| THAMNOP RO BRIDGE |
Saphan Thamnop Ro was the only bridge in the Ayutthaya period that connected the
city island to a point across the river. Transportation from one riverbank to another was
done by ferryboat instead. Sapan Thamnop Ro appears on both Engelbert Kaempfer’s
and Bellin’s maps from the late 17th century.
This causeway was located near the confluence of the old Lopburi River (also known as
Khlong Bang Khuat and Khlong Pho Sam Ton) and new Lopbri River. The Maha Chai
Fortress was located on the side of the city island and Wat Sam Viharn was situated to
its north.
During the White Elephant War (1563-1564), Burmese used rubble to build a bridge
that crossed the old Lopburi in order to attack. During the reign of King Chakraphat
(1548-1569), the causeway was renovated to include bricks. It was 6 meters in width
and had gaps in the middle with removable planks.
King Mahathammarat (1569-1590) used this causeway to move the elephant kraal
from the city island to the Municipality of Phaniat, where a camp already stood for the
capture of elephants. This causeway was then used for state purposes only. Elephants,
horses, and wagons were allowed to cross it.
Thamnop Ro served a military role for the Burmese during the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.
The Royal Chronicles explains how Burmese crossed a bridge in front of the Maha Chai
Fortress, while makeshift walls obscured them from view, so that they could dig tunnels
to set the city walls on fire (Cushman 520).
Thamnop Ro has since been destroyed, but many old bricks and laterite blocks can be
seen in the vicinity where it once stood. A metal walking bridge stands in the
approximate location, connecting the Hua Ro market to the area in front of Wat Sam
Viharn.
city island to a point across the river. Transportation from one riverbank to another was
done by ferryboat instead. Sapan Thamnop Ro appears on both Engelbert Kaempfer’s
and Bellin’s maps from the late 17th century.
This causeway was located near the confluence of the old Lopburi River (also known as
Khlong Bang Khuat and Khlong Pho Sam Ton) and new Lopbri River. The Maha Chai
Fortress was located on the side of the city island and Wat Sam Viharn was situated to
its north.
During the White Elephant War (1563-1564), Burmese used rubble to build a bridge
that crossed the old Lopburi in order to attack. During the reign of King Chakraphat
(1548-1569), the causeway was renovated to include bricks. It was 6 meters in width
and had gaps in the middle with removable planks.
King Mahathammarat (1569-1590) used this causeway to move the elephant kraal
from the city island to the Municipality of Phaniat, where a camp already stood for the
capture of elephants. This causeway was then used for state purposes only. Elephants,
horses, and wagons were allowed to cross it.
Thamnop Ro served a military role for the Burmese during the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.
The Royal Chronicles explains how Burmese crossed a bridge in front of the Maha Chai
Fortress, while makeshift walls obscured them from view, so that they could dig tunnels
to set the city walls on fire (Cushman 520).
Thamnop Ro has since been destroyed, but many old bricks and laterite blocks can be
seen in the vicinity where it once stood. A metal walking bridge stands in the
approximate location, connecting the Hua Ro market to the area in front of Wat Sam
Viharn.
| Text by Ken May - April 2009 |
| (New bridge in former location) |
| (Indication of Thamnop Ro on French map of 1687) Click map to enlarge |
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Addendum
"Thamnop" is Thai for a "weir or dam", while "Ro" means "to delay". "Thamnop Ro" was
thus a kind of weir made of wooden beams positioned in the water to break the speed
of the river in order to prevent damage to the embankments. Thamnop Ro was situated
at the confluence of the former Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers in front of the former Maha
Chai fortress. The Thamnop Ro Bridge derived its name this water speed breaker.
"Thamnop" is Thai for a "weir or dam", while "Ro" means "to delay". "Thamnop Ro" was
thus a kind of weir made of wooden beams positioned in the water to break the speed
of the river in order to prevent damage to the embankments. Thamnop Ro was situated
at the confluence of the former Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers in front of the former Maha
Chai fortress. The Thamnop Ro Bridge derived its name this water speed breaker.
| Text, photograph & map by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2009 |