{{Short description|Street in Bangkok, Thailand}} {{Infobox street | name =Maha Rat Road | native_name = {{native name|th|ถนนมหาราช}} | marker_image = | image = Roads in Bangkok (27768279504).jpg | image_size = 250px | map = | caption =The street name sign at the entrance to [[Tha Tian Market]] | other_name = | former_names = | postal_code = 10200 | addresses = | length_m = | length_ft = | length_mi = | length_km = 1.7 | length_ref = | width = | location = [[Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang]], [[Phra Nakhon]], [[Bangkok]] | client = | maint = | coordinates = {{Coord|13.749435|N|100.491963|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | direction_a = | terminus_a = | direction_b = | terminus_b = | junction = | commissioning_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = | inauguration_date = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | demolition_date = | north = [[File:Seal Bangkok Metropolitan Admin (green).svg|20px]] [[Phra Chan Road]] | south = [[File:Seal Bangkok Metropolitan Admin (green).svg|20px]] [[Chak Phet Road]] | east = | west = }} '''Maha Rat Road''' ({{langx|th|ถนนมหาราช}}, {{RTGS|''Thanon Maha Rat''}}, {{IPA|th|tʰa.nǒn má.hǎː.râːt|pron}}) is a short street, {{convert|1.7|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} long along [[Chao Phraya River]] to the southeast. It is located in [[Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang subdistrict]], [[Phra Nakhon district]], [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]].
The road begins at [[Phra Chan Road]] in the [[Tha Phra Chan]] area, running alongside the [[Grand Palace]] and [[Wat Pho]], and ending at [[Charoenrat 31 Bridge]] and [[Chak Phet Road]] in the [[Pak Khlong Talat]] area.
It is an original road dating back to the founding of [[Rattanakosin Kingdom]]. Formerly, it ran along the western wall of the Grand Palace, serving as one of the encircling roads of the palace, similar to Na Phra Lan Road or [[Sanam Chai Road]]. At first, it was merely a narrow walkway paved with large perforated bricks. Later, during the reign of King [[Chulalongkorn]] (Rama V), the path was expanded into a proper road running parallel to the western wall of the Grand Palace. The name ''Maha Rat'' is believed to be an abbreviation of ''Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang'' (the Grand Palace).<ref>{{cite web|title=4 ถนนสำคัญ ล้อมรอบ “พระบรมมหาราชวัง” มีถนนสายไหนบ้าง?|url=https://www.silpa-mag.com/history/article_133431|language=thai|work=Art and Culture|date=2024-06-04|accessdate=2025-08-21|author=}}</ref>
Although it is a short, Maha Rat Road passes several important landmarks. In addition to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, these include Tha Maha Rat, [[Tha Chang Wang Luang|Tha Chang]], Royal Thai Navy Club, Tha Ratcha Woradit, [[Tha Tien]], [[Museum Siam]], Chakrabongse Villas and [[Rajini School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRf6pdbhoY4|title=CHN_ถนนมหาราช|date=2011-01-06|language=thai|via= YouTube|type=Video|accessdate=2025-08-21|author=pongsakornlovic}}</ref>
In 2022, an underground pedestrian tunnel was completed at Tha Chang, linking Maha Rat Road with Na Phra Lan Road. The tunnel is {{convert|4.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} deep and extends for about {{convert|90|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}. It is fully air-conditioned for the convenience of visitors and houses a permanent exhibition featuring photographs and information about the [[Rattanakosin Island]] area. In addition, there are 35 free public toilets available, comprising 15 for men and 20 for women.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://travel.trueid.net/detail/aBJ90Ve9kLwX|title=อุโมงค์มหาราช พาเดินลอด ถนนมหาราช และ ถนนหน้าพระลาน|date=2022-08-12|accessdate=2025-08-21|language=thai|author=EDT Guide|work=TrueID}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}} [[category:Phra Nakhon district]] [[category:Streets in Bangkok]] [[category:Buildings and structures on the Chao Phraya River]]