| CHIKUN BRIDGE |
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - October 2009 |
Saphan Chikun or the “Chikun Bridge” is located on the City Island at Tambon Pratu
Chai.
The brick bridge was built over Khlong Pratu Jin (also called Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak
in the northern stretch) which connected the old Lopburi River (later Khlong Muang or
City Canal) in the north (near Wat Tha Sai) with the Chao Phraya River in the south at
Pratu Jin. This canal was filled in last century and as thus at present inexistent, with the
exception of a small stretch of water between Wat Tha Sai and Wat Rachapraditsathan
- close to its former mouth, called Pratu Khao Pluak. Only some brick work of the
former bridges remain as a last witness of the past.
At par with the area near Saphan Talad Jin, the Chikun location (at least east of the
main canal) was also Chinese. Chinese merchants sold fire-crackers, spirits and palm
wine. [1] Chikun was also the location of the Brahman shrines and the residence of the
Brahmin priests from 1636 onwards, after King Prasat Thong ordered the relocation of
the shrine.
Brick work of the Chikun Bridge still can be seen in situ. The site is located on Chikun
road, south of the round point in central Ayutthaya and north of the brick work of the
Talad Jin Bridge.
This brick work, indicated by the Fine Arts Department as being the foundations of the
Chikun Bridge, is not in a straight line with the brick structures of the Pa Than and Talad
Jin bridges. Either this brickwork has been moved to this location or it could be
remnants of Wat Chatthan.
References:
[1] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 149.
Chai.
The brick bridge was built over Khlong Pratu Jin (also called Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak
in the northern stretch) which connected the old Lopburi River (later Khlong Muang or
City Canal) in the north (near Wat Tha Sai) with the Chao Phraya River in the south at
Pratu Jin. This canal was filled in last century and as thus at present inexistent, with the
exception of a small stretch of water between Wat Tha Sai and Wat Rachapraditsathan
- close to its former mouth, called Pratu Khao Pluak. Only some brick work of the
former bridges remain as a last witness of the past.
At par with the area near Saphan Talad Jin, the Chikun location (at least east of the
main canal) was also Chinese. Chinese merchants sold fire-crackers, spirits and palm
wine. [1] Chikun was also the location of the Brahman shrines and the residence of the
Brahmin priests from 1636 onwards, after King Prasat Thong ordered the relocation of
the shrine.
Brick work of the Chikun Bridge still can be seen in situ. The site is located on Chikun
road, south of the round point in central Ayutthaya and north of the brick work of the
Talad Jin Bridge.
This brick work, indicated by the Fine Arts Department as being the foundations of the
Chikun Bridge, is not in a straight line with the brick structures of the Pa Than and Talad
Jin bridges. Either this brickwork has been moved to this location or it could be
remnants of Wat Chatthan.
References:
[1] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 149.
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