Phaya Thai
Encyclopedia
Phaya Thai is a district in central Bangkok
, Thailand
. It is also the name of a major road, as well as a BTS Skytrain
station, both of which are in the nearby Ratchathewi
district.
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Chatuchak
, Din Daeng
, Ratchathewi
and Dusit
.
districts. It was named after Phaya Thai Road, a major road in the area. Since then, many changes to the district has been made. In 1973, the Huai Khwang
district was separated from Phaya Thai. Later in 1978, as an effort to balance the population among districts, the boundaries between Phaya Thai, Huai Khwang, and Bang Kapi districts were modified. A new Ratchathewi
district was created, carving out southern part of Phaya Thai in 1989. And finally in 1993, some eastern part were moved out of the district to the newly formed Din Daeng, leaving Phaya Thai with only one remaining sub-district, Sam Sen Nai as of today.
Note that, due to the split out of Ratchathewi, the Phaya Thai Road is no longer in Phaya Thai district. It only runs through Ratchathewi and Pathum Wan
. The Bangkok Skytrain
(BTS) station Phaya Thai is located on Phaya Thai Road in Ratchathewi.
A large portion of the district in the east side is occupied by Royal Thai Army. This includes Army stadium
, and military owned TV Channel 5. Several other government offices are also located here, such as Government Savings Bank (Thai: :th:ธนาคารออมสิน), Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The population is more concentrated in the area called Saphan Khwai
(Thai: สะพานควาย) with lots of shops, apartments, and a BigC
shopping center.
The Thai Philatelic Museum
is recently renovated and moved to the building behind the Samsen Nai post office
at Saphan Khwai in December 2004. Rather small, among of the exhibits are awards Thai philatelists
received from various international competitions together with photocopies of the winning entries, posters depicting rare Thai stamp
s, winning postage stamp designs. It opens to public on Wednesday through Sunday except holidays.
Wat Phai Tan (Thai: วัดไผ่ตัน) is the only buddhist temple in the district.
(BTS) stations in Phaya Thai: Sanam Pao, Ari, and Saphan Khwai. The Bangkok Metro
station Bang Sue
is located on the extreme northwest corner of the district.
Thaksin Shinawatra
(2001–2006) was an ex-police officer who began his career at Phaya Thai Police Station. Shinawatra and his political party, Thai Rak Thai
were ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006.
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It is also the name of a major road, as well as a BTS Skytrain
Bangkok Skytrain
The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain , is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration...
station, both of which are in the nearby Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...
district.
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Chatuchak
Chatuchak (district)
Chatuchak is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by seven other districts : Lak Si, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, Huai Khwang, Din Daeng, Phaya Thai and Bang Sue.-History:...
, Din Daeng
Din Daeng
Din Daeng is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from north, are Chatuchak, Huai Khwang, Ratchathewi and Phaya Thai.-History:...
, Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...
and Dusit
Dusit
Dusit is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand.The district forms the main administrative center of Thailand, as both the national parliament as well as the royal palace are located in this district, as well as several ministries...
.
History
The Phaya Thai district was set up in 1966 taking areas that were part of Dusit and Bang KapiBang Kapi
Bang Kapi is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bounded by other Bangkok districts : Bueng Kum, Saphan Sung, Prawet, Suan Luang, Huai Khwang, Wang Thonglang, and Lat Phrao.-History:...
districts. It was named after Phaya Thai Road, a major road in the area. Since then, many changes to the district has been made. In 1973, the Huai Khwang
Huai Khwang
Huai Khwang is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand, located east of the center of the town. Neighboring districts are Chatuchak, Wang Thonglang, Bang Kapi, Suan Luang, Watthana, Ratchathewi and Din Daeng.-History:...
district was separated from Phaya Thai. Later in 1978, as an effort to balance the population among districts, the boundaries between Phaya Thai, Huai Khwang, and Bang Kapi districts were modified. A new Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi
Ratchathewi is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also name of a BTS Skytrain station.Neighboring districts are Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Watthana, Pathum Wan, Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Dusit.-History:...
district was created, carving out southern part of Phaya Thai in 1989. And finally in 1993, some eastern part were moved out of the district to the newly formed Din Daeng, leaving Phaya Thai with only one remaining sub-district, Sam Sen Nai as of today.
Note that, due to the split out of Ratchathewi, the Phaya Thai Road is no longer in Phaya Thai district. It only runs through Ratchathewi and Pathum Wan
Pathum Wan
Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...
. The Bangkok Skytrain
Bangkok Skytrain
The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain , is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration...
(BTS) station Phaya Thai is located on Phaya Thai Road in Ratchathewi.
Administration
The district is sub-divided into only one sub-district (Kwaeng).| 1. | Sam Sen Nai | สามเสนใน |
Places
Thai Army Sports Stadium
Thai Army Sports Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road in the Din Daeng district of north Bangkok, Thailand. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Army United F.C. The stadium holds 20,000 and has a single stand with covered seating on...
, and military owned TV Channel 5. Several other government offices are also located here, such as Government Savings Bank (Thai: :th:ธนาคารออมสิน), Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The population is more concentrated in the area called Saphan Khwai
Saphan Khwai
Saphan Khwai is a major road intersection in Sam Sen Nai subdistrict, Phaya Thai district, Bangkok, Thailand.The neighbourhood with lots of apartments is best known for the dense trade area with many serving shops and markets. It is also provided the BTS skytrain service at Saphan Khwai Station...
(Thai: สะพานควาย) with lots of shops, apartments, and a BigC
BigC
Big C, or Big C Supercenter , is a grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the leading hypermarket chain in Thailand, managed under the umbrella of Groupe Casino...
shopping center.
The Thai Philatelic Museum
Thai Philatelic Museum
Thai Philatelic Museum is a museum in Phaya Thai district in Bangkok, Thailand.It was recently renovated and moved to the building behind the Samsen Nai post office at Saphan Khwai in December 2004...
is recently renovated and moved to the building behind the Samsen Nai post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
at Saphan Khwai in December 2004. Rather small, among of the exhibits are awards Thai philatelists
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
received from various international competitions together with photocopies of the winning entries, posters depicting rare Thai stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s, winning postage stamp designs. It opens to public on Wednesday through Sunday except holidays.
Wat Phai Tan (Thai: วัดไผ่ตัน) is the only buddhist temple in the district.
Transportation
There are three Bangkok SkytrainBangkok Skytrain
The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain , is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration...
(BTS) stations in Phaya Thai: Sanam Pao, Ari, and Saphan Khwai. The Bangkok Metro
Bangkok Metro
The MRT , sometimes referred to as the Bangkok Metro, is Bangkok's underground metro system in Thailand. It was constructed under a concession concept...
station Bang Sue
Bang Sue
Bang Sue is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from east, are Chatuchak, Dusit and Bang Phlat, and Bang Kruai and Mueang Nonthaburi .-Places:...
is located on the extreme northwest corner of the district.
Trivia
Former Thai Prime MinisterPrime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
(2001–2006) was an ex-police officer who began his career at Phaya Thai Police Station. Shinawatra and his political party, Thai Rak Thai
Thai Rak Thai
The Thai Rak Thai Party was a Thai political party that was officially banned on May 30, 2007, by the Constitutional Court of Thailand due to violations of electoral laws during the 2006 legislative elections. From 2001 to 2006, it was the ruling party under Prime Minister and its founder Thaksin...
were ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2006.