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| ELEPHANT STREET |
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - August 2010 |
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Elephant Street ran east of the Grand Palace from Pratu Jakromhima (a Palace Gate)
towards Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak (the canal of the Gate of the Unmilled Rice) and the
Elephant Bridge. The street passed Wat Thammikarat, Wat Yan Sen, a canal crossing
near the former lead market, Wat Suwan Chedi and Wat Phlaphla Chai.
The street would run at present from the northeastern corner of the Palace, through the
premises of Wat Thammikarat and Yan Sen, straight over the campus of the Ayutthaya
Technical College and continue in eastern direction in between the present Ayutthaya
Kinder Garden School and Wat Phlabphla Chai. The street stood in the axis of the
present Thanon Pa Maphraw or Coconut Market Rd.
Gijsbert Heeck writes in his journal of 1655 [1] the following: "At the end of this street
[the street of Bazaars], one enters the Street of the Elephants, which, coming from
the side, runs straight to the king's court. On both sides this street has nothing but
elephant houses, brick-built with strong wooden stalls, named fa. Most stand in
duplex, but some are very long buildings in which many [elephants] can be housed
together." [1]
Johannes Vingbooms gave us a first view of Elephant Street on his - around 1665
published - drawing. We also find an indication of this street on de Courtaulin's
map being marked with "Escuries des Elephans" and on Bellin's map with "Rue des
Elephans". Coronelli, de La Loubère and de Courtaulin also mentioned the brick stables
for the elephants on both sides of the road on their maps.
Kaempfer a German medical doctor working for the VOC wrote in 1690: "Within the
walls of the Palace as well as without, are to be seen long Stables, in which some
hundred of Elephants stand in a long row magnificently harnass'd." [2]
Phraya Boran Rachathanin indicated on his map drafted in 1926, between the Grand
Palace and Wat Phlabphlai Chai the names of three streets covering the whole stretch of
the old Elephant Street, being Thanon Na Bang Kra, Thanon Pa Takua (Lead market
street) and Thanon Nam Mapraw (Coconut milk street).
Elephant Street was a brick road which was often used in processions and especially
during visits of the King to Wat Racha Burana and Wat Maha That. [3]
Reference:
[1] A traveler in Siam in the Year 1655 - Gijsbert Heeck - translated by Terwiel
(2008) - page 59.
[2] The history of Japan, together with a description of the kingdom of Siam, 1690-92 -
Engelbert Kaempfer.
[3] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - page 98/99.
towards Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak (the canal of the Gate of the Unmilled Rice) and the
Elephant Bridge. The street passed Wat Thammikarat, Wat Yan Sen, a canal crossing
near the former lead market, Wat Suwan Chedi and Wat Phlaphla Chai.
The street would run at present from the northeastern corner of the Palace, through the
premises of Wat Thammikarat and Yan Sen, straight over the campus of the Ayutthaya
Technical College and continue in eastern direction in between the present Ayutthaya
Kinder Garden School and Wat Phlabphla Chai. The street stood in the axis of the
present Thanon Pa Maphraw or Coconut Market Rd.
Gijsbert Heeck writes in his journal of 1655 [1] the following: "At the end of this street
[the street of Bazaars], one enters the Street of the Elephants, which, coming from
the side, runs straight to the king's court. On both sides this street has nothing but
elephant houses, brick-built with strong wooden stalls, named fa. Most stand in
duplex, but some are very long buildings in which many [elephants] can be housed
together." [1]
Johannes Vingbooms gave us a first view of Elephant Street on his - around 1665
published - drawing. We also find an indication of this street on de Courtaulin's
map being marked with "Escuries des Elephans" and on Bellin's map with "Rue des
Elephans". Coronelli, de La Loubère and de Courtaulin also mentioned the brick stables
for the elephants on both sides of the road on their maps.
Kaempfer a German medical doctor working for the VOC wrote in 1690: "Within the
walls of the Palace as well as without, are to be seen long Stables, in which some
hundred of Elephants stand in a long row magnificently harnass'd." [2]
Phraya Boran Rachathanin indicated on his map drafted in 1926, between the Grand
Palace and Wat Phlabphlai Chai the names of three streets covering the whole stretch of
the old Elephant Street, being Thanon Na Bang Kra, Thanon Pa Takua (Lead market
street) and Thanon Nam Mapraw (Coconut milk street).
Elephant Street was a brick road which was often used in processions and especially
during visits of the King to Wat Racha Burana and Wat Maha That. [3]
Reference:
[1] A traveler in Siam in the Year 1655 - Gijsbert Heeck - translated by Terwiel
(2008) - page 59.
[2] The history of Japan, together with a description of the kingdom of Siam, 1690-92 -
Engelbert Kaempfer.
[3] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - page 98/99.
| (Johannes Vingbooms) |
| (de Courtaulin) |
| (Coronelli) |
| (Bellin) |