The present Doodle observes Charoen Krung Road, the very first paved road in Bangkok, which officially opened to travel on this day in 1864.
Built close by the banks of the Chao Phraya River, a tributary that flows through the heart of the city’s urban center, this historic thoroughfare paved the way for the modernization of the Thai capital, all while holding the appeal of its long and winding cultural history.
During the 1860s, the Bangkok economy depended generally on its network of canals for trade. Yet, as the Thai capital got home to foreign traders and their horse-drawn buggies, the city looked to redo its water-based foundation to land transportation to fulfill the demands of international commerce. The local government answered with the 1862 development of Charoen Krung, which freely translates to “Prosperous City” but on the other hand is frequently alluded to as the “New Road.”
Today, Charoen Krung serves as a asphalt artery that connects a melting pot of old and new in zones like Bangkok’s first “Creative District.” This riverside area features a portion of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, for example, the Old Customs House, where 19th century foreign traders paid taxes prior to entering and leaving the country, close by a eclectic mix of everything from French bistros to international street murals.
This intersection point of modernity and history emphasizes how Charoen Krung has consistently been a progressive cultural center of Thailand; one that keeps on making the way for the ingenuity of the days to come.
Here’s to Bangkok’s oldest New Road!
