What stories could this bridge tell if it could talk? Here we are at Ratchawat Bridge. It’s a bridge with a name as unique as its history. Ratchawat Bridge links Phra Nakhon and Thonburi districts in Bangkok.
The bridge’s official name is quite a mouthful. It is Saphan Pathom Boroma Ratchanusorn. Most Thais know it as Saphan Phra Phuttayotfa. Some shorten it to Saphan Phut. That name honors King Phra Phuttayotfa Chulalok also known as Rama I. He founded the Chakri dynasty and Bangkok in 1782. The bridge opened in 1932. It marked 150 years of the Chakri dynasty and Bangkok’s founding.
King Prajadhipok or Rama VII opened the bridge. This was shortly before the Siamese coup d’état of 1932. English speakers call it Memorial Bridge.
Construction began on December 3, 1929. Dorman Long from Middlesbrough, England built it. Italian technicians from SNOS supervised. The bridge had a double-leaf bascule lifting system. It is no longer in use.
Bangkok was bombed during World War II. On June 5, 1944, B-29 Superfortresses targeted the bridge. They were testing their capabilities. The bombs missed by over two kilometers. They damaged tram lines. They destroyed a Japanese military hospital and police headquarters. Thai authorities learned the target in 1947. Allies eventually struck the bridge. It was rebuilt in 1949.
Memorial Bridge stands near Ratchawat Market. The market is in Dusit near the royal palace. Thanon Nakhorn Chaisii leads to the market. Vendors sell produce there. You can find jackfruit. You can also find grilled meat and curries. Try muu khua kling. It is pork fried with curry paste. Taste chao kuay. It is a grass jelly dessert. Adventurous eaters might try plaa som. This is fish stuffed with rice and left to rot. It is deep-fried and served with shallots.
Ratchawat Market is close to the Excise Department. Many small restaurants serve hungry people at lunchtime. Try phat thai. Sample kwaytiao lawt. This dish uses wide rice noodles. It is topped with pork sausage, tofu, and sweet soy sauce. Finish with yen ta fo. It is a noodle dish with pickled squid and jellyfish.
Ratchawat and Sriyan Markets offer Bangkok street food. They have a relaxed atmosphere. Life moves slower here.
Memorial Bridge has seen immense changes. It stood through historic events. It was the first road bridge across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. Today, many larger bridges cross the river. But none share the history of Memorial Bridge.