Sathon

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Sathon
สาทร
Statistics
Province: Bangkok
Area: 9.326 km²
Inhabitants: 107,159 (2005)
Pop. density: 11,490 inh./km²
Geocode: 1028
Postal code: 10120
Map
Map of Bangkok, Thailand highlighting Sathon
This article is about Sathon district, see below for information about Sathon Road.

Sathon or Sathorn (Thai: สาทร) is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts (from north clockwise): Bang Rak, Pathum Wan, Khlong Toei, Yan Nawa, Bang Kho Laem, and Khlong San (across Chao Phraya River). It is also a name of a road and a canal in the district, details of which can be found below.

Contents

[edit] History

Sathon district was once part of Yan Nawa. Due to its large area and population, first a branch district office of Yan Nawa was setup on 9 March 1989 to serve the people in 3 Kwaengs of Yan Nawa. And then on 9 November 1989, the Sathon district is established inheriting the area once served by the branch office.

The district is named after the Sathon Road and Khlong Sathon. Khlong Sathon, the older of the two, is a canal dug for public transportation by a Chinese company. The Chinese owner was later granted the name Luang Sathon Racha Yuk (หลวงสาทรราชายุกต์) by King Chulalongkorn for her accomplishment. Along both sides of the canal later became Sathon Road. Incorrect Thai spelling for Sathon สาธร had been used for very long time but it has been corrected since April 1999.

[edit] Sathon Road

View of Sathon Tai Road.
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View of Sathon Tai Road.

Sathon Road is a major road in Bangkok, lined with skyscrapers and corporate offices, especially banking and finance related. It consists of the northbound Sathon Nuea Road (belonging to Bang Rak district) and the southbound Sathon Tai Road (belonging to Sathon district) separated by Khlong Sathon. On the southern end of the roads is the Taksin Bridge, also commonly called Sathon Bridge, crossing the Chao Phraya River. Thus Sathon Road serves as an important transportation link between Phra Nakhon and Thonburi sides of Bangkok. The Bangkok Skytrain also runs along most part of this road with stations Surasak and Saphan Taksin. The skytrain extension to the other side of Chao Phraya is still under construction but is expected to begin operation in mid 2007. The intersection between Sathon and Narathiwat Racha Nakarin roads is a new commercial area filled with office buildings.

[edit] Temples

Wat Yan Nawa
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Wat Yan Nawa

Wat Yan Nawa (วัดยานนาวา), an old temple dated back to the Ayutthaya period, is probably the best known temple in Sathon. It has a unique junk shaped chedi and viharn built by King Rama III. The idea behind the construction was that Chinese junk was quickly disappearing and the pagoda should show present descendants what it looked like. The temple was known as Wat Kok Khwai (วัดคอกควาย) during Ayuthaya kingdom and Wat Kok Krabue (วัดคอกกระบือ) during Thonburi and early Bangkok era before the construction of the chedi.

Wat Don (วัดดอน) is another old temple built in 1797 during Rama I period by people who immigrated here from Tavoy, Myanmar. But the name Wat Don is equally well known for the Wat Don Cemetery not far away. The graveyard contains buried remains of people of Chinese heritage. Next to the cemetery is Wat Prok (วัดปรก), a Mon-styled Buddhist temple.

[edit] Administration

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

1. Thung Wat Don ทุ่งวัดดอน
2. Yan Nawa ยานนาวา
3. Thung Maha Mek  ทุ่งมหาเมฆ 

[edit] External links


District of Bangkok Seal of Bangkok

Bang Bon - Bang Kapi - Bang Khae - Bang Khen - Bang Kho Laem - Bang Khun Thian - Bangkok Noi - Bangkok Yai - Bang Na - Bang Phlat - Bang Rak - Bang Sue - Bueng Kum - Chatuchak - Chom Thong - Din Daeng - Don Mueang - Dusit - Huai Khwang - Khan Na Yao - Khlong Sam Wa - Khlong San - Khlong Toei - Lak Si - Lat Krabang - Lat Phrao - Min Buri - Nong Chok - Nong Khaem - Pathum Wan - Phasi Charoen - Phaya Thai - Phra Khanong - Phra Nakhon - Pom Prap Sattru Phai - Prawet - Rat Burana - Ratchathewi - Samphanthawong - Sai Mai - Saphan Sung - Sathon - Suan Luang - Taling Chan - Thawi Watthana - Thon Buri - Thung Khru - Wang Thonglang - Watthana - Yan Nawa

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