Let's Show the World how Beautiful Bangkok is …
Let's Show the World how Beautiful Bangkok is …

Phra Khanong (พระโขนง)

Area - 13.986 km2 (5.400 sq mi)

Population - 92,197

 

History

Phra Khanong was an amphoe of Nakhon Khuean Khan back in 1902. Nakhon Khuean 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 leave 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.

Places

Wat Thammamongkhon is a landmark in Phra Khanong. The temple has the tallest chedi of its kind in Thailand named Phra Wiriya Mongkhon Maha Chedi. 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, formally called Wat Thung, is an important temple to the local community. Events are held during Songkran festival in April.