Si Phraya Road ( th, ถนนสี่พระยา, ) is a road in Bang Rak District,

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

. It divides the areas of Maha Phruettharam and Si Phraya subdistricts. Built in 1906 by four noblemen of the rank ''

phraya The Thai nobility was a social class comprising titled officials (''khunnang'', th, ขุนนาง) in the service of Thai monarchy, the monarchy. They formed part of a hierarchical social system which developed from the time of the Ayutthaya K ...

'' (hence the name, which means 'four ''phraya''), the road runs from Si Phraya Pier at the mouth of the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal to Sam Yan Intersection, where it meets the Phaya Thai and

Rama IV Mongkut ( th, มงกุฏ; 18 October 18041 October 1868) was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai was ''Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibo ...

Roads.

History

At the turn of the 19th–20th centuries, the area beyond Bangkok's old city boundary marked by Phadung Krung Kasem Canal was seeing rapid growth, with increasing numbers of Western expatriates and well-to-do members of society settling in the area that is now Bang Rak District. Enterprising businessmen, the first of whom was Luang Sathon Rajayutka, who built

Sathon Road Sathon Road ( th, ถนนสาทร, , ; also ''Sathorn'' or ''Satorn'') is a major road that passes through the districts of Bang Rak and Sathon in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is an important transportation link between Phra Nakhon and Tho ...

around 1890, made large profits through development of the area. Several investors followed suit, including four noblemen of the rank ''phraya'' who bought land between Phadung Krung Kasem Canal and

Surawong Road Surawong Road ( th, ถนนสุรวงศ์, ) is a road in the Bang Rak District of Bangkok, Thailand, linking Charoen Krung Road to Rama IV Road, Rama IV and forming the boundary between Suriyawong Subdistrict, Suriyawong and Si Lom Subdis ...

, and built a road through the area, linking Charoen Krung and Hua Lamphong (now Rama IV) Roads. The four men were Phraya Inthrathibodi Siharatrongmueang, Phraya Phiphatkosa, Phraya Noraritratchahat, and Phraya Noranatphakdi. A fifth nobleman, later to become Phraya Sunthonphimon, was also a partner, though he held the title of Luang Manatmanit (a lesser rank) at the time. They donated the road for public use, and King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn ( th, จุฬาลงกรณ์, 20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910) was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri, titled Rama V. He was known to the Siamese of his time as ''Phra Phuttha Chao Luang'' (พร� ...

named the road ''Si Phraya'' to commemorate the act. The road was officially opened by the King on 15 November 1906. The road ran from the area of

Captain Bush Lane Captain Bush Lane, now officially known as Soi Charoen Krung 30 ( th, ซอยเจริญกรุง 30), is a side-street (''trok'' or ''soi'') branching off Charoen Krung Road in Bang Rak District of Bangkok, Thailand. It was ho ...

(also later known as "Si Phraya Pier", after the road), near the mouth of Phadung Krung Kasem Canal where the

Hongkong and Shanghai Bank The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (), commonly known as HSBC (), was the parent entity of the multinational HSBC banking group until 1991, and is now its Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific subsidiary. The largest bank in Hong ...

was located, to

Wat Hua Lamphong Wat Hua Lamphong ( th, วัดหัวลำโพง) is a Royal Buddhist temple, third class, in the Bang Rak District of Bangkok, Thailand. It is located on Rama IV Road, with Si Lom Road and Suriwong Road in Bangkok's modern business di ...

, which is now on the corner of Sam Yan intersection. The

United Club United Club is the airport lounge associated with United Airlines and its regional affiliates. United operates fifty lounges at forty-five major airports in six countries, with the vast majority being in the United States. United Clubs feature ...

had been located on its corner with Charoen Krung since the 1880s, and the intersection soon became a fashionable European shopping centre. The road was home to members of the upper class, high-ranking officials, and Western expatriates. Some historic buildings still stand along the road and its side streets, including 1 Naret Road, the residence of the Balankura family, which is an unregistered

ancient monument In British law, an ancient monument is an early historical structure or monument (e.g. an archaeological site) worthy of preservation and study due to archaeological or heritage interest. The '' Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 197 ...

References

{{coord, 13, 43, 53, N, 100, 31, 20, E, type:landmark, display=title Streets in Bangkok Neighbourhoods of Bangkok Bang Rak district