Pratunam

Pratunam, written as Pratu Nam (Thai: ประตูน้ำ, pronounced [prātūːnáːm]), is an intersection and namesake neighbourhood in Bangkok, located in the Thanon Phaya Thai sub-district of Ratchathewi District. The intersection is generally defined by the point where Phetchaburi Road passes and where Ratchadamri and Ratchaprarop Roads originate. The next major intersection along Ratchaprarop Road is Makkasan.

Pratunam
ประตูน้ำ
Pratunam intersection in nighttime (seen from Ratchaprarop side)
Location
Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, Thailand
Coordinates	13°44′59.87″N 100°32′27.93″E
Roads at junction	Ratchaprarop (north) Phetchaburi (east–west) Ratchadamri (south)
Construction
Type	Four-way at-grade intersection with bidirectional overpass

The name "Pratunam" means "water gate". Historically, there was a water gate located within the nearby Sa Pathum Palace, commonly referred to as "Pratunam Wang Sa Pathum" (ประตูน้ำวังสระปทุม) or "Pratunam Sa Pathum" (ประตูน้ำสระปทุม). This gate was built in 1905 by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to help drain water from the Khlong Saen Saep canal, serving both agricultural needs and maintaining water levels for boats and rafts. Two other similar water gates were also constructed in Chachoengsao Province during the same period.^[1]

Today, Pratunam is widely recognized as a major shopping district. The area is home to numerous malls and markets, including Platinum Fashion Mall, Pratunam Market, CentralWorld, and Big C Supercenter (Rajdamri Branch). In addition to its commercial role, Pratunam is also a key transportation hub. It is located near two other major intersections, Ratchaprasong and Pathum Wan, and serves as a stop on the Khlong Saen Saep boat service via Pratunam Pier.^[2][3]

The Pratunam overpass, which was Bangkok's first overpass, is scheduled to be demolished in March 2026 to make way for the construction of the MRT Orange Line. It is expected to be rebuilt later the same year.^[4]