Sommot Amon Mak Bridge (, , ) is a historic bridge over the ''

khlong A ''khlong'' (, ), alternatively spelt as ''klong'' () commonly refers to a canal in Thailand. These canals are spawned by the rivers Chao Phraya, Tha Chin, and Mae Klong, along with their tributaries particularly in the low-lying areas of ce ...

'' (canal) in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

. It's located on

Bamrung Mueang Bamrung Mueang Road (, ) is the second paved road in Bangkok. It was built in 1863 after Charoen Krung Road, in the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). It cut through the old fortified city of Rattanakosin Island from west to east, beginning near th ...

road between Phra Nakhon district's

Samran Rat Samran Rat (, ), popularly known as Pratu Phi (, ), is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok. The neighbourhood roughly occupies the area of its namesake subdistrict and road junction in Phra Nakhon district. History The name ''Pratu Phi'' means ...

sub-district and Pom Prap Sattru Phai district's Ban Bat sub-district. The bridge that can be considered as another ''Saphan Lek'' (สะพานเหล็ก; lit: iron bridge) of Bangkok alike Damrong Sathit and Phitthaya Sathian bridges. Since it was originally a steel structure and could be removed for boat pass through. So it was named ''"Saphan Lek Pratu Phi"'', because the area it's located is called "

Pratu Phi Samran Rat (, ), popularly known as Pratu Phi (, ), is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok. The neighbourhood roughly occupies the area of its namesake subdistrict and road junction in Phra Nakhon district. History The name ''Pratu Phi'' means ...

" (ประตูผี; ghost gate). This area in the early Rattanakosin period there's gate for transport dead bodies from the inner city or within

Grand Palace The Grand Palace (, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. . ) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the officia ...

. Because this area is located in the west, it's believed that the direction of the dead. Later, in the reign of King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...

(Rama V). The bridge has deteriorated, he ordered the Department of Public Works to restore the bridge as a concrete bridge in today, includes was officially named "Sommot Amon Mak" (literally translates as ''"way of who assume as immortal"'', that refers to ''"way of deity"'', meaning ''"way of divine king"'') in honour of Prince Sawasdiprawat. 250px, left, Cement crematorium near Wat Saket in the past (circa 1900), the small spots on the crematorium's top are vultures waiting to eat the corpses The striking feature is that the banisters are

Ionic architecture The Ionic order is one of the three canonic orders of classical architecture, the other two being the Doric and the Corinthian. There are two lesser orders: the Tuscan (a plainer Doric), and the rich variant of Corinthian called the composite o ...

. It has been registered as one of the

ancient monument An ancient monument can refer to any early or historical manmade structure or architecture. Certain ancient monuments are of cultural importance for nations and become symbols of international recognition, including the Baalbek, ruins of Baalbek ...

s of Bangkok. At the end of the bridge in Pom Prap Sattru Phai side is an intersection called "Men Pun Intersection", that refers to ''"cement crematorium intersection"''. It's an area close to

Wat Saket Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan (), usually shortened to Wat Saket, is a Buddhist temple (''wat'') in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya kingdom, Ayutthaya era, when it was known as Wat Sak ...

. During the reigns of King

Phutthaloetla Naphalai Phutthaloetla Naphalai (born Chim; 24 February 1767 or 1768 – 21 July 1824), also known by his regnal name Rama II, was the second King of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 1809 to 1824. In 1809, Itsarasunthon succeeded his father ...

(Rama II) and King

Nangklao Nangklao (born Thap; 31 March 1788 – 2 April 1851), also known by his regnal name Rama III, was the third Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. Nangklao was the eldest surviving ...

(Rama III), there was severe epidemics of cholera in Bangkok. There're a lot of dead people and can't be cremated immediately. Many bodies have been left along the road or the temple grounds, so that the vultures are eaten, it's an abomination to those who have seen. The temple that was cremated during that time was Wat Sa Ket, including crematorium made of cement nearby. Presently, the cement crematorium has been demolished but its name still stands today and becomes the official intersection.

References

{{Reflist Phra Nakhon district Pom Prap Sattru Phai district category:Bridges in Bangkok category:History of Bangkok category:Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok