Where is Bangkok?
Bangkok is full of hustle and bustle and is considered the most populous city in Thailand. The local Thai people don’t usually refer to this city as Bangkok and most locals in the suburbs of Bangkok are not even aware of such a name. Foreigners mostly know this city as Bangkok and refer it by this name, but the Thais call this city as Krung Thep, which means City of Angels. The translation for Bangkok is village of wild plums and is the original location decided for creating the capital city. This site was located to the west of Chao Phraya River the modern day Thonburi. Around 23% people live in and around this city making it the most crowded and populous city in Thailand as compared to other cities, which also signifies the importance of Bangkok as a prime city in Thailand.
Where is Bangkok Located and the history of Bangkok?
The history of this city dates back to the early part of the fifteenth century. This crowded city of today was a village on the western bank of Chao Phraya River.
This village was ruled by Ayutthaya and lied strategically just near the mouth of the river, which helped the village gain importance. Initially this place served as a customs outpost from where the French were expelled. After the fall of the Ayutthaya, in 1782 King Rama l decided to shift base to a more defensible site. He moved across the river and found the new capital city Krung Thep. The economy of Bangkok gradually developed as it spread its trade internationally first with countries like China and then with other western merchants by the nineteenth century. The country abolished monarchy in 1932, and since then Bangkok has gone through struggles between the political class and the military. In the recent times Bangkok has grown at a very fast rate spreading on both the sides of the Chao Phraya River. Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand has emerged as one of the most sought after tourist destinations and millions of tourists visit this place every year and help contribute to the growing economy of this island nation.
Geography of Bangkok
Thailand lies in the middle of Southeast Asia and is surrounded by Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. It has a total coastline of 3,219 kilometers. Bangkok is the chief port of Thailand. It is a very cosmopolitan city in Thailand, which has many villages and small towns. It plays the role of Thailand’s commercial and cultural hub. Located on the delta of Chao Phraya River, which is located about 25 miles from the gulf of Thailand. Initially, it was divided into two townships Krung Thep on the eastern side of the river and Thon Buri on the west. These two townships were connected by several bridges. In the year 1971, these two towns were united and came under one single municipality. In 1972, this city and the neighboring provinces were merged into one big province and named Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or Bangkok metropolis. Now this city is full of life, crowded with tourists, manufacturing units, shops, malls, temples, and has some excellent roads and canals running through it. Tourism is the most flourishing business that offers a combination of great nightlife and various cultural attractions.
Attractions in Bangkok
The Grand Palace, which is no longer the royal residence, is an amalgamation of shining buildings, mythical figures, golden spires, and the most admired Emerald Buddha. Bangkok is the home of an extensive National Museum supposed to be the largest in South East Asia. This place is a knowledge house of Asian, Thai history, art, culture and a visit to this place will always be rewarding. For shopaholics a visit to the Chinatown is a must. It contains busy and narrow streets full of shops selling everything from traditional Chinese medicines to gold, and fabrics. Wat Arun is a tall Khmer style prang located on the banks of Chao Phraya River. This is an ideal place to see the beautiful sun setting. Wat Pho is famous for the Bangkok’s huge reclining Buddha and is a huge temple complex in Bangkok.The residential district of Bangkok is Thonburi and this place is full of canals and tours around these canals are very popular among tourists.
Bangkok the capital of Thailand is an impressively beautiful city with various options for every individual with different tastes and liking. Talking about food, the Thai food is one of the most-loved foods that are very popular among food lovers around the world. Since we all know where is Bangkok and its beauty one can without any second thoughts include a visit to this island city in near future.
