Ubonrat Bridge, sometimes written as Ubolratana Bridge ( th, สะพานอุบลรัตน์, ) is a historic bridge spanning

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 t ...

(old city moat) in

Rattanakosin Island 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 t ...

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 ...

old town In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...

zone.

Background

The bridge was built in 1912 as a memorial to Princess

Ubolratana Narinaga Ubolratana Narinaga, Princess Argavoraraja KalyaFinestone, Jeffrey. ''The Royal Family of Thailand: The Descendants of King Chulalongkorn''. Bangkok : Phitsanulok Publishing, 1989, p. 65 ( th, อุบลรัตนนารีนาค, , ), b ...

, the consort 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� ...

(Rama V). It was built on a former bridge called "Hua Takae" (หัวตะเข้, ), which means "the head of a crocodile". The plaster banisters were designed in the Thai style with the name plate of the bridge set at the middle. It is now a recognised

ancient monument In British law, an ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument (e.g. an archaeological site) worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest. The '' Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 197 ...

since 1988 by the

Fine Arts Department The Fine Arts Department ( th, กรมศิลปากร, ) is a government department of Thailand, under the Ministry of Culture. Its mission is managing the country's cultural heritage. History The department was originally established ...

. It serves to connect two roads along Khlong Khu Mueang Doem, Atsadang and

Rachini Road 250px, Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (''old moat city canal''), or familiarly known as Khlong Lot (''tube canal'') in the phase near Supreme Court, Atsadang Road (left) and Rachini Road (right). Rachini Road ( th, ถนนราชินี, ) is a road ...

s. At both ends of the bridge, there are two short roads named Phra Phiphit (west end) and Phra Phithak (east end), which are all named after King

Phutthaloetla Naphalai Phra Phutthaloetla Naphalai ( th, พระพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย, 24 February 1767 – 21 July 1824), personal name Chim ( th, ฉิม), also styled as Rama II, was the second monarch of Siam under the Chakri ...

(Rama II)'s son, because there used to be their residence in the vicinity during the early Rattanakosin period. It is considered a bridge over Khlong Khu Mueang Doem as well as other nearby bridges, such as Mon Bridge,

Saphan Hok Saphan Hok ( th, สะพานหก, ) is a bridge over the old city moat or Khlong Khu Mueang Doem. It's connected between Saranrom Park and Wat Ratchabophit in Bangkok's Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang and Wang Burapha Phirom sub-districts, Phra ...

, Pi Kun Bridge, etc.

References

{{reflist 1912 establishments in Siam Bridges in Bangkok Phra Nakhon district Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok