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Bang Rak District

Bang Rak
บางรัก
Khet
300px
Bangrak, Bangkok Thailand
Khet location in Bangkok
Khet location in Bangkok
Coordinates: 13°43′51″N 100°31′27″E / 13.73083°N 100.52417°E / 13.73083; 100.52417Coordinates: 13°43′51″N 100°31′27″E / 13.73083°N 100.52417°E / 13.73083; 100.52417
Country Thailand
Province Bangkok
Seat Si Phraya
Khwaeng 5
Area
 • Total 5.54 km2 (2.14 sq mi)
Population (2003)
 • Total 60,485
 • Density 10,926/km2 (28,300/sq mi)
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
Postal code 10500
Geocode 1004

Bang Rak (Thai: บางรัก; IPA: [bāːŋ rák]) is one of the 50 districts (khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by four other districts (from north clockwise): Pathum Wan, Sathon, Khlong San (across Chao Phraya River), and Samphanthawong. It was established in 1912.

There are two theories about the district name, Bang Rak. One theory suggests that the original name for the area which become Bang Rak was written in Thai as บางรักษ์ (also pronounced Bang Rak) meaning village of cure due to the presence of a famous hospital. Through time the Thai spelling was shortened to the current form, meaning village of love. The second theory by Phraya Anuman Ratchathon suggests that Rak refers a kind of plant and there was one of such plant in a canal in the district. Because Bang Rak can mean village of love, now the district is the most popular place to register marriages especially on Valentine's Day in each year.

The district is divided into five sub-districts (kwaeng).

Bang Rak is known for its commercial area around Si Lom Road (also written Silom). The land properties on Si Lom Road are among the most expensive in Thailand with skyscrapers dotting the road. The currently under construction MahaNakhon Tower (312 m 1,030 ft with 77 floors) in Bang Rak, to be completed in 2016, will overtake Baiyoke Tower II as the new tallest building in Thailand. The current tallest building in Bang Rak is State Tower (247 m or 811 ft with 68 floors) on Si Lom Road while the nearby Jewelry Trade Center was once the tallest building in Thailand when it was completed in 1996. Dusit Thani Hotel, in the opposite end of Si Lom Road, contains a distinctive triangular shaped building, another landmark in the district.


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