Khlong Saen Saeb is a canal

Canal

Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...

 (Khlong

Khlong

A khlong is the general name for a canal in the central plain of Thailand. These canals are spawned by the Chao Phraya, the Tha Chin, the Mae Klong Rivers and their tributaries...

) in central Thailand

Central Thailand

Central Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from North-East Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range, and another mountain range separates it from Myanmar to the west. In the north it gently changes into the more hilly...

, connecting the Chao Phraya River to Prachin Buri

Prachinburi Province

Prachin Buri is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Nakhon Ratchasima, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Nayok.-Geography:...

 and Chachoengsao

Chachoengsao Province

Chachoengsao is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok. It also has a short coast to the Gulf of Thailand.-History:Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is a province in the Central region...

. A portion of the canal is used for public transport by an express boat service in Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

. The canal is lined with concrete walkways on either side in many areas where people stroll despite the foul smells of the canal, and in other areas the heavily polluted water oozes into adjacent properties, especially after heavy rainstorms. The canal is connected to many other canals in a large network, though most of the other canals do not have a regular transport service.

History

The Saen Saep canal was built by the order of King Rama III

Jessadabodindra

Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Jessadabodindra Phra Nangklao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama III , was the third monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, ruling from 21 July 1824 to 2 April 1851. He succeeded his father, Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, as the King of Siam...

 during the conflict between Siam and Annam

Vietnam

Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...

 about Cambodia

Cambodia

Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...

, to establish a water transport for soldiers and weapons to Cambodia. The construction started in 1837 and was finished three years after. Klong Saen Saeb was once filled with and abundance of lotus

Lotus (plant)

Lotus identifies various plant taxa:* Nelumbo, a genus of aquatic plants with showy flowers** Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred or Indian lotus** Nelumbo lutea, the American or Yellow lotus...

, King Mongkut in his 4th reign (1851-1868) built Sra Pathum Palace (Lotus Pond Palace) in Siam District, the names of the palace and present Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...

 district come from it.

The Saen Saep starts from Mahanak canal or Khlong Mahanak around Mahakan Fortress in Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

. In Chachoengsao

Chachoengsao Province

Chachoengsao is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok. It also has a short coast to the Gulf of Thailand.-History:Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is a province in the Central region...

 it terminates into the Bang Pa Kong River

Bang Pa Kong River

The Bang Pakong is a river in east Thailand. The river originates at the confluence of the Nakhon Nayok River and the Prachinburi River at Pak Nam Yothaka in Amphoe Ban Sang, Prachinburi Province. It empties into the Gulf of Thailand in the northeastern tip of the Bay of Bangkok. The watershed of...

.

Public transportation

Main article: Khlong Saen Saeb Express Boat

Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat

The Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat service operates on the Khlong Saen Saep in Bangkok, providing fast, inexpensive transportation through the city's traffic-congested commercial districts...

An express boat service operates on the Saen Saeb, providing fast, inexpensive transportation in traffic-congested central Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

. The service has a checkered reputation, due to the polluted water in the khlong and the haphazard nature in which the service is operated.

The 18 km route is served by 100 boats of 40-50 seats, and operates 5:30am to 8:30pm daily. Prices are 8 to 18 baht, depending on distance travelled. The service carries about 60,000 passengers per day. It is run by a company called Family Transport.

The service runs between Pom Prap Sattru Phai

Pom Prap Sattru Phai

Pom Prap Sattru Phai is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are Dusit, Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon.-History:...

 and Bang Kapi

Bang Kapi

Bang Kapi is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bounded by other Bangkok districts : Bueng Kum, Saphan Sung, Prawet, Suan Luang, Huai Khwang, Wang Thonglang, and Lat Phrao.-History:...

 districts in Bangkok. At Pratu Nam pier in Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...

/Ratchathewi

Ratchathewi

Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...

 districts is an interchange between the northern line, which terminates at Golden Mount, and the southern line which terminates at NIDA, where passengers must change boats. Boats go past Watthana

Watthana

Watthana is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighbor districts are : Ratchathewi, Huai Khwang, Suan Luang, Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Sathon, and Pathum Wan.-History:...

 and Huai Khwang

Huai Khwang

Huai Khwang is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand, located east of the center of the town. Neighboring districts are Chatuchak, Wang Thonglang, Bang Kapi, Suan Luang, Watthana, Ratchathewi and Din Daeng.-History:...

districts, running parallel to Petchaburi Road.

List of Stops

There are approximately 23 piers. The following list runs from west to east:

• 1. Panfa Pier (aka Phan Fah or the Banglamphu pier)
  • (Just off Rachadamnoen road under a bridge,near Wat Ratchanada, Wat Saket(The Golden Mount),Democracy monument and other attractions in the old city area.)
• 2. Talad Bobae Pier
  • ( wholesale clothing market)
• 3. Charoenpol Pier
  • (near Tesco Lotus Mall)
• 4. Saphan Hua Chang Pier
  • (under a bridge at the end of Soi Kasem San - near both Ratthewi and Siam Sky train station,Jim Thompson's house and Main shopping centers ex: MBK shopping center,Siam Square,Siam Discovery and Paragon)

• 5. Pratunam Pier (Krung Kassem)
  • (Off Rachprarop road near Rajchaprasong intersection,Central World,Gaysorn Plaza,Platinum fashion mall and Pantip Plaza IT Mall)
  • Interchange pier,everyone must change here - both directions.

• 6. Chidlom Pier (Phaya Thai)
  • ( Central Chidlom)
• 7. Wireless road Pier (Rachadaprop or Ratchadamri)

• 8. Nana Nua Pier (Home)
  • (Sukhumvit Soi 3, Bumrangrad Hospital)

• 9. Nana Chard Pier

• 10. AsokPetchaburi Pier
  • (Off of Asok road - Sukhumvit Soi 21)
  • (To get the Subway at Asok and Petchuburi)

• 11. Prasanmit

• 12. Baan Don Mosque

• 13. Soi Thonglor

• 14. Charn Issara
  • Just before the next pier, there is an intersection where another
  • canal branches off from this one.

• 15. Saphan Khlong Tan
  • Approximately 100 meters south of this pier, Khlong Saen Saep makes a right-angle turn to the north at the junction with Khlong Tan.

• 16. The Mall Ram 3

• 17. Wat Noi

• 18. Rampkamhaeng 29

• 19. Wat Tapeleela

• 20. Ramkamhaeng University

• 21. Mahadthai

• 22. Wat Klang

• 23. The Mall Bangkapi
  • Giant shopping mall, large bakery, large food court, 9 theaters, water park.

External links

• The ferry system at 2bangkok