What is Silom?

With towering skyscrapers, massive mall complexes, and a busy SkyTrain system running overhead, it’s hard to imagine Silom Road as anything but a bustling, major road in Thailand. Dating back as early as the mid-19th century, Silom Road has been one of Bangkok’s most important roads, playing an integral role in the economic development of the growing Thai capital.

Until the mid-90s, Silom was considered the “Wall Street” of Bangkok, serving as its financial district and as one of the world’s premier precious gem trading hubs. All these office workers and business travellers were looking for dining and entertainment venues, making it is also one of the most vibrant and dynamic nightlife centers in the world and a must-explore area for tourists visiting Bangkok.

So how did Silom become the economic center of Bangkok?

The Origins of Silom

The history of all roads, including “Silom Road,” which was one of the first three roads constructed in Rattanakosin City, is closely tied to the original borders of Bangkok—a bustling port city and the center of trade and administration for its people. When King Rama I, Buddha Yodfa Chulalok, ascended the throne and chose the site of Rattanakosin near Chaiyaphum, it was surrounded by water.

During the early Rattanakosin period, Bangkok residents, recognizing the advantages of living by rivers and canals, established their homes along their banks. These canals were dug to conveniently connect to the inner city area, facilitating trade with the outside world. Junk ships could dock at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River, making trading with foreigners accessible. This led to the birth of foreign communities, predominantly Western, which played a significant role in imparting knowledge, modern arts, and sciences to the Thai people. These communities also advocated for the construction of roads in Siam, shifting from using canals as travel routes.

In February 1861, foreign merchants and consuls jointly appealed to the Marine Department, requesting the government to build roads in Phra Nakhon. They highlighted that Europeans who used to ride horses frequently fell ill due to the lack of suitable roads for horse travel. In response, King Mongkut deemed it necessary to construct roads following the European country style to enhance the country’s beauty and orderliness. He issued a royal command to Chao Phraya Srisuriyawong Samuha Phra Defense She, a mother figure, to oversee the road construction.

During that time, three roads were built: Charoen Krung Road (on the outskirts), Hua Lamphong Road, and Silom Road. Silom Road, originally known as “Thanon Khwang,” was formed by excavating a canal to connect Bang Rak Canal with Thanon Canal.

What does Silom mean in Thai?

The embankment created alongside the canal construction became a road, and foreigners installed a water-pumping Windmill, called a “Si Lom” in Thai, along this road, giving the road and the area its name to this day. At that time, the general area surrounding the road was still an open field, making the prominent windmill baler quite noticeable..

As these three roads were constructed, King Mongkut persuaded nobles, magnates, and wealthy individuals to build bridges over the canals along the road’s path. This enhanced transportation routes and convenience.

These roads were significant as they united both land and water transportation in Bangkok, leading some to refer to them as the characteristic “Nong-Klong Pee Road.”

Subsequently, more roads were constructed, primarily during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). In 1891, a total of 18 roads were created, and communities sprung up alongside these roads. Phraklang Klang persuaded roadside property owners to invest in constructing commercial buildings that could be rented for trading purposes. This eventually contributed to the establishment of the present-day business district. Examples of these roads include Bamrung Muang Road, Feung Nakorn Road, Yaowarat Road, Ratchadamnoen Road, and others.

Silom was initially an agricultural trade center, with fertile farmland flanking the areas along the canal and road. International merchants who landed at the Old Customs House – a historical landmark still standing today – would travel up Silom Road to access the rest of Bangkok, thus transforming Silom Road into a valuable piece of real estate.

A RUSH FOR DEVELOPMENT

Silom’s dramatic growth spurred the formation of sub-communities in the surrounding areas. Developers built trading posts, residential buildings, and houses of worship which catered to the many different religions followed by new foreign visitors and residents.

By the 1920s, Silom Road had its own tram system and was a hotbed for economic activity. During the next 40 or so years, developers were focused in other areas of Bangkok, chiefly creating Sukhumvit Road, initially established as a connecting road between Bangkok and Cambodia. Sukhumvit became the aorta in the heart of Bangkok and remains so to this day.

In the 1960s, Silom saw a resurgence of economic activity that called for the tram to be demolished and the canal filled in to make room for a wider road. The agricultural communities off Silom Road were paved over, and in their place came a network of residential roads housing the many hundreds of men and women working in new offices in the area.

Slowly, financial institutions congregated on Silom and Sathorn roads, erecting skyscraping office buildings and kickstarting the development of hospitality and food-service establishments in the area.

If Silom’s current and historical importance to Bangkok was in doubt, consider that the BTS SkyTrain system initially launched two lines: The Sukhumvit Line and the Silom Line.

HISTORY PRESERVED

Despite the surge in development over the 150-some years, many old buildings and landmarks remain functional and preserved:

• Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, a beautiful and ornate house of worship established by Indian Tamil immigrants. The temple is usually buzzing with activity, with daily worship and frequent Hindu rituals.
• Assumption Cathedral, a 200-year old site for Christian worship in Bangkok. The current building was reconstructed in the early 1900s.
• The Old Customs House is just around the corner of Assumption Cathedral. Though abandoned and in shambles, the bones of the historic port are still an architectural marvel.
• Finally, the name sake of the road, the iconic windmill at the intersection of Silom and Narathiwat roads. Whilst it’s now just a sculpture not serving any purpose, it’s being passed by 100’s of thousands daily without knowing the long history of it.