Saphan Khwai

This article is about the road intersection. For the BTS skytrain station, see Saphan Khwai Station.

Coordinates: 13°47′23.20″N 100°32′52.81″E / 13.7897778°N 100.5480028°E / 13.7897778; 100.5480028

Saphan Khwai (Thai: สะพานควาย) is a major road intersection in the Sam Sen Nai Subdistrict, Phaya Thai District, Bangkok, Thailand.

The surrounding neighbourhood is studded with many apartments and is best known for its many shops and markets. It is served by the BTS skytrain service at Saphan Khwai Station. From the 1960s, as the urban zone of Bangkok grew, the land which once had been countryside, mostly rice farming, became urbanized with more residential and commercial areas.

Location

In the northern zone of Bangkok's central business district at the junction of Phahon Yothin, Pradiphat, Sutthisan Vinitchai, and the short link of Saliratthawiphak Road. It is on the route of the Skytrain Sukhumvit Line between Ari and Mo Chit Station

History

"Khwai" or water buffaloes were commonly used for ploughing by Southeast Asian farmers including Thais. In the past, Saphan Khwai was one of the farming sites on the northern outskirts of Bangkok's core, next to the northern part of Phaya Thai field. It was irrigated by Khlong Sam Sen and Khlong Bang Sue, diverted from the Chao Phraya River. At the beginning of 19th century, the Saphan Khwai Intersection was the meeting point for rice farmers, buffalo traders, and slaughterhouse workers. Roads at the junction, however, did not meet directly, but a small waterway along Phahonyothin Road carrying irrigation water from Khlong Bang Sue crosses Pradiphat way. For the convenience of traders a bridge or "saphan" was built. It was upgraded from wood to concrete as traffic increased.

Today, although all the fields and buffaloes have disappeared, the name Saphan Khwai is still used for this area. It means "buffalo bridge."

Transportation

References

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