Rama I Road

Rama I Road viewed from Siam BTS station skywalk near Chaloem Phao Junction.

Rama I Road (Thai: ถนนพระรามที่ 1; RTGS: Thanon Phra Ram Thi Nueng, usually shortened to ถนนพระราม 1) is a road in Bangkok. It starts from the end of Bamrung Mueang road at junction of Krung Kasem road in border between Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Pathum Wan districts. It crosses Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem (Phadung Krung Kasem canal) including the railway from Hua Lamphong railway station nearby on the Kasat Suek bridge or popularly known as Yotse bridge. Then it runs until ends at the Ratchaprasong intersection, which is the four-way of Ratchadamri, Rama I and Phloen Chit roads, total distance is 2.8 km (about 1.7 mi).

Originally, it was named Pathum Wan road after amphoe Pathum Wan (today's Pathum Wan district). Later in the reign of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) he renamed the road "Rama I" to commemorate the King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), who was the founder of Rattanakosin Kingdom (presently Thailand) and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty. Because there's a belief at the beginning of the road. It was a route back from the war of the king before entering the inner city. Rama I road is where the road runs through the shopping district. It's full of shopping centers as well as leading department stores such as MBK Center, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, Siam Square, including many other landmark such as Jim Thompson House, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Scala Cinema, Wat Pathum Wanaram etc.