There used to be a royal mansion located here. But it was pulled down during the reign of King Rama V and this area was converted into one of Bangkok’s biggest markets of the period.

Just in front of the square you can see a giant granite plaque with the proper name of Bangkok inscribed in Thai characters. The intention was to place the plaque here so that tourists could stand in front of it and take their photos. But most visitors to the square are unaware of what the plaque says as it is in Thai language and there is no explanation provided. The full name of the city is, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest place name in the world:

Krungthepmahanakhonamornrattanakosinmahintharayudthayamaha
dilokphopnoppharatratchathaniburiromudomratchaniwetmahasatharn
amornpimarnawatansathitsakkathattiyawitsanukramprasit