“Eyebrow,” you say? The word “Khanong” has Khmer roots. It might also come from the Thai word “Khanon” meaning customhouse. We’re standing before the Phra Khanong District Office now.
This area boasts a rich history. It was once a crucial gateway from the sea. The history of Phra Pradaeng goes back over 1,000 years. Back then the Khmer empire ruled this land.
Phra Khanong was once part of Nakhon Khuean Khan in 1902. Later in 1914, Nakhon Khuean Khan was renamed Phra Pradaeng. Then in 1927, Phra Khanong moved from Phra Pradaeng province to Bangkok.
Did you know Phra Khanong used to be much bigger? Several smaller districts were carved from it. Khlong Toei, Watthana, Suan Luang, Prawet and Bang Na were all once part of Phra Khanong. Khlong Toei later split into Watthana. Prawet later separated into Suan Luang. These districts were carved out of Phra Khanong in 1989. Bang Na was the last to leave in 1998.
Even with all these changes, many still call the surrounding areas Phra Khanong. The Phra Khanong station on the Bangkok Skytrain opened in 1999. It’s actually outside Phra Khanong district. You can find it in the Phra Khanong Nuea sub-district of Watthana district.
Inside the Phra Khanong District Office, local administration handles two sub-districts. These are Bang Chak and Phra Khanong Tai. Bang Chak covers 8.815 square kilometers. Phra Khanong Tai spans 5.171 square kilometers. The missing sub-district numbers? They now belong to Khlong Toei, Bang Na and Prawet districts.
Phra Khanong is also home to important temples. Wat Thammamongkhon features Thailand’s tallest chedi. It’s called Phra Wiriya Mongkhon Maha Chedi. This chedi is square. Its style copies the Mahabodhi Temple in India. The top glitters with 17 kg of gold. It shines with 1,063 diamonds. The temple also houses large jade Buddha and Kuan Yin images.
Wat Wachiratham Sathit is another key temple. Locals also know it as Wat Thung. It plays a vital role in the community. Here events take place during the Songkran festival in April.
Getting around Phra Khanong is easy. The BTS Skytrain extension has two stations. These are Bang Chak and Punnawithi.
Several schools also call Phra Khanong home. The Anglo Singapore International School has its Campus 64 here. Wells International School operates its On Nut Campus here too.
So, as you stand here before the Phra Khanong District Office remember its long history. From ancient Khmer ties to its modern administrative role, Phra Khanong remains a vital part of Bangkok.