Song Wat Road

Song Wat Road (Thai: ถนนทรงวาด, RTGS: Thanon Song Wat, pronounced [tʰā.nǒn sōŋ wâːt]) is a historic road in Bangkok's Samphanthawong District. It begins at Ratchawong Road near Ratchawong Pier and extends to Khao Lam Circle, where it meets Khao Lam and Charoen Krung Roads in Talat Noi Subdistrict, in the area known as Sieng Kong (officially Soi Wanit 2). The road runs for 1,196 m (about 0.6 mi), following the Chao Phraya River for almost its entire length.

The old building on the corner at the road's starting point

The name "Song Wat" translates to "drawing by the king". It was built by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1892 following a great fire in the Sampheng area. The Siamese government aimed to expand roads and public utilities to a wider area, including Yaowarat. The name comes from the fact that King Chulalongkorn personally drew the road's route on the map with a pencil.

Construction was carried out in two phases: the first, from Chak Phet Road to Trok Rong Krata (now Yaowaphanit Road), was completed in 1892; the second, from Trok Rong Krata to Charoen Krung Road, was completed in 1907, resulting in the road's present form.^[1]

Song Wat Road then developed to function as main access to water transport in the area along the road, there are a number of minor roads and alleyways bridging with the port which served all the steamships communication between Chon Buri Province, Ban Don (Surat Thani Province), and Bangkok, as well as the barges running between the seaside towns and the capital. Song Wat area therefore was the main transport region of seafood, vegetables, plants and herbs the row-shophouses along both sides of the road are mostly the wholesale companies and shops doing businesses related to the vessel-transported commodities. The road is also the origin of the businesses of many Thai Chinese millionaire families, such as Chearavanont, the founder and owner of CP Group; Chatikavanij; Sirivadhanabhakdi, the founder and owner of TCC Group; and Kanchanachoosak.^[1]

Besides, there are places of worship of various religions, such as Lao Pun Tao Kong Joss House, a shrine according to Chinese belief; Masjid Luang Kocha Itsahak, a mosque of the Islamic faith; and Wat Pathum Khongkha (Wat Sampheng), a Thai Buddhist temple.^{[1][2] [3]}

Rank of old shophouses on the road

Presently, the buildings along the road remain much as they were over 100 years ago. Many still operate traditional businesses, such as trading whole grain seeds.

Most of them considered as the early row buildings in Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River, there's beautiful three-story building decorated with stucco. On the opposite side are two-story buildings which are also beautifully decorated with stucco in flower, fruit motif and Corinthian pillars over the window frame, is the arches decorated with the colour glasses. Including the walls of some buildings in the middle section, there is also stylish graffiti artwork by Western artists. In addition, Song Soem Road (ถนนทรงเสริม, RTGS: Thanon Song Soem, pronounced [tʰā.nǒn sōŋ sɤ̌ːm]), which branches off from Song Wat, is regarded as the shortest road in Thailand. It is only 20 m (about 65 ft) long and ends at a pier on the Chao Phraya River. On the opposite bank are Lhong 1919 and the Wanglee House. Lhong 1919 is a former port warehouse built in traditional Chinese architecture by the Wanglee family and includes the Mazu Shrine. It has been renovated into a tourist attraction and a landmark of the Khlong San area in Thonburi.^[4][5]

In 2023, Song Wat Road was named 39th among 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world by Time Out.^[6]

See also

• Bangkok's Chinatown