{{about|the Bangkok neighbourhood|the ''tambon'' in Chiang Mai Province|Samran Rat, Chiang Mai}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name =Samran Rat |native_name =สำราญราษฎร์ |settlement_type = [[Khwaeng]] |image_skyline =Siriphong,(Wat Suthat) Wat Ratchabophat, bangkok - panoramio.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Nameplate of [[Rommaninat Park]] (on Siriphong Road side) |mapsize = |etymology = "happy citizen" |coordinates = {{coord|13|45|07.67|N|100|30|16.19|E|display=title}} |motto = |named_for = [[Fortifications of Bangkok|Pratu Phi]] | image_map = {{#property:P242}} | map_caption = Location in [[Phra Nakhon District]] <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name ={{flag|Thailand}} |subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Thailand|Province]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Bangkok]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Amphoe|Khet]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Phra Nakhon District|Phra Nakhon]] |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = |established_date = |area_total_km2 = 0.230 |area_water_km2 = |population_as_of = 2021 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 2,829 |population_density_km2 = 12,300.00 |timezone = [[Time in Thailand|ICT]] |utc_offset = +7 |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |postal_code_type = Postal code |postal_code = {{#property:P281}} |area_code =100104 |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Samran Rat''' ({{langx|th|สำราญราษฎร์}}, {{IPA|th|sǎm.rāːn râːt|pron}}), formerly and still colloquially known as '''Pratu Phi''' ({{lang|th|ประตูผี}}, {{IPA|th|prā.tūː pʰǐː|}}), is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok. The neighbourhood roughly occupies the area of its namesake subdistrict and road junction in [[Phra Nakhon]] district.
==History== The name ''Pratu Phi'' means "ghost's gate", because the area was once the location of the city gate through which dead bodies were transported out of the [[Fortifications of Bangkok|fortified city]] for cremation during the early [[Rattanakosin period]]. Cremations usually took place at the nearby [[Wat Saket]], located just across the city moat known as [[Khlong Rop Krung]]. The area was later officially renamed Samran Rat, meaning "happy citizen", in an effort to bring auspiciousness. However, the name Pratu Phi is still commonly used by many locals.<ref name=Pra/>
In modern times, Samran Rat is known as a hub of well-known eateries, especially for [[Thai food|Thai]] [[Street food of Thailand|street food]] at night. The area is packed with vendors and small restaurants offering popular dishes such as [[pad thai]], [[yen ta fo]], and [[salapao]], as well as various [[kopitiam|traditional café]]s. Among the most famous are [[Jay Fai]], which received a [[Michelin star]] in 2017, and [[Thipsamai]], renowned for its pad thai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/food/2017/12/06/star-street-food-joint-michelin-bangkok-revealed/|work=[[Khaosod]]|date=2017-12-06|first= Pravit |last=Rojanaphruk|title=Star for Street Food Joint As Michelin Bangkok Revealed}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/bangkok/thipsamai-phad-thai-pratuphee/restaurant|title=Thipsamai Phad Thai (Pratuphee)|work=Michelin Guide|access-date=2018-03-18|archive-date=2018-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828035944/https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/bangkok/thipsamai-phad-thai-pratuphee/restaurant|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Pra>{{cite web|title=อร่อยมื้อดึกย่านประตูผี|date=2008-11-06|trans-title=Delicious late-night supper at Pratu Phi quarter|language=th|work=[[Sanook.com]]|url=https://www.sanook.com/travel/531571/}}</ref>
Samran Rat is also home to Thailand's first [[pawn shop]], which has been operating since the reign of King [[Mongkut]] (Rama IV).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://talk.mthai.com/inbox/374408.html|title=ประวัติโรงรับจำนำในประเทศไทย|trans-title=History of pawn shop in Thailand|date=May 2013|language=th|work=Mthai.com|access-date=2018-03-18|archive-date=2018-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319151115/https://talk.mthai.com/inbox/374408.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Behind [[Mahakan Fort]], which was one of the original fortresses of Rattanakosin, stood the Mahakan Fort Community. Its residents had lived there since the early days of Bangkok, making it one of the city's oldest and most distinctive communities. However, in 2018, the government and the [[Bangkok Metropolitan Administration]] (BMA) ordered the demolition of their homes and the removal of all residents to clear the land for a new [[urban park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.thaipbs.or.th/content/271857|work=[[Thai PBS]]|language=th|date=2018-04-25|trans-title=Close the legend "Mahakan Fort Community" draws all demolition lines on 29 Apr|title=ปิดตำนาน "ชุมชนป้อมมหากาฬ" ขีดเส้นรื้อทุกหลัง 29 เม.ย.นี้}}</ref>
==Geography== Samran Rat is considered to be the central part indented to the east of the Bangkok's old town zone or [[Rattanakosin Island]]. Within the area there are two main traffic junctions:
'''Samran Rat Intersection''' is a [[road intersection|four-way junction]] where [[Bamrung Mueang]] and Maha Chai roads cross. From the intersection, Bamrung Mueang continues over the nearby [[Sommot Amonmak Bridge]] into the [[Ban Bat]] subdistrict of [[Pom Prap Sattru Phai]] district. The next junction along Bamrung Mueang is [[Maen Si]].
