Sommot Amon Mak Bridge

About

Sommot Amon Mak Bridge (RTGS: Saphan Sommot Amon Mak, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn sǒm.mót ʔā.mɔ̄ːn mâːk]) is a historic bridge over a khlong (canal) in Bangkok. It is located on Bamrung Mueang Road, between Samran Rat Sub-district of Phra Nakhon District and Ban Bat Sub-district of Pom Prap Sattru Phai District. The bridge is considered another of Bangkok's Saphan Lek ("steel bridges"), similar to Damrong Sathit and Phitthaya Sathian Bridges. Originally built as a steel structure that could be disassembled to allow boats to pass, it was called "Saphan Lek Pratu Phi", named after the area known as Pratu Phi ("Ghost Gate"). In the early Rattanakosin period, this area had a gate used to transport corpses out of the inner city or the Grand Palace. It lies to the east, which aligns with a traditional belief that the east is the direction in which spirits travel. Later, during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), after the bridge had deteriorated over time, he ordered the Department of Public Works to rebuild it as a concrete bridge. It was officially renamed "Sommot Amon Mak", which roughly translates to "Path of the Immortal", referring to a divine or royal path, in honour of Prince Sawasdiprawat. A striking feature of the bridge is its Ionic-style banisters. It has been registered as one of Bangkok's historic monuments. At the end of the bridge on the Pom Pra

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