- Phra Khanong
Infobox_Amphoe
name=Phra Khanong
province=Bangkok
thai=พระโขนง
capital=Bang Chak
coordinates=coord|13|42|8|N|100|36|6|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
population=98,957
population_as_of=2004
area=13.986
density=7,075
postal_code=10260
Moo 2-6 of Bang Chak: 10250
geocode=1009Phra Khanong ( _th. พระโขนง) is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of
Bangkok ,Thailand . Its neighbor, clockwise from north, areSuan Luang ,Prawet , andBang Na districts ofBangkok ,Amphoe Phra Pradaeng ofSamut Prakan Province (acrossChao Phraya River ),Khlong Toei andWatthana of Bangkok.History
Phra Khanong was an
amphoe 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 in1989 . Bang Na was the last district to left Phra Khanong in1998 .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.The word Khanong originates from
Khmer language and meanseyebrow but it was speculated that it may be from "Khanon" (ขนอน) meaningcustomhouse . 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 byKhmer empire .Places
Wat Thammamongkhon (วัดธรรมมงคล) is a landmark in Phra Khanong. The temple has the tallest chedi of its kind in Thailand named Phra Wiriya Mongkhon Maha Chedi (พระวิริยะมงคลมหาเจดีย์). It is a square chedi built to the style of
Mahabodhi Temple inBodh Gaya ,India . On the top is decorated with 17kg of gold and 1,063 diamonds. It also houses largejade Buddha andKuan 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.
Administration
The district has only one sub-district ("Kwaeng").
Transportation
The
Bangkok Skytrain service currently terminates at On Nut station in Watthana and Khlong Toei districts. The route extension in now about to start construction with 2 new stations in Phra Khanong district: Bang Chak and Punnawithi. It is expected to finished in 2009.External links
* [http://203.155.220.217/phrakhanong/ Official website of the district] (Thai only)
* [http://www.bma.go.th/bmaeng/phrakhanong/ BMA website with the touristical landmarks of Phra Khanong]References
* [http://www.bmamasstransit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=32 BTS route extension plan] (Thai only)
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