Maen Si (, ) is an intersection of

Bamrung Mueang Bamrung Mueang Road (, ) is the second paved road in Bangkok. It was built in 1863 after Charoen Krung Road, in the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). It cut through the old fortified city of Rattanakosin Island from west to east, beginning near th ...

, Worachak, and Chakkraphatdi Phong roads in area of Bangkok's Ban Bat sub-district, Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. It's considered to be the intersection next to the

Samran Rat Samran Rat (, ), popularly known as Pratu Phi (, ), is a historic neighbourhood in Bangkok. The neighbourhood roughly occupies the area of its namesake subdistrict and road junction in Phra Nakhon district. History The name ''Pratu Phi'' means ...

(also known as Pratu Phi) on Bumrung Mueang road near the area of

Wat Saket Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan (), usually shortened to Wat Saket, is a Buddhist temple (''wat'') in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district, Bangkok, Thailand. The temple dates back to the Ayutthaya kingdom, Ayutthaya era, when it was known as Wat Sak ...

. Its name "Maen Si" comes from the name of one ''Mom Ham'' (หม่อมห้าม; ordinary women who have been concubine or wife of the

Thai royal family The Chakri dynasty is the current reigning dynasty of the Kingdom of Thailand. The head of the house is the king, who is head of state. The family has ruled Thailand since the founding of the Rattanakosin era and the city of Bangkok in 1782; f ...

) of Prince

Bhanurangsi Savangwongse Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, The Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej or His Royal Highness Prince Bhanurangsi Savangwongse, Prince Uncle (11 January 1859 – 13 June 1928) () was a son of King Mongkut of Siam and Queen Debsirindra. Althoug ...

or Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej. Her name is "Maen" (แม้น; while "Si" refers to women), the daughter of

Chao Phraya The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...

Surawongwaiwat (Worn Bunnag) nobleman and one member of the

Bunnag family The Bunnag Family or House of Bunnag (; ) is a Siamese noble family of Mon people, Mon-Persian people, Persian descent influential during the late Ayutthaya kingdom and early Rattanakosin period. The family was favored by Chakri dynasty, Chakri mo ...

. When she died Prince Bhanubandhu Vongsevoradej very grieve, because she is a wife he loves. So he organized a great funeral. And donated part of the donation to build a small bridge to commemorate her, named ''"Saphan Maen Si"'' across canal on Bamrung Mueang side. Later, when the roads were built, the bridge was demolished. But its name still appears as an intersection to the present. Landmark of Maen Si intersection is

Metropolitan Waterworks Authority The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority ( Abrv: MWA; , ) is a Thai state enterprise under the Ministry of Interior. Its mission is to produce, distribute, and sell treated water in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan, and engage in related busine ...

(MWA)'s building site on Bamrung Mueang side. It's the first headquarters of MWA build in 1914 during early the reign of

King Vajiravudh Vajiravudh (1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VI. He reigned from 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts to create and promote Siamese nationa ...

(Rama VI) and the origin of

water supply Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Th ...

in Thailand. Today, it's more than 100 years old, but still beautiful with the influence of

European architecture The history of architecture traces the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, overarching stylistic trends, and dates. The beginnings of all these traditions is thought to be humans satisfying the very basic need of shelt ...

and considered one of the historic buildings in Bangkok. Besides, Maen Si is also a community of Thai-Tavoyan descent. Their ancestors evacuated the war from

Dawei Dawei (, ; , ; , RTGS: ''Thawai'', ; formerly known as Tavoy) is a city in south-eastern Myanmar and is the capital of the Tanintharyi Region, formerly known as the Tenasserim Division, on the eastern bank of the Dawei River. The city is about ...

(formerly Tavoy) in

Tanintharyi region Tanintharyi Region (, ; Mon: or ; formerly Tenasserim Division and Tanintharyi Division) is a region of Myanmar, covering the long narrow southern part of the country on the northern Malay Peninsula, reaching to the Kra Isthmus. It borders ...

to Rattanakosin (presently Bangkok) since the reign of King

Phutthayotfa Chulalok Phutthayotfa Chulalok (born Thongduang; 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), also known by his regnal name Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom (now Thailand) and the first King of Siam from the reigning Chakri dynasty. He asce ...

(Rama I), there's evidence that "Trok Thawai" (ตรอกทวาย; ''Thawai is Tavoy in Thai'') or officially known as Soi Maen Si 1 (ซอยแม้นศรี 1; Maen Si 1

alley An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, footpath, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane), or a path, w ...

References

{{coord, 13, 45, 06.78, N, 100, 30, 31.50, E, type:adm3rd_region:TH-10, display=title Pom Prap Sattru Phai district category:Road junctions in Bangkok