Wongwian Yai

Wongwian Yai, also spelled "Wong Wian Yai" or "Wongwien Yai" ( _th. วงเวียนใหญ่), is a large only circle in Thon Buri, western bank of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, where the Statue of King Taksin is situated. It is located in the district of Thon Buri and Khlong San 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) in south-western suburb of Bangkok.

History

The Circle was built following the Memorial Bridge (Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge) 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 residental 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 to Sathon and Si Lom business clusters. The southern road Somdet Phrachao Taksin (or Taksin Road) links to suburban area on Suksawat and Rama II Road and reaches Chulachomklao Fort at the river mouth in Samut Prakan Province. The western road Inthara Phitak is important as it links to the beginning of Petchkasem 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 Sakon 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 traders on Charoen Rat Road opposite the railway station.

Places

* Statue of King Taksin
* Wongwian Yai Railway Station (commuter railway)
* Wongwian Yai Skytrain Station (open 2009)
* 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 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 Sakon (Mahachai Line) and Samut Songkram Province (Ban Laem Line), there is also new BTS Skytrain Wongwian Yai station, the extension of Silom Line from Taksin Bridge Station. It is located at Taksin Intersection, 1 km south from the circle. And now it is under construction and proposed to open in April 2009.

ee also

* King Taksin
* Thonburi

References