King Rama III commissioned his brother, Prince Kromkhun Rajsrihawikrom to build the Royal Barge Anantanakkharat by crafting it from a single trunk, 40 meters long and made the bow in 7 headed Nakkharat (Nakkharat means King of Nāga (IAST: nāgá, IPA: [naːgá]) which is a Sanskrit and Pāli word for a deity or class of entity or being, taking the form of a very great snake — specifically the king cobra, found in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

“Anantanakkharat” (or Ananta Shesha) is the king of the serpent deities, commonly shown with thousand heads where Vishnu, the Supreme God of Hinduism reclines and rests on, in Ksheera Sagara (the ocean of milk).

The current Anantanakkharat Royal Barge was built during the Reign of Rama VI (King Vajiravudh) and launched on 15 April 1914.

[3] During the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, spanning over 60 years, The Royal Barge Procession has taken place rarely, typically coinciding with only the most significant cultural and religious events.

[4] The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho (Thai: วัดโพธิ์), and finally arrives at Wat Arun (Thai: วัดอรุณ, Temple of the Dawn).