Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts ( Khet ) of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts ( from north clockwise ) Ratchathewi (across the canal Khlong Saen Saeb), Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai ( across the canal Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem ), and Dusit.
The district was established in 1914. It is named after a Buddhist temple Wat Pathum Wanaram (literally meaning lotus forest temple) and the nearby Sa Pathum Palace ( means lotus pond palace ). Both were built to the order of King Mongkut ( Rama IV ) and named so because of an abundance of lotus in Khlong Saen Saeb during his reign.
Pathum Wan is best known for it's shopping centres. Siam Centre is the oldest one in the area. Opened in 1973, it is now flanked by Siam Discovery Centre and Siam Paragon ( opened December 2005 ). One of the most crowded and popular to both local people and tourists is MBK Centre ( also known as Mah Boon Krong ). It is packed with shops offering fashion items, mobile phones and souvenirs. A covered, air-conditioned pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road connects to a congested sister shopping centre, the Bonanza Mall, which mostly sells inexpensive clothing and fashion accessories.
Siam Square, unlike others, is a shopping area consists of a block of buildings and many small roads full of shops, attracting mostly teenagers. There are three cinemas in Siam Square, built in the 1970's and run by the Apex chain: the Scala and Siam theatres offer a single, big screen; the Lido is a small multi-plex with three screens. Besides shops, many exam preparation schools are found in Siam Square. So the area is full of students during evening and weekends.
Suan Lum Night Bazaar, at the intersection of Wireless and Rama IV roads, is located in a large plot of land that used to be a military school. It is an outdoor shopping area open nightly focusing on clothes and souvenirs. Some pet shops can be found there. There are a few restaurants, a food centre, and an outdoor beer garden with retractable roof with live music performances. A unique traditional Thai puppet theatre named Joe Louis Theatre is also inside the bazaar providing nighty shows. It was expected to be closed down in 2007 the old lease was expired and Central Group won the bid to redevelop the area but the site remains open pending on litigation.
The Ratchaprasong intersection is in Pathum Wan district, which is flanked by Central World ( formerly World Trade Centre and then Central World Plaza ), Big C Ratchadamri, Narayana Phan, Gaysorn and Central Chit Lom shopping malls.
A large portion of Pathum Wan is occupied by several organizations. Near MBK, Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand. The main auditorium together with Faculty of Arts buildings Maha Chulalongkorn and Maha Vajiravudh are famous architectures. The Museum of Imaging Technology within the Faculty of Science houses a large collection of cameras from old to new. Next to the university is Chulalongkorn Hospital and Thai Red Cross. Inside the Red Cross there is a snake farm called Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute ( or Sathan Saovabha in Thai ) showing venom extraction and producing serum to treat snakebites.
One of the major tourist attractions is the Jim Thompson House. It is a complex of magnificent Thai wooden houses formerly home to James H.W. Thompson, an American who lived in Thailand, developed Thai silk industry, and brought it to fame to the western world. Now it is turned into a museum filled with many antique decorations.
The Erawan Shrine at the Ratchaprasong intersection is a sacred place where people come to pray and make wishes to Brahma. Wishes could include getting admitted to university, babies, jobs, and so on. Flowers, wooden elephants, or traditional Thai dances are returned when a wish is granted. The Trimurti shrine and Ganesha shrine at Central World are popular places to pray as well.
Also located in Pathum Wan are Royal Bangkok Sports Club, a horse racing track operating every other Saturday, the National Stadium, the Lumphini Boxing Stadium where traditional Thai boxing matches are held, and Lumphini Park, the first park in Bangkok.
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