# Pratunam

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Neighborhood in Bangkok, Thailand

Road junction

Pratunam ประตูน้ำ Pratunam intersection in nighttime (seen from Ratchaprarop side) Interactive map of Pratunam Location Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand Coordinates 13°44′59.87″N 100°32′27.93″E / 13.7499639°N 100.5410917°E / 13.7499639; 100.5410917 Roads at junction Ratchaprarop (north) Phetchaburi (east–west) Ratchadamri (south) Construction Type Four-way at-grade intersection with bidirectional overpass

**Pratunam** ([Thai](/source/Thai_language): ประตูน้ำ, pronounced [\[prātūːnáːm\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Thai), also spelled as **Pratu Nam**), is an intersection and namesake neighbourhood in Thanon Phaya Thai sub-district of [Ratchathewi district](/source/Ratchathewi_district), Bangkok. The intersection is where [Phetchaburi Road](/source/Phetchaburi_Road) passes and where [Ratchadamri](/source/Ratchadamri) and [Ratchaprarop Roads](/source/Ratchaprarop_Road) originate. The next major intersection along Ratchaprarop Road is [Makkasan](/source/Makkasan).

The name "Pratunam" means "[water gate](/source/Floodgate)". Historically, there was a water gate located within the nearby [Sa Pathum Palace](/source/Sa_Pathum_Palace), commonly referred to as "Pratunam Wang Sa Pathum" (ประตูน้ำวังสระปทุม) or "Pratunam Sa Pathum" (ประตูน้ำสระปทุม). This gate was built in 1905 by King [Chulalongkorn](/source/Chulalongkorn) (Rama V) to help drain water from the [Khlong Saen Saep](/source/Khlong_Saen_Saep) canal, serving both agricultural needs and maintaining water levels for boats and rafts. Two other similar water gates were also constructed in [Chachoengsao Province](/source/Chachoengsao_Province) during the same period.[1]

In 1961, Pratunam was still a [traditional market](/source/Traditional_market) selling produce and other perishable goods. Over time, ready-made garment production began to develop, and more entrepreneurs gradually entered the trade. It eventually grew into a major clothing industry supplying retail goods to foreign customers as well as for export. As a result, Pratunam transformed into a hub for fashion retail and wholesale, which it remains today. Later on, a group of foreign investors, together with Thai businessmen such as M.R. [Kukrit Pramoj](/source/Kukrit_Pramoj) and Lenglert Baiyoke, developed hotel and shopping center on the Ratchaprarop side under the names Indra Hotel and Indra The Arcade.[2]

Today, Pratunam is regarded as one of the largest centers for both wholesale and retail clothing in Bangkok and in Thailand as a whole. The area is home to numerous malls and markets, including [Platinum Fashion Mall](/source/Platinum_Fashion_Mall), [Pratunam Market](/source/Pratunam_Market), [CentralWorld](/source/CentralWorld), and [Big C](/source/Big_C) Supercenter (Rajdamri Branch). In addition to its commercial role, Pratunam is also a key transportation hub. It is located near two other major intersections, [Ratchaprasong](/source/Ratchaprasong) and Pathum Wan, and serves as a stop on the [Khlong Saen Saep boat service](/source/Khlong_Saen_Saep_boat_service) via Pratunam Pier.[3][4]

The Pratunam overpass, which was Bangkok's first overpass, is scheduled to be demolished in March 2026 to make way for the construction of [MRT Orange Line](/source/Orange_Line_(Bangkok)). It is expected to be rebuilt later the same year.[5]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Coconuts Bangkok (2013-12-12). ["Then and Now: 16 vintage photos of Bangkok"](https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/then-and-now-16-vintage-photos-bangkok-0/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bawornsak, Padilavada (2024-09-25). [""ประตูน้ำ" ย่านขายเสื้อผ้ายอดฮิตคนไทย มาจากอะไร ทำไมคนนิยมขายเสื้อผ้า?"](https://www.silpa-mag.com/history/article_139967). *Art & Culture* (in Thai). Retrieved 2026-04-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["22 ท่าขึ้นเรือคลองแสนแสบ ท่าเรือประตูน้ำ ถนนราชดำริใกล้ซอยเพชรบุรี 30"](https://www.sawasdeee.com/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B5/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87-%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%9A/142-150). *SAWASDEE+E* (in Thai).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Top 10 Shopping in Pratunam"](http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/10-shopping-in-pratunam.htm). *BANGKOK.COM*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["เตรียมรื้อสะพานข้ามแยก ประตูน้ำ-ราชเทวี สร้างรถไฟฟ้าสายสีส้ม"](https://www.tnnthailand.com/news/social/181082/) [Preparing to demolish Pratunam-Ratchathewi overpasses in order to build the MRT Orange Line]. *[TNN](/source/TNN_(Thailand))* (in Thai). 2024-11-19. Retrieved 2024-11-12.

## External links

- [Pratunam](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bangkok/Pratunam) from [Wikivoyage](/source/Wikivoyage)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pratunam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratunam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratunam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.