Phra Khanong
Encyclopedia
Phra Khanong is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of Bangkok
, Thailand
. Its neighbor, clockwise from north, are Suan Luang
, Prawet
, and Bang Na
districts of Bangkok
, Amphoe Phra Pradaeng
of Samut Prakan Province
(across Chao Phraya River
), Khlong Toei
and Watthana
of Bangkok.
of Nakhon Khuan Khan back in 1902. Nakhon Khuan Khan was renamed to Phra Pradaeng in 1914. In 1927 Phra Khanong was transferred from the then Phra Pradaeng province to Bangkok. It was once very big but it has since been split into several small districts. The districts Khlong Toei, Watthana, Suan Luang, Prawet and Bang Na were all once part of Phra Khanong. Khlong Toei (later split out Watthana) and Prawet (later separate out Suan Luang) districts were carved out of Phra Khanong in 1989. Bang Na was the last district to left Phra Khanong in 1998.
Even though the administration has been changed, many surrounding areas are still often referred to as Phra Khanong. The Phra Khanong station of Bangkok Skytrain
, opened in 1999, is actually outside the Phra Khanong district and located instead in the Phra Khanong Nuea sub-district of Watthana district.
The word Khanong originates from Khmer language
and means eyebrow
but it was speculated that it may be from Khanon (ขนอน) meaning customhouse. The area has been important gateway from the sea for very long time and the history of Phra Pradaeng dated back to over 1,000 years ago when the area was still ruled by Khmer empire
.
The shrine dedicated to Mae Nak Phra Khanong at Wat Mahabut was situated in the Phra Khanong district until a 1997 boundary change placed it in neighboring Suan Luang district - much to the consternation of the people of Phra Khanong.
of its kind in Thailand named Phra Wiriya Mongkhon Maha Chedi (พระวิริยะมงคลมหาเจดีย์). It is a square chedi built to the style of Mahabodhi Temple
in Bodh Gaya, India
. On the top is decorated with 17 kg of gold and 1,063 diamonds. It also houses large jade
Buddha and Kuan Yin
images.
Wat Wachiratham Sathit (วัดวชิรธรรมสาธิต), formally called Wat Thung (วัดทุ่ง), is an important temple to the local community. Events are held during Songkran festival in April.
Piyarom Sports Club is a large sport facility for both indoor and outdoor sports. Tennis, badminton, squash, bowling, swimming are among the activities.
in Watthana and Khlong Toei districts. There is the route extension, , with 2 new stations in Phra Khanong district: Bang Chak
and Punnawithi
. It is expected to be opened for public service on 12 August 2011.
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Its neighbor, clockwise from north, are Suan Luang
Suan Luang
Suan Luang is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bounded by other Bangkok districts : Bang Kapi, Saphan Sung, Prawet, Phra Khanong, and Watthana.-History:...
, Prawet
Prawet
Prawet is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand, located in the southeast of the town. Neighboring districts are Bang Phli , Bang Na, Phra Khanong, Suan Luang, Bang Kapi, Saphan Sung and Lat Krabang .Si Nakharin road, named after Srinagarindra, is the major road of the district...
, and Bang Na
Bang Na
Bang Na is one of the fifty districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbors, clockwise from the north, are the Phra Khanong and Prawet districts of Bangkok, Amphoe Bang Phli, Amphoe Mueang, and Amphoe Phra Pradaeng of Samut Prakan Province.-History:...
districts of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Amphoe Phra Pradaeng
Amphoe Phra Pradaeng
-Geography:Neighboring districts are Thung Khru, Rat Burana, Yan Nawa, Khlong Toei, Phra Khanong and Bang Na , and the districts Mueang Samut Prakan and Phra Samut Chedi of Samut Prakan....
of Samut Prakan Province
Samut Prakan Province
Samut Prakan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighboring provinces are Bangkok, to the north and west, and Chachoengsao to the east....
(across Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
), Khlong Toei
Khlong Toei
Khlong Toei 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 name of a major market, though not touristic...
and Watthana
Watthana
Watthana is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighbor districts are : Ratchathewi, Huai Khwang, Suan Luang, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Sathon, and Pathum Wan.-History:...
of Bangkok.
