Treasury of Culture: Thonburi, West Bank of the Chao Phraya River
A story of communities' arts and culture flowing harmoniously along the Chao Phraya River, a river of life, exhibited in Siriraj Bimuksthan, the riverside museum.
The River of Life
“Chao Phraya”, Thailand’s most significant river, has become the best traveling route of precious history.
This river of life begins at the confluence of several rivers from northern provinces before flowing through the central plains, including Bangkok, to exit in the Gulf of Thailand.
This treasury of culture runs through three old capitals from Ayutthaya, Thonburi, to today Rattanakosin.
A Buffalo Made Canal
Surprisingly, one notable part of the Chao Phraya River laying between the mouth of Bangkok Noi, and Bangkok Yai Canal, is a manmade (Buffalo made) canal.
Let’s see how they worked.
The Display of Bangkok Noi Canal (2012) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MusuemSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
This canal was dug in the 16th century to shorten the distance for travelers. The route is illustrated in the map with the words
"I de BANKOC”.
Nowadays, it is one of the famous travelling route for tourists, while The natural route became a small peaceful canal decorated by many cultural and historic sites.
The Old Written Bangkok Noi Map (-1800) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
Strategic Spots on the West Bank
This is a replicated map of the buffalo made canal and river banks drawn in 18th century.
The map displayed strategic spots on the West bank such as King Taksin of Thonburi palace, forts, and tax collecting station and the house of Chao Pharya Chakri (future King Rama I).
Besides precise information, the map showed beautiful arts of orchards, animals, building etc., in Burmese style.
Imagine what was the purpose of this map.
The Fortresses (1913) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
A Great Stronghold of Siam
Among several forts, “Wichai Prasit Fort” at the mouth of Bangkok Yai Canal, was one of the most important forts to protect the country and also used as an immigration control and customs outpost during Ayutthaya period.
While on the east bank, there was an elegant star shaped fort constructed in the 16th century by King Narai the great.
This fort was completely destroyed by the following King Pet-Racha.
The Old Bangkok Map (1896) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
Grandeur Palaces Shown on A Map
While the “Grand Palace” for the Kings of Rattanakosin Kingdom, together with “Wang Na Palace” (Front Palace) for the crown prince were on the east bank, there are grandeur palaces on the west bank.
Thonburi Palace
This palace was also called Wang Derm Palace or Old Palace.
It was constructed in 1767, for King Tak Sin of Thonburi dynasty.
Wang Lang Palace (Rear Palace)
This palace was located on the west bank for the prince who was the 3rd in command to King Rama I.
Siriraj Hospital (1888) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Hospital
Another important historical site situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, at the mouth of Bangkok Noi canal is Siriraj Hospital founded in 1888 by King Rama V. It was the first public hospital of Thailand.
The hospital has been providing continuous health care services, medical education, and researches to the people for over a hundred years and now considered as one of the largest government hospitals in South East Asia.
Bangkok Noi Railway Station (1932) by Boonshoo CharoentipSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Southern Line of Railway Station
One prominent location was the first railway of southern line called “Thonburi Railway Station”. It is also founded by King Rama V.
The railway station was aside of the hospital at the mouth of Bangkok Noi canal This historical place was built to serve a large amount of railway travelers.
The Siriraj Dormitory Building Destroyed by the Bomb (1941) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The World War II
During the World War II, the station was used as a military base of Japanese army and was consequently bombarded completely by the Allies army. So did the hospital.
Therefore, many buildings in the hospital were destroyed.
Bangkok Noi Railway Station (1950) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Clock Tower
In 1950, a new station was built reflecting post-war architecture of Victorian brick with a clock tower.
This became a landmark of Bangkok Noi since then.
The Construction of Medical Institute (2008) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
Area Hand-Over to Siriraj Hospital
After continuously giving service for travelers for over half a century, the State Railway of Thailand later handed over 13 acres area including the Thonburi Railway Station to the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital for a mega project entitled "Sayamindradhiraj" Medical Institute. The new railway station was then relocated nearby.
The Finding of Fort Base (2008) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Archaeological Study
In 2008, the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital collaborated with the Faculty of Archaeology, Silpakorn University to carry out the archaeological excavation around Thonburi Railway Station area to fathom into the history of the land.
The Fort Base Area (2011) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
Wang Lang Palace Fort Base
The archaeological excavation revealed the astounding evidence; “Wang Lang Palace Fort Base”, the only evidence confirming the existence of Wang Lang Palace which clearly indicates the significance of this riverside area that was prosperous during 1786-1806.
The Conservation of the Fort Base
As a national archaeological site, “Wang Lang Palace Fort Base” requires the proper conservation in order to cherish and preserve this historical gem to become a resourceful area for public learning.
The Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital then proceeded the conservation and restoration project for this national treasure.
Wang Lang Palace Fort Base (-1872) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Wang Lang Palace Fort Base has been conserved under the glass gable roof structure where information about its history, the conservation and restoration, the traditional brick and pathway pattern, and archeological stratification are exhibited to the public as part of Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum.
The Finding of the Ancient Boat (2008) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Ancient Boat
Besides the Wang Lang Palace Fort Base, there was another discovery of a large ancient wooden boat with the length of 25 meters, buried 7 meters beneath the ground.
Experts from the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard were subsequently invited to study the valuable find for restoration.
It is presumed that the boat had been abandoned for some time before the dockyard got buried in order to build the Bangkok Noi Railway station in 1900.
The Map of Dockyard in Bangkok Noi (1896) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The Dockyard
Displayed in the old city plan was a drawing of dockyard on the Bangkok Noi canal.
It was presumed where the ancient boat was discovered.
The Discovery of the Ancient Boat
The Conservation of the Ancient Boat
The boat was later cut into 7 pieces, moved, and stored in the warehouse for conservation work. The rich-details of the conservation process was completed in 2011.
The Display of the Ancient Boat (2011) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
The enormous ancient boat hidden underground for over a century was eventually brought back to life. This precious boat will rest in here as a valuable national treasure flashing back the prosperity of the early Rattanakosin period.
When it sailed in the sunlight, it must have gleamed brilliantly yellow like a boat of gold in a splendid sight.
3D Version of the Ancient Boat (2022) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
This is a 3D Model of the excavated ancient boat.
Bangkok Noi Way of Life
The sceneries and people’s way of life living along the banks of the Bangkok Noi Canal in the past as well as various types of boats used in this area are displayed in the museum as well.
Artifacts and Others: The Pottery
Artifacts and Others: The Pottery
During the archeology survey, large amount of potteries were collected from the soil.
They were neatly cleaned, identified, and classified. Most of them were household local made potteries. Some were imported from China, Japan, or Europe. Some of them were for specific function such as molds for gold.
An example of the pottery, Qingbai-Style Small Measuring Bowl, the only complete ware found in excavations site in Siriraj Hospital area. This historical-valued finding is now displayed in the museum.
Sayamindradhiraj Medical Institute
Located in the given 13 acres area, “Sayamindradhiraj Medical Institute", the excellent medical center in Southeast Asia, comprises the new hospital, research building, and the beautiful Thai Pavilion, as a new landmark of The Bangkok Noi canal.
Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum
All the precious stories about the history, archaeology, and way of life of people along the river in Bangkok Noi are gathered and exhibited at this remarkable riverside learning center,
Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum.
Siriraj Bimuksthan Museum (2013) by Siriraj Bimuksthan MuseumSiriraj Bimuksthan Museum
