Editing Si Lom Road

{{Short description|Road in Bangkok}}
{{Redirect|Si Lom|the subdistrict (''khwaeng'')|Bang Rak District#Administration}}
[[File:Si Lom Road (Thanon Si Lom).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Si Lom Road in 2021]]

'''Si Lom Road''' (also written as '''Silom''', {{langx|th|สีลม}}, {{IPA|th|sǐː lōm|pron}}) is a major street in [[Bangkok]], Thailand. The road is best known for its commerecial neighbourhood, which, along with the nearby and roughly parallel [[Sathon Road]], forms one of the city's main business districts. It runs in a southwest–northeast direction between [[Charoen Krung Road|Charoen Krung]] and [[Rama IV Road|Rama IV]] roads in the city's [[Bang Rak District]], forming the boundary between Suriyawong Subdistrict to its north and Si Lom Subdistrict to its south. Si Lom was one of the earliest modern roads to be built in the city, and some of its side streets serve historic ethnic neighbourhoods from the late nineteenth century, while others are known as shopping and nightlife venues.

While [[BTS Skytrain]]'s [[Silom Line]] is named after the road, only one station is actually located on the road, [[Sala Daeng BTS station|Sala Daeng]]. This station interchanges with [[Si Lom Station]] of the [[MRT (Bangkok)|MRT]] [[Blue Line (Bangkok)|Blue Line]].
==History==
[[File:Windmillsilomrd0609.jpg|thumb|upright|The windmill memorial at Silom–Naradhiwas Intersection commemorates the origins of the road's name.]]
In the reign of King [[Mongkut]] (Rama IV, 1851–1868), Siam (as Thailand was then known) began modernizing and opening up to the West. Major roads were first built in Bangkok, with Thanon Trong (what is now [[Rama IV Road]]) built together with a canal in 1857, followed by [[Charoen Krung Road]] (popularly considered the first modern road in the country) in 1862, both in response to requests by Western consuls and merchants. Around the same time, the King had a canal dug from the [[Embassy of France, Bangkok|French Consulate]] to the canal of Thanon Trong, linking the latter to the [[Chao Phraya River]] via the existing Bang Rak Canal. The dredged earth was used to build a road, running alongside the canal on its southern bank and linking Charoen Krung and Trong roads. The King also solicited contributions from wealthy property owners, who helped build bridges over canals crossed by the road.<ref name="Silpa">{{cite web |author1=สุมิตรา จันทรเ์งา |title="ถนนสีลม" มาจากไหน?? |url=https://www.silpa-mag.com/history/article_18567 |website=Silpa-mag.com |access-date=26 January 2021 |language=th |date=1 April 2019}} Partially reproduced from {{cite magazine|title=วันวาน…กับวันนี้ของถนนสีลม |author=สุมิตรา จันทรเ์งา |author-mask=0 |magazine=Silpa Wattanatham |date=May 1993}}</ref>

The new canal and road were initially known as Khlong Khwang and Thanon Khwang ('crossing canal'/'crossing road'). They later became known as Si Lom, which literally translates as ''windmill'', probably from a windmill erected in the area by a Western entrepreneur;<ref name="Silpa" /> the road was referred to as Windmill Road in English-language sources until the 1930s.

Areas along the road initially developed agriculturally, attracting a variety of ethnic communities. In the 1890s and 1900s, enterprising developers built roads and canals parallel to Si Lom ([[Sathon Road]] to the south, and [[Surawong Road|Surawong]] and [[Si Phraya Road|Si Phraya]] to the north), and the area that is now Bang Rak District became served by a network of roads, attracting businesses as well as wealthy residents. Religious institutions were established along the road, serving Western expatriates as well as settlers from Western colonies.<ref name="Lek-Prapai" /> [[Trams in Bangkok|A tram line]] running alone the road began operation in 1925.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bangkok Tram Routes |url=http://2bangkok.com/2bangkok-Tram-routes.shtml |website=2Bangkok.com |access-date=16 January 2021 |date=20 October 2002}}</ref> The area gradually saw increasing development, which sharply accelerated in the 1960s. In 1963, the trams were discontinued and the canal filled in for the road's expansion, further incentivizing its development as a business street.<ref name="Lek-Prapai">{{cite web |title=นอกพระนครด้านทิศใต้ ย่านจัดสรรที่ดินรุ่นแรกและชุมชนนานาชาติ |url=https://www.facebook.com/Vlekprapaifoundation/posts/3328191660586634  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/883250828414075/3328191660586634 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|website=มูลนิธิเล็ก-ประไพ วิริยะพันธุ์ Facebook page |publisher=Lek-Prapai Viriyahpant Foundation |access-date=16 January 2021 |language=th |date=9 November 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The [[Dusit Thani Hotel]], the city's first high-rise building, opened at the road's Rama IV end in 1970, and a wave of high-rise construction followed, especially from the 1980s to early 1990s as Bangkok underwent rapid economic growth which ended with the [[1997 financial crisis]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rujivacharakul |first1=Vimalin |editor1-last=Sennott |editor1-first=R. Stephen |title=Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Architecture: Volume 1: A–F |date=2004 |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn |location=New York |isbn=9781579584337 |pages=104–107 |chapter=Bangkok, Thailand}}</ref> The [[BTS Skytrain]], opened in 1999, now runs above the eastern half of the road's length, and Si Lom and Sathon continue to be known as one of the main business districts of Bangkok.<ref>{{cite web |author1=วทัญญู เทพหัตถี |title=เปิดประวัติ 'ถนนสีลม' บันทึกความเปลี่ยนแปลงแห่งยุคสมัย โดยสถาปนิกนักอนุรักษ์ 'วทัญญู เทพหัตถี' |url=https://www.salika.co/2020/11/21/history-of-silom-road/ |website=Salika.co |access-date=26 January 2021 |language=th |date=21 November 2020}}</ref>

==Neighbourhoods==
[[File:Patpong.JPG|thumb|[[Patpong]] is well known as a red-light district catering to foreigners.]]

Si Lom Road runs from [[Sala Daeng Intersection]] at its eastern end—where it meets Rama IV and [[Ratchadamri Road|Ratchadamri]] roads—west and slightly south to Bang Rak Junction, where it meets Charoen Krung Road. Around mid-way, it is crossed by [[Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road]], a major thoroughfare which leads southeast to Sathon and onwards. Most of the road is fronted by commercial establishments, with its eastern half in particular lined by towering office blocks and luxury hotels, while several distinctive neighbourhoods are nestled along its side streets (''[[soi]]'').

On the road's north side (in Suriyawong Subdistrict), some of the even-numbered ''soi'', as well as a few named streets, link it to Surawong. Near the Sala Daeng end, the streets serve a concentration of nightlife venues, and blend into the tourist-oriented red-light district of [[Patpong]], while Thaniya ({{lang|th|ธนิยะ}}, also spelled Taniya) is known as a hub of Japanese establishments. On the opposite side, Sala Daeng and Convent roads link to Sathon, and are home to restaurants and cafes, as well as Saint Joseph Convent School and the Carmelite Monastery. Nearby odd-numbered ''soi'' include Soi 5 or [[Soi Lalai Sap]], a popular shopping street.<ref>{{cite web |title=มอง "สีลม" ในมุมใหม่ กับทำเลรวมพลคน 3 Generations |url=http://research.terrabkk.com/th/article/detail/100713 |website=TerraBKK Research |access-date=26 January 2021 |language=th |date=24 November 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Wat Khaek Silom Sri Mariamman Hindu temple in Bangkok Thailand.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Bangkok|Sri Mahamariamman Temple]] is a major landmark on Si Lom Road]]

Past Si Lom–Naradhiwas intersection, the road becomes quieter, and a few old ethnic cemeteries remain on its southern side, especially along Soi 9. Towards Bang Rak Junction to the west, the neighbourhood is home to a significant Tamil Indian community, and the Hindu [[Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Bangkok|Sri Mahamariamman Temple]], whose [[Navaratri]] celebrations are a major annual event on Si Lom, forms major landmark here.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Luekens |first1=David |title=Bangkok's two Little Indias |url=https://www.travelfish.org/sight_profile/thailand/bangkok_and_surrounds/bangkok/bangkok/2857 |website=Travelfish |access-date=18 January 2021 |language=en |date=23 March 2017}}</ref> The temple sits on the corner of Pan Road ({{lang|th|ถนนปั้น}}), which links to Sathon and is also known as Soi Wat Khaek ({{lang|th|ซอยวัดแขก}} 'Indian temple street') after the temple. The street is officially named after Pan Watcharapai née Na Songkhla ({{lang|th|ปั้น วัชราภัย (ณ สงขลา)}}), who was the wife of Luang Uppakankosakon ({{lang|th|หลวงอุปการโกษากร}}) and provided the land for its construction. On the road are vendors selling ''[[modak]]'', shops selling offerings for [[Ganesh]], restaurants, cafés, bars and galleries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/thaihistorytalk/photos/a.294994307297560.1073741829.277673675696290/370452703085053/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/277673675696290/370452703085053 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=…วัดแขก…|work=จับเข่าเล่าประวัติศาสตร์|date=2013-10-15|language=thai}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=Po>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrY-ZtoFUTE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/vrY-ZtoFUTE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=CHN 271 ถนนปั้น|date=2011-03-22|accessdate=2018-02-21|work=ชื่อนั้น...สำคัญไฉน ?|author=pongsakornlovic|language=thai}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/bangkok/things-to-do/things-to-do-in-pan-road|title=Things to do in Pan Road|work=timeout|first=Suthima|last= Thongmark|date=2017-02-22}}</ref> The area around Mahesak Road (between Si Lom and Surawong) is also known as a jewellery district.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Allen J. |title=The Cultural Economy of Cities: Essays on the Geography of Image-Producing Industries |date=2015 |publisher=SAGE Publications Ltd |isbn=978-1446236178}}</ref>

On the corner of Bang Rak Junction, the gigantic [[State Tower]] building towers over the neighbourhood and the next-door [[Lerdsin Hospital]]. ([[Bangkok Christian Hospital]] is another major hospital on the street.) Other significant buildings include the nearby [[Jewelry Trade Center]], and [[King Power Mahanakhon]] on Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road. The 1981 headquarters building of [[Bangkok Bank]] is iconic for its pioneering application of modernist design to a concrete high-rise building, while other major corporations based on Si Lom include Thailand's largest conglomerate [[Charoen Pokphand]] and other financial institutions, leading Si Lom to be known as the "Wall Street of Thailand".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gK2TJ8mKs-MC&pg=PA146 |title=Local Dynamics in an Era of Globalization: 21st Century Catalysts for Development|last1=Yusuf|first1=Shahid|last2=Wu|first2=Weiping|last3=Evenett|first3=Simon J.|date=2000-01-01|publisher=World Bank Publications|isbn=9780195215977|language=en}}</ref> The areas along Si Lom command some of the highest land prices in the country, with official appraisals for 2016–2020 ranging from 700,000 to 1,000,000 [[Thai baht|baht]] per [[square wa]] (US${{convert|6000|-|8000|/m2|sigfig=1|disp=comma}}).<ref>{{cite news |title=ส่อง 'ราคาประเมินที่ดิน' กรุงเทพฯ สูงสุดตารางวาละล้าน! |url=https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/897309 |access-date=26 January 2021 |work=Krungthep Turakij |date=11 September 2020 |language=th}}</ref> The BTS serves the area via its [[Sala Daeng BTS station|Sala Daeng]] and [[Chong Nonsi BTS station|Chong Nonsi]] stations, with the former also connecting to the [[Si Lom Station]] of the [[MRT (Bangkok)|MRT]]'s [[MRT Blue Line|Blue Line]].

==References==
{{Commons category|Silom Road, Bangkok}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Bang Rak District}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord missing|Thailand}}

[[Category:Streets in Bangkok]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Bangkok]]
[[Category:Bang Rak district]]