Fort Phra Sumen – the last citadel on the Chao Phraya

Fort Phra Sumen
the last citadel on the Chao Phraya

The last citadel on the Chao Phraya

One of the two remaining forts in old Bangkok, Fort Phra Sumen was constructed in 1783 to fortify the old city during the reign of King Rama I. When Bangkok was established as the new capital, forts were built to cover the Chao Phraya River. The defensive rings of canals protected the old city to the east.

The fort is sited at the confluence of the Chao Phraya River and the Banglamphu Canal which was the second ring of canals to be built around the old city of Bangkok in 1782. The first canal was Lord Canal just east of the Grand Palace.

The Banglamphu Canal joins up with the Ong-Ang Canal and extents all the way to the Chao Phraya River to the south, forming a moat to the east of the old city. With the Chao Phraya River to the west, the old city is virtually an island, thus the name Rattanakosin Island.

The fort has two levels of battlements where cannons are deployed and an observation tower. It covers the bend of the Chao Phraya River at the northern end of Rattanakosin Island. The old cannons are still in place.

Old cannon on the ramparts

A well-kept park, the Santichaiprakarn Park, lies between the old fort and the river making it a pleasant area to spend the day by the river. One can have a panoramic view of the riverfront and watch river life go by with the majestic Rama VIII suspension bridge in the distance.

Santichaiprakarn Park

Sala in the park

With the march of development only two of the 14 forts are left standing today. Fort Phra Sumen is one of the remaining Bangkok legacies of a bygone era.

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