'''Ruan Cham Junction''' is a [[T junction]] where Maha Chai and [[Luang Road|Luang road]]s meet. The point is known by this name because it used to be the location of the Special Bangkok Metropolitan Prison (''ruan cham'' in Thai), built by the order of King [[Chulalongkorn]] (Rama V) in 1889. It served to detain and train prisoners so that they could become good citizens. Later in 1987, the [[Department of Corrections (Thailand)|Department of Corrections]] moved the prison from this place to where is now [[Khlong Prem Prison]] in [[Khet Chatuchak|Chatuchak]] district's [[Lat Yao subdistrict, Bangkok|Lat Yao]] subdistrict. BMA turned it into an urban park, named [[Rommaninat Park|Rommaninat]], to present to the Queen [[Sirikit]] on her fifth cycle birthday in 1992. Some of the buildings were developed into a [[Bangkok Corrections Museum]].
==Surroundings{{efn|Some places like [[Mahakan Fort]], [[Wat Saket]] and Golden Mount, [[Wat Suthat]], [[Giant Swing]] and Bangkok City Hall are not actually in this subdistrict, but are in adjacent areas such as [[Ban Bat]], [[Sao Chingcha subdistrict|Sao Chingcha]] or [[Wat Ratchabophit (subdistrict)|Wat Ratchabophit]].}}== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| *[[Giant Swing]] *[[Bangkok Metropolitan Administration|Bangkok City Hall]] *[[Devasathan]] *[[Wat Suthat]] *[[Mahakan Fort]] *[[Wat Ratchanatdaram]] and Loha Prasat *[[Wat Thepthidaram]] *[[Wat Saket]] and Golden Mount *Royal Pavilion Mahajetsadabadin and King Rama III Memorial *[[Phan Fa Lilat Bridge]] *[[King Prajadhipok Museum]] *Samranrat Police Station *[[Rommaninat Park]] *[[Bangkok Corrections Museum]] *[[Benjamarachalai School]] }}
==Gallery== <gallery> file:Fort Mahakan at evening.jpg|[[Fort Mahakan]] one of landmarks of Samran Rat area (although in truth, it is located in neighbouring [[Bowon Niwet subdistrict]] file:Thanon Bamrung Muang rd, Samran rat, Phra nakhon, Thailand - panoramio.jpg|[[Shophouses]] along Bamrung Mueang road, Samran Rat intersection is ahead file:Behind the wall - panoramio (1).jpg|Community behind the Mahakan Fort File:Raan jay fai stove (4430455561) (2).jpg|Cooking area of [[Jay Fai]] restaurant file:Thailand 2016 (66 of 422) (32215543992).jpg|Thipsamai [[pad thai]] restaurant file:Krungthepmahanakorn.jpg|[[Bangkok Metropolitan Administration|Bangkok City Hall]] file:Luang, Samran Rat, phra nakhon, Bangkok - panoramio.jpg|Ruan Cham Junction (seen from Luang road, [[Bangkok Corrections Museum]] is ahead) </gallery>
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Bangkok]] [[Category:Phra Nakhon district]] [[Category:Road junctions in Bangkok]] [[Category:Subdistricts of Bangkok]]