Bangkok Yai District

Bangkok Yai บางกอกใหญ่
Khet
Wat Arun
Khet location in Bangkok
Coordinates: 13°43′22″N 100°28′35″E / 13.72278°N 100.47639°ECoordinates: 13°43′22″N 100°28′35″E / 13.72278°N 100.47639°E
Province	Bangkok
Seat	Wat Tha Phra
Khwaeng	2
Area
• Total	6.18 km^2 (2.39 sq mi)
Population (2013)
• Total	71,087
• Density	13,342.2/km^2 (34,556/sq mi)
Time zone	ICT (UTC+7)
Postal code	10600
Geocode	1016

Bangkok Yai (Thai: บางกอกใหญ่; IPA: [bāːŋkɔ̀ːk jàj]) is one of the 50 districts (khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighbouring districts are (from north clockwise) Bangkok Noi, Phra Nakhon (across Chao Phraya River), Thon Buri, Phasi Charoen, and Taling Chan.

History

The district is named after Khlong Bangkok Yai (คลองบางกอกใหญ่, also called Khlong Bang Luang, คลองบางหลวง) which was actually part of Chao Phraya River until a canal dug in 1522 during the Ayutthaya period altered the flow of the river such that the canal became the main river and the section of original river became present-day Khlong Bangkok Yai.^[1] Bangkok Yai, or more precisely, the Wat Arun Sub-district, was also the site of Thon Buri when the capital was set up here from 1767-1782.^[2]

Originally called Amphoe Hongsaram (หงสาราม) when the district was set up in 1915, it was renamed "Amphoe Bangkok Yai" in 1916, demoted to a king amphoe of amphoe Bang Yi Khan (บางยี่ขัน) in 1938, promoted back to amphoe in 1958, and finally changed to a khet in an administrative reform in 1972.^[3]

Places

Prang of Wat Arun

• Wat Arun
• Wang Derm Palace
• Wat Hong Rattanaram
• Wat Khruea Wan
• Wat Molilokkayaram
• Wat Ratchasittharam

Administration

The district is sub-divided into two sub-districts (khwaeng).

1.	Wat Arun	วัดอรุณ
2.	Wat Tha Phra	วัดท่าพระ

References

1. Canal in Thailand (in Thai)
2. BMA Local Museum - Bangkok Yai (in Thai), The BMA (Bangkok Metropolitan Administration) Local Museum
3. History of Bangkok Yai (in Thai), Bangkok Yai District Office

External links

• Bangkok Yai district office (Thai only)