Mouth of the Maha Phram Canal

The Maha Phram Canal was dug to give Ayutthaya access to the Chao Phraya River, which in the Ayutthayan era ran through the present Bang Ban Canal, a few kilometers west of the city. This western entry/exit of Ayutthaya was of very much importance as the waterway was used to travel to the northern cities. The Maha Phram Canal started north of Ban Kop Jao, ran through Maha Phram and had its mouth near Wat Khanon in Ban Pom. The canal joined here with a waterway coming down from Ban Mai (Makham Yong) and which was running into the Lopburi River at Hua Laem, northwest of Ayutthaya City in front of Sat Kop Fortress. At the mouth of the Maha Phram Canal stood the western royal tax station, called Pak Khu tax station. It was situated south of Wat Lat Bua Khao along the canal and controlled the navigation coming and going to the Chao Phraya River.

Ayutthaya Historical Research