Wongwian Yai, also spelled "Wong Wian Yai" or "Wongwien Yai" , is a large roundabout (traffic circle) in Thon Buri, western bank of the Chao Phraya River

Chao Phraya River

The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...

 in Bangkok

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...

, where the Statue of King Taksin is situated. It is located in the district of Thon Buri

Thon Buri (district)

Thon Buri is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, it was once part of Thon Buri province...

 and Khlong San

Khlong San

Khlong San is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, neighboring districts across the river are Phra Nakhon, Samphanthawong, Bang Rak, Sathon, and Bang Kho Laem...

 in the centre of Bangkok, at the intersection of Prajadhipok/Inthara Phithak/Lat Ya/Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Roads. Nearby there is Wongwian Yai Station, historical commuter railway terminal to Mahachai (local name of Samut Sakon provincial city) and Mae Khlong (Samut Songkhram

Samut Songkhram

Samut Songkhram ) is a town in Thailand, capital of the Samut Songkhram Province and the Samut Songkhram district. It covers the area of the tambon Mae Klong, which is also the old name of the town as well as the Mae Klong River, which enters the Gulf of Thailand near the town....

) in south-western suburb of Bangkok.

History

The Circle was built following the Memorial Bridge (Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge)

Memorial Bridge, Bangkok

The Memorial Bridge is a bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, in Thailand, connecting the districts Phra Nakhon and Thonburi.The bridge was opened on 6 April 1932, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty...

 opening on April 6, 1932, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Chakri Dynasty and Bangkok City. The Bridge from old Bangkok conducted 11 new road projects to be built on Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River, also with the Circle. Wongwian Yai, 'Big Circle' in thai was named as there was another smaller circle with clock tower next to the Memorial Bridge called Wongwian Lek, 'Small Circle'. The name became proper as no other circles in Thailand had been called Big or Small Circle officially. The Statue of King Taksin, however, was built 21 years later.

Statue of King Taksin

For memorial to Taksin the Great, one of the great Thai kings who liberated the country after Ayutthaya was taken by the Burmese in 1767, the statue was built here in 1953, in Thon Buri side which the king had established as the new capital in 1768. The statue was executed by the Italian sculptor Corrado Feroci, who worked under the Thai name Silpa Bhirasi. A state ceremony on a day of homage to the king, December 28, has been held annually since 1954.

Wongwian Yai Area

The Circle is one of Bangkok's major traffic intersections, linking residential area in Thonburi side to Bangkok downtown side through the Memorial Bridge in the north. The north-eastern road Lat Ya links to Khlong San Pier with crossing river ferry service to Si Phraya Road or the further Taksin Bridge

Taksin Bridge

The Taksin Bridge is a bridge crossing the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, Thailand. The bridge was designed with a large gap between opposing traffic directions to accommodate a canceled mass transit system...

 to Sathon

Sathon

Sathon or Sathorn is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Bang Rak, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, Yan Nawa, Bang Kho Laem, and Khlong San ....

 and Si Lom

Si Lom

Si Lom is a sub-District and road in Bang Rak district, Bangkok, Thailand. Constructed in 1851 as part of a dyke and irrigation system, Silom road has become one of Bangkok's most cosmopolitan streets and major financial center; it is the home to some of the largest companies in Thailand ex...

 business clusters. The southern road Somdet Phrachao Taksin (or Taksin Road) links to suburban area on Suk Sawat and Rama II Road and reaches Chulachomklao Fort at the river mouth in Samut Prakan Province

Samut Prakan Province

Samut Prakan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. It is part of the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Neighboring provinces are Bangkok, to the north and west, and Chachoengsao to the east....

. The western road Inthara Phitak is important as it links to the beginning of Phetchakasem Road, the first highway to the western and southern of Thailand. At the south-west corner of the circle, there is also the commuter railway station to Samut Sakhon Province.

Because of traffic potential, the area was used to be major business area of Thonburi, before urbanization reached outer area of Bangkok. There are many markets, retail shops, department stores, cinemas, and all the accommodations. Apart from fresh or cooked food stalls, the area is also famous as the largest cluster of thai leather

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...

 traders on Charoen Rat Road opposite the railway station.

Places

• Statue of King Taksin
• Wongwian Yai Railway Station (commuter railway)
• Wongwian Yai Skytrain Station
• Wongwian Yai Market and Bang Yi Ruea Market
• Charoen Rat thai leather cluster
• Robinson Department Store, Lardya
• Wongwian Yai Complex
• Merry Kings Department Store, Wongweanyai (abandoned)

Transportation

The Circle is one of the BMTA bus hubs in Thonburi Side. There are bus stops at all the four roads around the circle, for bus lines: 3, 4, 7, 7A, 9, 10, 20, 21, 37, 42, 43, 57, 68 (minibus), 82, 84, 84A, 85, 88, 89, 105, 111, 120, 149, 164, 167, 169, 172, 173, 177, 529, 530, 542.

Besides the historical (since 1901) cheap fares commuter rail service to Samut Sakhon

Samut Sakhon Province

Samut Sakhon ) is one of the central provinces of Thailand.Neighboring provinces are Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok.- Etymology :...

 (Mahachai Line) and Samut Songkhram Province

Samut Songkhram Province

Samut Songkhram ) is one of the central provinces of Thailand.Neighboring provinces are Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi and Samut Sakhon. Local people call Samut Songkhram Mae Klong. The province is the smallest of all Thai provinces areawise...

 (Ban Laem Line), there is also new BTS Skytrain Wongwian Yai station

Wongwian Yai BTS Station

Wongwian Yai station is a BTS skytrain station, on the in Khlong San District, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located on Krung Thon Buri Road to the west of Taksin intersection, about 20 minute walking from Wongwian Yai where the statue of King Taksin is situated.There are plenty of residences...

, the extension from Taksin Bridge Station

Saphan Taksin Station

Saphan Taksin station is a BTS skytrain station, on the in Bang Rak and Sathon District, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located at the entry ramp of Taksin Bridge, below Sathon Road, to the east of the Chao Phraya River. It is the only rapid transit station in Bangkok which can transfer to a...

. It is located at Taksin Intersection, 1 km south from the circle, open as of May 15, 2009.