Saphan Khwai

Saphan Khwai ( _th. สะพานควาย) is a major road intersection in sub-district of Sam Sen Nai, Bangkok district of Phaya Thai, 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 skytrain service at Saphan Khwai Station. From 60's era, as the urban zone of Bangkok downtown was growth, the land which once had been countryside mostly rice farming then became urbanized with more residential and commercial area replacing along the road network, especilly on the way to the former Mo Chit Bus Terminal, thereby Saphan Khwai had all facility as central downtown.

Location

Northern zone of Bangkok central business district at the junction of Phahon Yothin, Pradiphat, Sutthisan Vinitchai and short link of Saliratthawiphak Road. On the way of skytrain Sukhumvit Line between Ari and Mochit Station

History

"Kwai" or water buffaloes depending are common for ploughing among southeast-asian farmers including Thais. In the past, Saphan Khwai is one of the farming sites at the northern outskirt of Bangkok downtown, next to the northern part of Phaya Thai field, irrigated with Khlong (canal) Sam Sen and Khlong Bang Sue linking from Chao Phraya River. At the beginning of 19th which road network had been built, the position of Saphan Kwai Junction; where Phahon Yothin Road from South to North connects to Pradiphat Road to the west, with empty farming site in the east; is the meeting point between rice farmers, buffalo traders and also the slaughter persons. Roads at the junction, however, did not meet directly but small water way along Phahon Yothin Road irrigating water from Khlong Bang Sue crosses the Pradiphat way. For the convenience in buffaloes trading, the bridge or "Saphan" had been built and was upgraded from wood to concrete built as passer-by vehicles like buses or trucks increased.

Nowaday, although all the field and buffaloes have been disappeared and become downtown, "Saphan Kwai" is still named for this area as the meaning of "buffaloes bridge."

Places

* Saphan Kwai Market
* BigC Supercenter
* Government Savings Bank Headquarters
* Paolo Memorial Hospital
* Sam Sen Nai Post Office (Philatelic Museum)
* Bangkok Health Center 11 Pradipat
* Wat Phai Tan ( _th. วัดไผ่ตัน) the only temple in Phaya Thai District

Transportation

* Bangkok Skytrain: Saphan Khwai Station
* BMTA bus: route 3 8 26 27 28 29 29A 34 38 39 44 52 59 63 77 90 108 157(air cond.) 159(air cond.) 177 502 503 509 510 513 524
* Public Taxi and Motorbike Taxi

References