Phra Sumen Fort, Bangkok

Built in the reign of King Rama I, Phra Sumen Fort is a hexagonal-shaped concrete fort built to protect Bangkok. The fort has three levels and the walls have steps which lead up to the top. Inside the fort there are 38 rooms which primarily housed ammunitions and weapons. It is one of two forts that have survived modernization. After its renovation, items found inside were collected and displayed in a museum on the top floor.

Wat Sangvej Printing School is situated next to the fort in a century-old building. Early editions of the textbooks of Thailand are produced here. Behind the building is the quiet canal named Klong Bang Lamphu which offers a good relaxing place to its visitors. Nearly 10,000 Khmer laborers dug the canal during the reign of King Rama I in 1782. Klong Bang Lamphu has many names according to different communities residing along the canal. It was believed that in the past this whole area was covered with a 100 years old Lamphu tree that grew on swamp land and was loved by fireflies. It had vertical roots that grew up to the sky. Hence the area was called Bang Lamphu. The tree was discovered again in 1997 after a long disappearance.

When Bangkok was established as the new capital, forts were built to cover the Chao Phraya River. The defensive rings of canals protected the old city to the east. The Phra Sumen Fort is situated at the convergence point of the Chao Phraya River and the Banglamphu Canal. The fort had two levels of battlements, one was used as the observation tower and the other was used to deploy cannons. It covered the bend of the Chao Phraya River at the northern end of Rattanakosin Island. The old cannons are still in place.

Santichaiprakarn Park is a well maintained park that lies between the old fort and the river making it a pleasant area to spend the day by the river. One can have a magnificent view of the riverfront and can watch activities going along the river bank with the marvelous Rama VIII suspension bridge in the distance.