Fact:
In 1860, the European consuls urged the Thai King to construct a modern road that could accommodate horses and wheels. Prior to the construction of this road, Thai people relied on water transportation. For example, if a person needed to travel to the central district, he has to walk from his home to the nearest port. Then they had to walk around by using the small alleys inside the central district. When the king built this road, Westerners dubbed it the “New Road”.
Impact:
The Thai people, on the other hand, called it Charoen Krung Road as it linked major foreigner districts. This name was a literal translation meaning “Civilized Town,” which stemmed from the road’s path from the Thai palace to Chinatown, the French embassy, Portuguese Lane, as well as the residences of European diplomats and foreign religious institutions.
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