Khok Wua

Intersection sign in mid-2007

Khok Wua (Thai: คอกวัว) is an intersection in Bangkok. It's a four-way of Ratchadamnoen (section middle Ratchadamnoen) and Tanao roads in area of Bowon Niwet and Talat Yot sub-districts, Phra Nakhon district within Rattanakosin Island.

The term "Khok Wua" meaning "cattle stable" due to this area in the reign of King Nangklao (Rama III). It's a pasture and grove wood with Hindus's cow stables in order to cow's milk send to nearby Grand Palace^[1]. Later in the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), they were demolished and became the residence of Muslims who emigrated from southern. Even in the present, it's not like in the past but its name still appears and evidence remains include two masjids in nearby Bang Lamphu are Chakraphong Masjid and Ban Tuk Din Masjid.^{[2] [3][1]} This area was referred in comic literature Raden Landai (ระเด่นลันได) with content about the lives of Hindus who living in the area at that time.^[4]

This intersection located on Ratchadamnoen road and nearby Democracy Monument. It's often used as a place for political gatherings in Thai history many times such as October 14 incident (1973), Black May (1992), People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protests both in 2006 and 2008, United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protests both in 2009 and 2010, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protests (2013–14) etc. In the past, it was surrounded by many important buildings such as The Government Lottery Office (GLO), The Public Relations Department, Sala Chaloem Thai Theater, Headquarters Government Savings Bank, Headquarters Thai Thorathat Company (now MCOT) etc. ^{[5] [6] [7]}

At present, there're many places of interesting nearby viz 14 October 1973 Memorial and Bangkok City Library.^[8]

References

Coordinates: 13°45′26.15″N 100°29′56.20″E / 13.7572639°N 100.4989444°E / 13.7572639; 100.4989444