In August 1861, foreign consuls in Siam signed their names to a petition which they presented to King Mongkut (King Rama IV). It said that “the Europeans were used to going out in the open air, riding carriages or riding horseback for pleasure. These activities had been good for their health and they had not suffered from illnesses. Since their coming to live in Bangkok, they had found that there were no roads to go riding in carriages or on horseback for pleasure, and they had all been sick very often”. The King was in sympathy after having heard the contents of this petition and reflected that “recently the Europeans had been coming to live in Bangkok in increasing numbers every year. Their countries had roads that made every village or town look orderly, pleasant and clean. Our country was greatly overgrown with grass or climbers; our pathways were but small or blind alleys; our larger pathways were dirty, muddy, or soiled, and unpleasant to look at.”

Consequently, His Majesty King Rama IV granted Somdej Chao Phraya Maha Suriyawong (Chuang Bunnag), Phra Intharathibadi Siharach Rong Mueang together with a British diplomat Henry Alabaster to undertake the project of Siam’s first modern road construction which took two years to complete (1862-1864). The project cost THB 19,700. The New Road runs for 8.6 kilometres from Saphan Lek (Iron Bridge) of Phra Nakhon District through Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Samphanthawong (dividing the two), Bangrak, Sathorn and Bang Kho Laem. The name of Charoen Krung was given by King Mongkut.

The first modern road brought remarkable changes to the city of Siam. The typical Singapore shophouses were built along the new road. The carriages, bicycles, personal luxurious cars were imported. Tram, a public transport system was used in this period. All civilizations moved onto the land instead of riverside.

For almost 160 years, Charoen Krung Road has become the hub of international communities of expats, migrants, and local residents. Today, glorious traces of the cultural diversity are shining through Chinese shrines, mosques, churches, a cathedral, historic buildings, and a community’s way of life.