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ThailandDescription and is it worth a visit
Phra Sumen Fort is one of the architectural landmarks in the historical part of Bangkok on Ratanakosin Island, a defensive structure built in 1783. Honestly, there's not much to do here, and spend no more than 5-10 minutes examining it. So it's not worth getting to it from other parts of the city on purpose. But if you suddenly find yourself in this part of the city or just walking around the tourist street Khao San, and from it to the fort is just around the corner, you can explore it. Also next to the fort is the Bang Lamphu Museum, which can be visited together with the fort for just 30 baht.
History of Phra Sumen Fort
Phra Sumen Fort was built by order of King Rama I as part of a complex of defensive structures to protect the capital from a possible attack by the Burmese. The place for the fort was chosen on Ratanakosin Island, where the historical district of the city with the Royal Palace, the temple of the Reclining Buddha, and the tourist street Khao San are now located. After all, it was here that King Rama I, the ancestor of the Chakri dynasty ruling to this day, decided to move the capital from the other side of the Chaopraya River from the current Thonburi district of Bangkok. A total of 14 forts were built at that time, designed to serve as watchtowers and defensive towers in the system of an extended fortress wall with 16 gates surrounding the Royal Palace and the new city. Only two towers have survived to this day: Phra Sumen and Fort Mahakan (Mahakan Fort), which is located one and a half kilometers from here. It is for this reason (a single time of construction and part of the same complex) that both surviving forts are so similar to each other.
Today Phra Sumen is in excellent condition: reconstruction has been carried out here, a beautiful park with a view of the Chaopraya River has been laid out around. But, unfortunately, it is impossible to climb to the very top of the tower. At least when we visited this place, access to it was closed.
🕐 Working hours
You can explore the outside around the clock, and climb the fort and walk around the adjacent park from 08:00 to 21:00 seven days a week.
💵Entrance fee / ticket price
Free of charge.
🚶 How to get there
Phra Sumen Fort is located in the historical part of Bangkok on the Rattanakosin Peninsula (Fort on the map). Just a five–minute walk from here is the main tourist area of Bangkok - khaosan Road. It is not so easy to get here from other parts of Bangkok. You will have to take a taxi, city buses, or take a regular boat along the Chaopraya River to Phra Arthit pier. It is also possible to sail by scheduled boats along the canals (klongs) from the districts Pratunam and Sukhumvit to the pier Panfa Leelard Pier, next to which you will visit another fort Mahakan and walk one and a half kilometers to Phra Sumen.
Learn more we recommend you to read about transport in Bangkok and how to use it in our separate article.
Friends, we remind you that it is much more interesting to get acquainted with the sights of Bangkok with the help of excursions, and therefore we advise you to look at options with online booking and reviews on these excursion aggregators: