Thawi Watthana

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Thawi Watthana
province=Bangkok
thai=ทวีวัฒนา
capital=Sala Thammasop
coordinates=coord|13|47|19|N|100|20|3|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
population=61,177
population_as_of=2003
area=50.219
density=1,218
postal_code=10170
geocode=1048

Thawi Watthana ( _th. ทวีวัฒนา) is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. Its neighbor, clockwise from north, are Amphoe Bang Kruai of Nonthaburi Province, Taling Chan, Bang Khae, and Nong Khaem districts of Bangkok, Sam Phran and Phutthamonthon of Nakhon Pathom Province.

History

The district is named after Khlong Thawi Watthana, a very long khlong that runs roughly northwest-southeast through the area. It was a tambon, part of Amphoe Taling Chan of Thon Buri province, back in 1933. It was promoted to a district effective from 6 March 1998. Much of the land is used for agriculture with many khlongs providing water to the orchards. However they are gradually replaced by housing projects along the district major roads.

Places

Utthayan Road (ถนนอุทยาน), the road toward Phutthamonthon, is one of the most beautiful avenues in Thailand. The road is 90 m wide, about 3,861 m long, and divided into the central avenue and two parallel lanes along both sides. The lightposts along the length of the road is decorated with "Hongs" (หงส์, a bird in Thai mythology). The road was planned as part of the grand Phutthamonthon project of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram, the then prime minister, during 1950s. The project was stalled when he went out of office and only resumed and opened as recently as 27 February 1999. The original name of the road was Aksa (อักษะ), the Thai name for The Axis.

Siamese Cat Park (อุทยานแมวไทยโบราณ) is a farm where a rare breed of Siamese cats named Khao Manee (ขาวมณี) are kept and maintained. The cats are white and odd-eyed, i.e., left and right eyes have different colors. The possible eye colors are emerald, yellow sapphire, amber, brown, grey, diamond, blue, and light blue. It descends from royal felines of King Chulalongkorn where only nine were left before the attempt to preserve this breed was initiated by the king. The park was recently moved to Liap Khlong Thawi Watthana Road (ถนนเลียบคลองทวีวัฒนา).

Thon Buri Market (ตลาดนัดธนบุรี) or Sanam Luang 2 (สนามหลวง 2) is a market selling agriculture products, gardening, pets, orchids, etc. with widest selections available during weekends. You can also find second-hand goods on Monday and Tuesday.

House of Museums is a small museum displaying various kind of shops and their everyday items from around 50 years ago. It is located in Muban Khlong Pho Land, Sala Thammasop Road.

Administration

The district is sub-divided into 2 sub-districts ("Kwaeng").

External links

* [http://203.155.220.217/office/thawiwat/ Official website of the district] (Thai only)
* [http://www.bma.go.th/bmaeng/thawiwatthana/ BMA website with the touristical landmarks of Thawi Watthana]