Samran Rat

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This article is about the Bangkok neighbourhood. For the tambon in Chiang Mai Province, see Samran Rat, Chiang Mai.
Fort Mahakan, one of landmarks of Samran Rat area (although in truth, it is located in neighbouring area Bowon Niwet subdistrict).
Community behind the Mahakan Fort.

Samran Rat (Thai: สำราญราษฎร์, pronounced [sǎm.rāːn râːt]), popularly known as Pratu Phi (ประตูผี, [prā.tūː pʰǐː]), is a historic neighbourhood and road junction in Bangkok. The neighbourhood roughly occupies the area of its namesake subdistrict in Phra Nakhon district. Samran Rat Intersection is the junction of Bamrung Mueang and roads. From the intersection, Bamrung Mueang road crosses the nearby Sommot Amonmak bridge into Pom Prap Sattru Phai district's Ban Bat subdistrict. The next junction on Bamrung Mueang is Maen Si.

History[]

The name Pratu Phi means "ghost's gate", because the area used to be the location of the city gate used to transport dead bodies out of the fortified city for cremation during the early Rattanakosin period. Cremations were usually held at the nearby Wat Saket, just across the city moat of Khlong Rop Krung. The area was later officially named Samran Rat ("happiness citizen") for auspiciousness. But the name Pratu Phi remains in use by many people.[1]

In modern times, Samran Rat is known as the hub of notable restaurants, serving a variety of Thai and street food such as pad thai and yen ta fo, with multiple traditional cafés (kopitiam) located in the area. The neighbourhood's better known restaurants include Jay Fai, which received one Michelin Guide star in 2017, and Thipsamai, which specializes in pad thai.[2][3][1]

Samran Rat is also home to the first pawn shop in Thailand. It has been operating since the reign of King Rama IV.[4]

At the behind of the Mahakan Fort, one of the fortresses of Rattanakosin. It is the site of a Mahakan Fort Community where people in this community lived for a long time since the early Rattanakosin period. They are considered one of the oldest and most unique communities in Bangkok. But in the year 2018 their houses were ordered by the government and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to demolish and expel them from here, because to open the way to create a new urban park of Bangkok.[5]

Shophouses along Bamrung Mueang road, Samran Rat intersection is ahead.
Jay Fai interior.

Nearby landmarks[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "อร่อยมื้อดึกย่านประตูผี" [Delicious late-night supper at Pratu Phi quarter]. Sanook (in Thai). 2008-11-06.
  2. ^ Rojanaphruk, Pravit (2017-12-06). "STAR FOR STREET FOOD JOINT AS MICHELIN BANGKOK REVEALED". Khao Sod.
  3. ^ "Thipsamai Phad Thai (Pratuphee)". Michelin Guide.
  4. ^ dish123 (May 2013). "ประวัติโรงรับจำนำในประเทศไทย" [History of pawn shop in Thailand]. Mthai (in Thai).
  5. ^ "ปิดตำนาน "ชุมชนป้อมมหากาฬ" ขีดเส้นรื้อทุกหลัง 29 เม.ย.นี้" [Close the legend "Mahakan Fort Community" draws all demolition lines on 29 April]. TPBS (in Thai). 2018-04-25.

Coordinates: 13°45′07.67″N 100°30′16.19″E / 13.7521306°N 100.5044972°E / 13.7521306; 100.5044972

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