New road – Chareon Krung

[snoop1130]

New road – Chareon Krung

by Leonard H. Le Blanc III

 

 

It is both amusing and ironic that the oldest river in the U.S.A. is named ‘New River’ and the oldest road in Bangkok is named ‘New Road’ or ‘Charoen Krung’. Although many things in Thailand are purely Thai, ‘New Road’ – along with other imports like Thai classical dance (borrowed from Cambodia), the Thai alphabet (derived from Mon and Khmer), ‘Foi Thong’ (sweet dessert brought over by the Portuguese), and ‘Prik khee nus’ (hot chilli peppers directly from Mexico through the Philippines) – originated with a request from the local resident expats over 150 years ago.

 

Back then the quickly growing number of ‘farangs’ in Bangkok wanted a place where they could ‘promenade’. This is where they just simply went out in horse drawn carriages, riding on horseback, or walking along the street, taking in some fresh air and to socialise in public as they did in Europe daily or on the weekends during the early evening hours. They firmly believed this activity was very important for their pleasure, health and mental wellbeing. They claimed they were growing ill without going out for a daily stroll. All the foreign ambassadors and counsels presented an unanimously signed petition to King Mongkut (Rama V) in 1861. The King reflected that the expats had made a valid point and that Thai roads in the city were not the best. He agreed that a new system of roads should be built. Construction was commenced in 1862. Charoen Krung was the first one.

 

It is a common misperception that Charoen Krung Road was the first road ever built in Bangkok. Actually, there were unpaved roads from the beginning of the city. But they were little more than rough pathways or alleyways. All these unpaved roads were not much to look at, especially during the rainy season. Charoen Krung was the first major paved road in the city. What also marks the roadway as different it was the first road built using modern construction methods. Another common misperception is ‘Charoen Krung’ means ’New Road’ in Thai. At that time all the streets or roads were officially unnamed. This new thoroughfare was first called ’Thanon Mai’ by the Thais or ‘New Road’. Later King Mongkut (Rama IV) named it Charoen Krung which means ‘Prosperous City’ or ’Prosperity of the City’.

 

As a transportation landmark, Charoen Krung also marked the shift away from waterborne transportation around the city. It started the eastward urban development of Bangkok. It also signified the time when roads were to become the most important means of travel since the city proper then closely hugged the Chao Phaya River. All the embassies, important businesses and trading companies, major residencies and warehouses were all set up facing the riverside. As expats started moving to Thailand in greater numbers each year after the commercial Bowring Treaty was signed in 1855 there needed to be more transportation development. Charoen Krung was built behind the embassies, warehouses and residences in two phases roughly paralleling the Chao Phaya River. During this time it also marked the start of foreign ideas and modernisation bring introduced into the country as the Thai government was interested to westernise the country as a counterbalance to regional foreign encroachments in Indo-China and Burma.

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/travel-and-leisure/new-road-chareon-krung/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand 2020-09-17

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Hi Tea]

Oh.

[allane]

I am always amused by this sort of article, always written by a farang of course.

    - there was essentially nothing here until the farang arrived

    - whatever small number of farang were here at that moment completely changed the course of Thai history.

I had wondered why this road was sometimes labelled as "New Road" on English-language maps. Do Thai taxi drivers or any other Thai's use that name ?  Going off-topic, but why are the roads with "Phraram" in their name rendered as "Rama" on English-language maps. I soon found out after my arrival in Bangkok that no Thai person understands "Rama".