Flowing calmly beside us is Khlong Chek a waterway that whispers tales of old Siam. This canal is more than just water. It is a thread in Bangkok’s rich historical tapestry.
Khlong Chek’s story is intertwined with the history of Bangkok itself. The city is also known as Rattanakosin. This area is a vibrant hub of culture and commerce.
Did you know that Bangkok has many canals or Khlongs? Khlongs serve as arteries of life. They weave through the city. Khlong Maha Nak is another of Bangkok’s oldest canals. King Phutthayotfa Chulalok or Rama I started it in 1783.
Khlong Maha Nak was used for boating and Khlon Sakkawa. Khlon Sakkawa is a kind of Thai poem. The canal got its name from a monk named Maha Nak. He initiated the canal for war. This happened after the Burmese–Siamese War. This war was fought between 1547 and 1549.
Later, Khlong Maha Nak became a famous floating market. This was during the reigns of King Mongkut or Rama IV and Chulalongkorn or Rama V. It was a route to Chachoengsao. This area is now a wholesale market. It is for cheap clothes like Bobae Market. It is also the largest wholesale fruit market in Bangkok. It is called Maha Nak Market or Saphan Khao Market.
Khlong Chak Phra is another important Khlong. Khlong Chak Phra subdistrict is in the Taling Chan District. The sub-district is named after Khlong Chak Phra. It runs through the right side of the area. It also forms a border with other districts.
There is a local legend about a ghost in Khlong Chak Phra. The ghost is of a pregnant woman. She is similar to Mae Nak Phra Khanong. Her name is Phi Yai Wan. People say her spirit haunts people. This includes tuk-tuk and taxi drivers. This happened around 1970–71. She was a local woman. Her husband shot and killed her because of jealousy.
Interestingly a man confirmed this event. It happened in 1975. The deceased woman was named Daeng Wan. She was shot by her husband. He mistook her for a fishing cat. Her spirit still rows in a khlong beside Wat Champa.
These waterways are vital. They have shaped Bangkok’s development. They carry echoes of kings monks and merchants. The waterways also carry stories of ghosts. They remind us that Bangkok’s history is alive. It flows with its waters. They connect the past with the present.