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The 121st BPG Photo Walk had the same meeting point as the 118th, which we walked in
October 2023 (Issue 94). However, instead of heading south into the Saint Louis area, 51
photographers walked north into Bang Rak.
Bang Rak pre-dates Bangkok as a settlement, and was still considered outside of the city
proper when King Mongkut (Rama IV) expanded the capital’s defenses in 1851. However,
the Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem canal that now separated Bang Rak from Bangkok also
brought transport and trade, transforming Bang Rak into a major commercial hub. This, in
turn, attracted European traders, turning the district into Bangkok’s European quarter.
The western traders petitioned the king to construct roads for their use, which led to
Thanon Trong (later renamed Rama IV Road), Charoen Krung Road, and Si Lom Road
to connect the two – effectively, Thailand’s first real roads. The nation’s first rail line and
electrified trams followed. Migrant communities from European colonies in Java and India
began forming in Bang Rak, bringing a wide array of religious sites to join the many Christian
churches and missionary-run schools and hospitals. In 1970, Bangkok’s first high-rise tower
opened here – the Dusit Thani Hotel – and many more soon stretched for the sky as the area
became one of Bangkok’s most prominent business districts.
The Bang Rak district is named after the riverside village the settlement started as. While
“bang” is a common prefix to the names of villages on rivers throughout Thailand, “rak”
is thought to derive from the name of the Burmese lacquer tree. The fact that “rak” is also
the Thai word for ‘love’ makes the district office a popular place for marriage registrations,
especially on Valentine’s Day.
Walk whisperer Mark found us an interesting route from Saint Louis BTS station to Samyan
MRT station. Notable landmarks for the walkers included the King Power Mahanakhon tower,
Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Soi Prachum Market, Mirasuddeen Mosque, Neilson Hays
Library, The British Club, and Wat Hua Lamphong as the finish point. As you’ll see in the
following pages, the 38 photographers who sent in their images managed to find plenty
more highlights along the way.Have fun,
Greg, Mark, Chutima, and Ben.Bangkok Photo Walks
Magazine Issue #97 • Walk #
Bangkok Photo Walks is a not-for-profit, community-created
publication. All photographs herein are copyrighted by their
respective creators and published only with their permission.
Reproduction of this magazine in any form is not permitted
without the written permission of the publishers.
Please contact: [email protected]
Head of BPG Greg Rhodes
Magazine Editor Ben Reeves
Photo Walk Coordinator Mark A. Hathaway
Photo Walk Support Chutima Panjapan
Logo Design Ubonpayom Ongsara
Front Cover Photo Albert Fransz
Title Page Photo Kana Wakaiki
Group Photo Greg Rhodes
Back Cover Photo Sayantan Sen
© 2024 Bangkok Photographers GroupThe Riverside Village of Love?