Song Wat Road

Song Wat Road(Thai:ถนนทรงวาด,RTGS:Thanon Song Wat,pronounced[tʰā.nǒnsōŋwâːt]) is a historic road in the area ofBangkok'sSamphanthawongdistrict. It has its origins by separating fromChak Phetroad near Chakkrawat police station and foot ofPhra Pok Klao bridgeon the borderline ofChakkrawatsub-district, Samphanthwong district andWang Burapha Phiromsub-district,Phra Nakhondistrict, then cuts acrossRatchawong roadin the area nearRatchawong pier, as far as ending at Khao Lam cycle, where it combines Khao Lam andCharoen Krungroads inTalat Noisub-district in the area known asSieng Kong(เซียงกง) or officiallySoiWanit 2 (ซอยวานิช 2). The distance is 1,196 m (about 0.6 mi) alongsideChao Phraya riveralmost all the length.
The name "Song Wat" translates to "drawing by the king". It was built byKing Chulalongkorn(Rama V) in 1892 after the great fire inSamphengarea. The Siamese government wanted to expand the roads and public utilities to a wider area, such asYaowarat, etc. For Song Wat, it was from the King Chulalongkorn who wrote the line with a pencil on the map by himself. The construction was divided into two phases. The first phase starting from Chak Phet road to ends at Trok Rong Krata (now's Yaowaphanit road) in 1892, the second phase began in 1907 from Trok Rong Krata to ends at Charoen Krung road like today.
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 betweenChon 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 also the origin of the business of manyThai Chinesemillionaire families, such asChearavanont, the owner ofCPGroup, Chatikavanij,Sirivadhanabhakdi, or Kanchanachoosak, etc.
Besides, there areplace of worshipin various religions, such as, Lao Pun Tao Kong Joss House, aJoss houseaccording by theChinese belief, Masjid Luang Kocha Itsahak,masjidof theIslamic, orWat Pathum Khongkha(Wat Sampheng), aThai temple.
Presently, the condition of the buildings along Song Wat is still the same as in the past when more than 100 years ago. Many of them operate traditional businesses, such as, the trading of 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 andCorinthian pillarsover the window frame, is the arches decorated with the colour glasses. Including the walls of some buildings in the middle phase of the road, there're alsograffitiartwork from Western artists. In addition, Song Soem road (ถนนทรงเสริม), which is a separate road from Song Wat. It is considered to be the shortest road in Thailand. It is only 20 m (about 65 ft) long, ending at the pier on Chao Phraya river. The opposite side areLhong 1919andWanglee House, which Lhong 1919 is an old port warehouse built withtraditional Chinese architectureof the Wanglee family, including the location of theMazuJoss House. It has been renovated to become a new tourist attraction includes a new landmark ofKhlong Sanarea inThonburi.
In 2023, Song Wat road was named 39th among 40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world byTime Out.
13°44′21.57″N100°30′13.51″E﻿ / ﻿13.7393250°N 100.5037528°E﻿ /13.7393250; 100.5037528