History
Phra Khanong was an amphoeAmphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
of Nakhon Khuan Khan back in 1902. Nakhon Khuan Khan was renamed to Phra Pradaeng in 1914. In 1927 Phra Khanong was transferred from the then Phra Pradaeng province to Bangkok. It was once very big but it has since been split into several small districts. The districts Khlong Toei, Watthana, Suan Luang, Prawet and Bang Na were all once part of Phra Khanong. Khlong Toei (later split out Watthana) and Prawet (later separate out Suan Luang) districts were carved out of Phra Khanong in 1989. Bang Na was the last district to left Phra Khanong in 1998.
Even though the administration has been changed, many surrounding areas are still often referred to as Phra Khanong. The Phra Khanong station of Bangkok Skytrain
Bangkok Skytrain
The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain , is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration...
, opened in 1999, is actually outside the Phra Khanong district and located instead in the Phra Khanong Nuea sub-district of Watthana district.
The word Khanong originates from Khmer language
Khmer language
Khmer , or Cambodian, is the language of the Khmer people and the official language of Cambodia. It is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language , with speakers in the tens of millions. Khmer has been considerably influenced by Sanskrit and Pali, especially in the royal and religious...
and means eyebrow
Eyebrow
The eyebrow is an area of thick, delicate hairs above the eye that follows the shape of the lower margin of the brow ridges of some mammals. Their main function is to prevent sweat, water, and other debris from falling down into the eye socket, but they are also important to human communication and...
but it was speculated that it may be from Khanon (ขนอน) meaning customhouse. The area has been important gateway from the sea for very long time and the history of Phra Pradaeng dated back to over 1,000 years ago when the area was still ruled by Khmer empire
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
.
The shrine dedicated to Mae Nak Phra Khanong at Wat Mahabut was situated in the Phra Khanong district until a 1997 boundary change placed it in neighboring Suan Luang district - much to the consternation of the people of Phra Khanong.
Administration
The district has only one sub-district (Kwaeng).| 1. | Bang Chak | บางจาก |
Places
Wat Thammamongkhon (วัดธรรมมงคล) is a landmark in Phra Khanong. The temple has the tallest chediStupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
of its kind in Thailand named Phra Wiriya Mongkhon Maha Chedi (พระวิริยะมงคลมหาเจดีย์). It is a square chedi built to the style of Mahabodhi Temple
Mahabodhi Temple
The Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is located about from Patna, Bihar state, India. Next to the temple, to its western side, is the holy Bodhi tree...
in Bodh Gaya, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. On the top is decorated with 17 kg of gold and 1,063 diamonds. It also houses large jade
Jade
Jade is an ornamental stone.The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:...
Buddha and Kuan Yin
Kuan Yin
Guanyin is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin which means "Observing the Sounds of the World". She is also sometimes referred to as Guanyin Pusa...
images.
Wat Wachiratham Sathit (วัดวชิรธรรมสาธิต), formally called Wat Thung (วัดทุ่ง), is an important temple to the local community. Events are held during Songkran festival in April.
Piyarom Sports Club is a large sport facility for both indoor and outdoor sports. Tennis, badminton, squash, bowling, swimming are among the activities.
Transportation
The BTS Skytrain service currently terminates at On Nut StationOn Nut Station
On Nut station is a BTS skytrain station, on the in Watthana and Khlong Toei District, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located on Sukhumvit Road to the south of Soi On Nut junction ....
in Watthana and Khlong Toei districts. There is the route extension, , with 2 new stations in Phra Khanong district: Bang Chak
Bang Chak Station
Bang Chak station is a BTS skytrain station, on the in Phra Khanong District, Bangkok, Thailand, on Sukhumvit Road at Sukhumvit Soi 62, in front of Bang Chak market....
and Punnawithi
Punnawithi Station
Punnawithi station is a BTS skytrain station, on the in Phra Khanong District, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located on Sukhumvit Road at Soi Punnawithi ....
. It is expected to be opened for public service on 12 August 2011.