Phahonyothin Road (Thai: ถนนพหลโยธิน, Thanon Phahonyothin) or Thailand Route 1 is a major road in Bangkok, as well as one of the four major highways in Thailand, along with Mittraphap Road (Route 2), Sukhumvit Road (Route 3), and Phetkasem Road (Route 4). It begins at Victory Monument in Bangkok and runs northward until the Burmese border, with a total length of 1,005 km.
History
Phahonyothin Road was originally just 22 km, reaching to Don Mueang, and called Prachathipatai Road (Thai: ถนนประชาธิปไตย, Thanon Prachathipatai, literally "Democracy Road"). In 1938, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram had the road extended from Don Mueang, through Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lopburi, and Singburi, for a new total length of 162 km. The newly lengthened road was rechristened Phahonyothin Road, in honor of General Phraya Phahol Pholphayuhasena (formerly Phot Phahonyothin), the second Prime Minister of Thailand and one of the heads of the 1932 revolution.[1]
Route
In Bangkok, Phahonyothin Road originates in Ratchathewi district and crosses Phaya Thai, Chatuchak, Bang Khen, and Don Mueang districts before continuing into Pathum Thani Province, and on through Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Chainat, again through Nakhon Sawan, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, Phayao and finally Chiang Rai, ending in Mae Sai district, where it connects to Tachileik in Myanmar.
See also
Further reading
References
- ^ อรณี แน่นหนา, 2002. นามนี้มีที่มา. ประพันธ์สาส์น: กรุงเทพฯ.
Orani Naenna, 2002. Naam Ni Mi Thi Ma. Praphansarn: Bangkok. (Brief histories of 129 place names in Bangkok.)
