contains major port facilities. It is also the site of a major market, the Khlong T ...

and Phra Khanong Nuea Subdistrict in Watthana District. It historically grew up around

Khlong Phra Khanong 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 ...

(Phra Khanong Canal), and is nowadays centred around Phra Khanong Junction, the three-way road junction where

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 ...

(heading west) meets Sukhumvit Road (travelling in a northwest-southeast direction), and the nearby Sukhumvit 71 or Pridi Banomyong Road. Khlong Phra Khanong was excavated from 1837 to 1840, and rural communities soon settled along its banks. The historical settlement is believed to be the source of the ghost legend of

Mae Nak Phra Khanong Mae Nak Phra Khanong ( th, แม่นากพระโขนง, meaning 'Lady Nak of Phra Khanong'), or simply Mae Nak ( th, แม่นาก, 'Lady Nak') or Nang Nak ( th, นางนาก, 'Miss Nak'), is a well-known Thai ghost. Acc ...

. Sukhumvit Road was built during the mid-twentieth century, linking Bangkok to the eastern seaboard and bringing development along with it. The new Phra Khanong neighbourhood grew up around Sukhumvit, and became a suburban commercial centre during the late 1970s to early 1980s. It was home to six cinemas, as well as several department stores. The neighbourhood soon fell into decline, but begin seeing revival as 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 ...

, opened in 1999, brought new development. The neighbourhood is served by the

Phra Khanong station Phra Khanong station ( th, สถานีพระโขนง, ) is a BTS skytrain station on the Sukhumvit line between Khlong Toei and Watthana Districts, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located on Sukhumvit Road to the west of Phra K ...

, and is now home to several residential condominium towers, but remains much more low-key than nearby Ekkamai and Thong Lo, located inbound along Sukhumvit Road. Phra Khanong Junction has been ranked as the road junction with the worst congestion in the city.

References

{{coord, 13, 42, 51, N, 100, 35, 33, E, type:landmark, display=title Neighbourhoods of Bangkok