Bangkok Yai District
Bangkok Yai ( Thai บางกอกใหญ่, bā ː ː k ŋkɔ JAJ ) is one of the 50 districts (Khet ) of Bangkok, capital of Thailand. Bangkok Yai is a central district on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
The name of this district is still used abroad for the capital of Thailand, even if they officially Krung Thep Maha Nakhon means.
Geography
Bangkok Yai is bounded on the north by the Khlong Mon ( คลอง มอญ, named after the ethnic group of the Mon), to the east by the Chao Phraya River and Khlong Bangkok Yai ( คลอง บางกอกใหญ่ ), to the south and west by the Khlong Bangkok Yai also.
The neighboring districts are from clockwise from the north: Bangkok Noi, Phra Nakhon ( on the other bank of the Chao Phraya River ), Thonburi, Phasi Charoen, and Taling Chan.
History
The name of the district comes from the Khlong Bangkok Yai ( Thai: คลอง บางกอกใหญ่ ). This Khlong (canal) was once actually the Chao Phraya himself, who made a wide arc of about 15 km in length here. The King of Ayutthaya could probably dig a canal in the year 1522, in order to shorten the travel time of the merchant ships from the Gulf of Thailand to the port of Ayutthaya. Over time, the old riverbed silted up, the banks were moving ever closer together, while the new channel grew into today's width. This also explains why the name of a small village - Bangkok ( Village of Wild Plum) - is used for an area, which lies on both sides of a mighty river.
Bangkok Yai, or more precisely, the Tambon Wat Arun, was also the foundation area of the temporary capital of the Thai kingdom of Thonburi, which was here from 1767 to 1782.
The name of this district has been amended several times in the course of the last century until it finally in the administrative reform of 1972 its present name - Bangkok Yai - received.
Attractions
- The main attraction of Bangkok Yai Wat Arun.
- Wang Derm Palace - historic palace of King Taksin, for tourists not accessible.
Other notable temples:
- Wat Hong Rattanaram - restored temple of the Thonburi - time
- Wat Khruea Wan - Ayutthaya temple in chinese style
- Wat Molilokkayaram - steeped in history beside the temple Wang Derm Palace
- Wat Ratchasittharam - featured murals in ubosot
Management
The district is subdivided into 2 subdistricts ( Kwaeng ):