Phahonyothin Road

Thailand Route 1
ทางหลวงแผ่นดินหมายเลข 1
ถนนพหลโยธิน Thanon Phahonyothin
Route information
Part of
Length:	1,005 km (624 mi)
Existed:	1936 – present
Major junctions
South end:	Bangkok, Victory Monument
North end:	Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai, border to  Myanmar
Location
Provinces:	Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Chainat, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Lampang, Phayao
Highway system
Highways in Thailand Motorways

Phahonyothin Road (Thai: ถนนพหลโยธิน, Thanon Phahonyothin) or Thailand Route 1 is a major road in Bangkok and one of the four major highways in Thailand, which include Mittraphap Road (Route 2), Sukhumvit Road (Route 3), and Phetkasem Road (Route 4). It begins at Victory Monument in Bangkok and runs north to the Burmese border, with a total length of 1,005 km (624 mi).

History

Mae Sai Pass

Phahonyothin Road was originally called Prachathipatai Road (Thai: ถนนประชาธิปไตย, Thanon Prachathipatai, literally "Democracy Road"), and reached just 22 km (14 mi) to Don Mueang. In 1938, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram had the road extended from Don Mueang, through Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lopburi, and Singburi, making it 162 km (101 mi) long. The newly lengthened road was renamed 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

Phahonyothin Road

Legend Intersections Victory Monument Top: Phaya Thai Road Left and right:Ratchawithi Road Khlong Sam Sen Si Rat Expressway Pradiphat Road Kamphaeng Phet Road Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road Lat Phrao Intersection Vibhavadi Rangsit Road Utraphimuk Expressway Lat Phrao Road Ratchayothin Kaset Left: Prasoet Manukit Road Right: Ngamwongwan Road Khlong Bang Khen Lak Si Monument Left: Raminthra Road Right: Chaeng Watthana Road Wetchayan Rangsarit Road Ronnaphakat Road Bangkok–Pathum Thani border Lam Luk Ka Road National Memorial Right: Vibhavadi Rangsit Road Rangsit Khlong Rangsit Prayurasak Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok Road Rangsit-Pathum Thani Road Bang Khan (Khlong Luang Road) Pathum Thani–Ayutthaya border Bang Pa-In Kanchanaphisek Road (West) Route 32 Kanchanaphisek Road (East) Wang Noi (Rojana Road) Route 352 Ayutthaya–Sara Buri border Khlong Raphiphathanasak Hin Kong Left: Suwannason Road Right: Route 329 Sara Buri Bypass Road Mittraphap (Route 2) Northeastern Line Pa Sak River Sara Buri Bypass Road Phukae Route 21 Wat Phra Phutthabat Route 3020 Sara Buri–Lop Buri border Phra Narai Monument Top: To Pa Wai Station Right: Narai Maharat Road Route 205 Lop Buri–Nakhon Sawan border Tak Fa Route 11 Northern Line Nakhon Sawan–Chainat border Route 32 Khwaeng Kan Thang Right: Route 340 Bottom: Wong To Road Route 3212 Tha Nam Oi (Route 32) Chainat]–Nakhon Sawan border Route 333 Phayuha Khiri (Route 3008) Nakhon Sawan Bypass Road Chiraprawat Bueng Boraphet Dechatiwong Bridge (Chao Phraya River) Dechatiwong (Sawan Withi Road) Route 117 Nakhon Sawan Bypass Road Lat Yao Nakhon Sawan–Kamphaeng Phet border Salok Bat Khanuworalaksa Buri Khlong Khlung Thung Setthi Nakhon Chum Left: Route 101 Right: Route 1116 Kosamphi Nakhon (Route 104) Kamphaeng Phet–Tak border Mae Sot Intersection (Route 105) Kittikhachon Bridge (Ping River) Route 104 Route 12 Entrance to Bhumibol Dam Tak–Lampang border Mae Phrik (Former) Route 1 to Thoen (Former) Route 1 from Thoen Sop Prap (Former) Route 1 to Ko Kha (Former) Route 1 from Ko Kha Mae Tha Ya Pao Left: Lampang Superhighway Right: Phahonyothin (city route) Northern Thailand / Na Kuam Left: Route 11 (bypass) Right: Route 11 (to Chiang Mai) Bottom right: Phahonyothin (city route) Northern Line Wiang Thong Si Chum Airport Doi Phra Bat Route 11 Khai Surasak Montri (city route) Route 103 Lampang–Phayao border Mae Tam Pratu Chai Mae Chai Phayao–Chiang Rai border (Former) Route 1 to Phan (Former) Route 1 from Phan Lao River Route 118 Wat Rong Khun (Route 1208) Mae Kon Si Sai Mun Pho Khun Intersection Kok River Ban Khu Mae Fa Luang University Mae Chan--Chiang Saen Mae Chan--Mae Salong Pho Kio Thap Yang Checkpoint Huai Khrai (to Doi Tung) Mae Sai Border (Thailand–Burma) Mae Sai River Bridge

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

• Thai highway network
• Kunming-Bangkok Expressway
• Bangkok/Phahonyothin travel guide from Wikivoyage

Further reading

• Thomas fuller, "In Isolated Hills of Asia, New Roads to Speed Trade", New York Times, March 31, 2008

References

1. อรณี แน่นหนา, 2002. นามนี้มีที่มา. ประพันธ์สาส์น: กรุงเทพฯ.
   Orani Naenna, 2002. Naam Ni Mi Thi Ma. Praphansarn: Bangkok. (Brief histories of 129 place names in Bangkok.)

Coordinates: 13°50′51″N 100°34′48″E / 13.8474°N 100.5800°E