Thungphayathai Sub District

DISTRICT: Ratchathewi

POSTCODE: 10400

The sub-district of Thung Phaya Thai is one of four sub-districts that make up Ratchathewi District. Along one of its borders runs the BTS Sukhumvit line and includes two stations, Phaya Thai and Victory Monument. The border also passes roughly through the centre of Victory Monument itself.

Victory Monument was constructed in 1941 in remembrance of the victory in the Franco-Thai War. The design of the monument is based on fascist architecture which makes it different from Democracy Monument which utilised more traditional Thai  forms and symbols.

Also referred to as the monks hospital, Priest Hospital is a national monastic health institute. It is the only hospital in Thailand and perhaps the world that the state has created with the express purpose of providing healthcare to Buddhist monks and novices throughout the country. It was first established in 1941, but work had to be suspended because of the second world war. Work recommenced in 1949.

Bangkok School for the Blind is one of five initiatives run by the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand. The school was initiated by a blind American woman named Miss Genevieve Callaway in 1939. Simply called Blind School, it was the first school of its kind in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The school moved to its present location in 1949 leasing eight rai of crown land. In 1960, it became part of the Ministry of Education and was classified as a private charity school. In August of 1997 the name was officially changed to Bangkok School for the Blind.