Wang burapha Phirom,Phra Nakhon,Bnagkok - panoramio

Wang Burapha ( th, วังบูรพา, ) is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok, regarded as the first

commercial Commercial may refer to: * a dose of advertising conveyed through media (such as - for example - radio or television) ** Radio advertisement ** Television advertisement * (adjective for:) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and s ...

and

entertainment district An entertainment district is a type of arts district with a high concentration of movie theaters, theatres or other entertainment venues. Such areas may be officially designated by local governments with functional zoning regulations, as well as ...

contemporary Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...

Thailand (after 1932 revolution). It is situated between

Charoen Krung Shophouses along Charoen Krung road with the Sathorn Unique Tower in the vicinity (2021) Charoen Krung Road ( th, ถนนเจริญกรุง, ) is a major road in Bangkok and the first in Thailand to be built using modern construction ...

, Maha Chai,

Phahurat Phahurat or Pahurat ( th, พาหุรัด), often known as Thailand's Little India, is an ethnic neighborhood surrounding Phahurat Road in Wang Burapha Phirom Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. The area that would become Phahura ...

, Tri Phet and Burapha roads, near the eastern edge of the old city centre of

Rattanakosin Island Rattanakosin Island ( th, เกาะรัตนโกสินทร์, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east t ...

in Wang Burapha Phirom Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon District. The neighbourhood is named after Buraphaphirom Palace, which used to be located here until the 1950s, when it was demolished to make way for commercial developments. The neighbourhood became a major commercial district and a centre of youth culture during the 1950s–60s. During its prosperous era, it was a venue for teenagers similar to

Siam Square Siam Square ( th, สยามสแควร์, ) is a shopping and entertainment area in the Siam area of Bangkok, Thailand. The square is located at the corner of Phayathai Road and Rama I Road and is owned by Chulalongkorn University, manag ...

at present. This group of teenagers has been called ''"Koh Lang Wang"'' (โก๋หลังวัง), translate as "

mobster A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from ''mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...

behind the palace". They have a unique dress style with Western fashion in those days, favor listening to

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940) is an Indian-born British musican, singer, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who holds both British and Barbadian citizenship. He has total sales of over 21.5 million s ...

's music, and most favorite star was

James Dean James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, ''Rebel Without a Cause' ...

. Because Thailand at that time was influenced by

American culture The culture of the United States of America is primarily of Western, and European origin, yet its influences includes the cultures of Asian American, African American, Latin American, and Native American peoples and their cultures. The U ...

through enlisted soldiers (

G.I. G.I. are initials used to describe the soldiers of the United States Army and airmen of the United States Air Force and general items of their equipment. The term G.I. has been used as an initialism of "Government Issue", "General Issue", or " ...

) who set up the base to fight in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

. Their stories have been referred into at least three Thai movies, including ''

Dang Bireley's and Young Gangsters ''Dang Bireley's and Young Gangsters'' (Thai: 2499 อันธพาลครองเมือง or ''2499 Antapan Krong Muang''; literally: ''2499 Gangsters Rule the City'') is a 1997 crime drama film about young Thai gangsters in 1950s Thailan ...

'' in 1997, '' Born Blood'' in 2002, and '' The Gangster'' in 2012. Wang Burapha in its prosperous era was a home to three movie theaters, namely Kings, Queens, and Grand, also the

Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre ( th, ศาลาเฉลิมกรุง;) was originally a movie theatre in Bangkok, Thailand built in Modernist style on Charoengkrung Road. It was opened on 3 July 1933. After serving as a cinema for many y ...

was located adjacent to each other separately. There are also markets and shops of foreigners located nearby such as Ming Mueang Market, Bampen Bun Market, Bombai, Rattana Mala, Wiang Fah, Lilly, Yong Tiang Store etc. and also filled with many cafés and restaurants including photo studios. In terms of travel it was also regarded as a bus terminal and has a

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

running through as well. Wang Burapa began to gradually decline in popularity in 1965 when Siam Square and Ratchaprasong Shopping Centre were replaced. Ming Mueang Market was dismantled in 1978 and the last movie theater, Queens, was dissolved in 1990. Today, the location of Ming Mueang Market has become

The Old Siam Plaza The Old Siam Plaza ( th, ดิโอลด์สยามพลาซ่า) is a shopping mall in Wang Burapha, a historic neighbourhood of Bangkok, Thailand. It is surrounded by Tri Phet, Burapha, Phahurat and parts of Charoen Krung roads, and ...

. At present, around Wang Burapha is regarded as the centre of the

gun shop A gun shop (also known by various other names such as firearm store and gun store) is a business that sells firearms, such as handguns and long guns, to individuals in an open shopping format. It may also provide repairs for firearms and their p ...

, there are many famous shops located here, also being the centre of many leading

bookstore Bookselling is the commercial trading of books which is the retail and distribution end of the publishing process. People who engage in bookselling are called booksellers, bookdealers, bookpeople, bookmen, or bookwomen. The founding of librari ...

s as well. In the area of some restaurants that have been operating since the heyday era, they are still operating as in the past even though the general condition of this neighbourhood is very sluggish.

References

{{coord, 13, 44, 45, N, 100, 30, 5, E, type:landmark, display=title Neighbourhoods of Bangkok Phra Nakhon district