Khlong Toei District

Khlong Toei is a district in central Bangkok, long known for its slum. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River and contains major port facilities. It is also the site of a major market, the Khlong Toei Market.

Neighboring districts are : Watthana, Phra Khanong, Amphoe Phra Pradaeng of Samut Prakan Province, Yan Nawa, Sathon, and Pathum Wan.

History

The area has a history dating back to the ninth century as a port to cities upstream along the Chao Phraya River, such as Pak Nam Phra Pradaeng (Thai: เมืองปากน้ำพระประแดง) (as opposed to the current Amphoe Phra Pradaeng) built during the King Phutthayotfa Chulalok period.

Khlong Thanon Trong (Thai: คลองถนนตรง) was a khlong (canal) and a parallel road built by King Mongkut around 1857. Later, different sections of the canal became known as Khlong Toei and Khlong Hua Lamphong. Khlong Toei means 'the canal of pandan', as the plant grew along the southern bank of the canal. The road was renamed Rama IV Road by King Vajiravudh in 1919. In 1947, a large portion of Khlong Toei canal was filled to expand the Rama IV Road surface.

The area was once part of the Phra Khanong District, but on 9 November 1989 it was separated into the new Khlong Toei District. Originally Khlong Toei consisted of six sub-districts, three of which later formed the new Watthana District (announced on 14 October 1997, effective 6 March 1998).

Administration

The district is divided into three sub-districts (khwaeng)

Khlong Toei is both the name of a sub-district and the district in which it lies. Phra Khanong is both a sub-district of Khlong Toei and a district on its own, with only sub-district Bang Chak. Furthermore, all three sub-districts listed above have counterparts with the addition of "nuea" (north) in Watthana District.

Port

Khlong Toei Port, also known as Bangkok Port, was Thailand's only major port for sea transportation of cargo. Its construction began in 1938 and finished after World War II. The port is on the Chao Phraya River, not far from the Gulf of Thailand. Due to its limited capacity and traffic problems caused by semi-trailer trucks, much of its shipping operation has moved to Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi Province since it was opened in July 1981.

Places of interest

Bangkok Planetarium
Science Centre for Education
Tamnak Plai Noen, the historic residence of Prince Naris, now converted into a small museum.
Stock Exchange of Thailand Building
The Emporium, a luxury shopping center.
Nana Plaza, a major adult entertainment center, known for prostitution and go-go and hostess bars.
Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, served by the MRT station of the same name, hosts various exhibitions around the year.
Benjakitti Park, a public park next to the convention center. It includes a lake and is on land that was formerly occupied by the Tobacco Monopoly, the government's tobacco factory.
Benjasiri Park, a public park created to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 60th birthday. It is next to the Emporium.
Chuvit Garden, a public park in the district created by massage parlor tycoon-turned-politician Chuwit Kamolvisit from his own plot of land, about 2,400 m² in size and worth about 1,250 million baht at the time of opening. Opened in December 2005, it is on Sukhumvit Soi 10.
Khlong Toei Market, Bangkok's largest wet market.
The Khlong Toei slum, located south of the expressway and north of the port, is the largest and oldest slum of Bangkok. It houses some 100,000 people on about one square mile (260 ha) of land owned by the Port Authority.
PAT Stadium off Sunthon Kosa Road.
Port Authority of Thailand
Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai)
Thailand Tobacco Monopoly

The following places of interest were formerly in Khlong Toei District:

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, an indoor Muay Thai arena, now moved to a new location.
Suan Lum Night Bazaar, closed due to contract expiry, now moved to Suan Lum Night Bazaar Ratchadaphisek.

Transportation

BTS skytrain (BTS) stations in the district are Nana, Asok (with interchange to MRT Sukhumvit station), Phrom Phong, Thong Lo, Ekkamai, Phra Khanong, and On Nut, all along Sukhumvit Road on the BTS Sukhumvit Line.
MRT (MRTA) has stations Khlong Toei, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and Sukhumvit (interchange to BTS).
Eastern Bus Terminal (also called Ekkamai Bus Terminal) has inter-city buses to destinations such as Pattaya, Rayong and Trat. It is on Sukhumvit Road, near the Ekkamai BTS station.

Economy

The head office of Asia Atlantic Airlines is on the 11th floor of the Times Square Building in Khlong Toei District.

Education

The Sacred Heart Convent School is in Khlong Toei.

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All content originates from the English Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0