We named this page "All about Bangkok", which is a lot more true than not, because there is so much useful information here. In the end, however, we decided not to include information about nightlife per se because it would take an encyclopedia volume to cover it all, in all its varieties and venues. In any case, from our experience, you will not have any problem at all finding out where "the" places to go are after you arrive, if not before. In the meantime, we would like to tell you quite a lot of other information about our proud city.

History.

Bangkok is today Thailand's capital and was founded in 1782 by King Rama I (named Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke). It is situated on the Great Chao Phya River Delta which flows from the North down to the Gulf of Thailand. The word  Bangkok  is derived from two primitive Thai words, i.e. "Bang" meaning Village and "Kok" meaning Olive. Thus its original meaning is "Village of Olives".  In the olden days, Bangkok was just a small agricultural and fishing village where people traveled mainly by rowing boats.

The birth of Bangkok as a capital was due to the fall of its former capital, Krung Sri Ayuthaya, in the middle of the 18th century.  Ayuthaya, an ancient capital of 417 year, was rich in culture, traditions, and religions and flourished well in trade and agriculture. After resisting the Burmese troops for several months, the city was finally torn down and severely destroyed by the enemy. Thai people were held captives under the Burmese rule for over a decade.

After surveying the destruction of Ayuthaya, he decided to establish a new capital called "Krung Thonburi", because Ayuthaya was too large for his small army to protect as a stronghold and the damage seems irreparable. He was later named "King Taksin the Great", and he ruled over Krung Thonburi for 14 years.

Unfortunately, King Taksin was overthrown by a group of his own noblemen who betrayed him and seized power while his Grand Army was waging war with the Khmer. This Grand Army was led by King Taksin's most beloved commander, "Yodfa Chulaloke", who also had never lost in any battle. Yodfa Chulaloke quickly returned and fought back. Although he won, however, it was by then too late, as King Taksin and the Royal Family had all been assassinated.

Being a far-sighted man, Yodfa Chulaloke saw that Krung Thonburi would be too small to be a great capital in the future, and so then moved the capital to the other side of the Chao Phya Riverbank in 1782 - which is today Bangkok. Yodfa Chulaloke succeeded to the throne and was the 1st Monarch of the present Chakri Dynasty.

Today, the Bangkokians and most Thai people call "Bangkok" "Krungthep", which means the City of Angels. Believe it or not? The official full name of Bangkok wins the Guinness Book Records as the longest place name. See if you could read it:-

This is Bangkok's official name in full version. Is it long enough?

A century ago, Bangkok had many river tributaries and canals until it became known as the "Venice of the East". As modernization stepped up during the past 30 years, more and more roads were built with the sacrifice of these canals, small and mega-sized buildings replacing the rice paddy fields and agricultural farms. However, Bangkok still retains its charm by portraying the combination of the old and the new, and is one of the most attractive cities to visit in the world.

THE CHAKRI DYNASTY

King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke The Great (Rama I) from 1782-1809. The first King of the Chakri Dynasty moved the capital city from Thonburi to Bangkok and built the Grand Palace, which houses the Emerald Buddha. This helped release Thailand from Burmese control, after the fall of Ayuthaya 14 years earlier. There are currently nine kings in the present-day Chakri Dynasty.

MODERN DAY STATISTICS.
Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand, as well as being it's capital and main port. It is the cultural, educational, political and economic center of Thailand, as well as being the only metropolis. Bangkok has grown and expanded to include the area of Thon Buri, which had at one point been the capital of Siam, and the combined area is commonly known as Krung Thep Mahanakhon. The area of Bangkok, including Thon Buri and other provinces, extends approximately 23 miles (37 km).

The population of Bangkok is close to 9 million people. Being so highly populated, Bangkok is currently faced with pollution problems, as well as traffic congestion and critical housing shortages, just like any other large city in the world. Bangkok's weather is hot and humid year round, with temperatures ranging from 26 to 31 degrees C (78-90 degrees F), and generally averages about 35 degrees C (about 95 degrees F) during the daytime. Oddly enough, most foreigners generally get used to the warmer temperatures quite rapidly.

Most residents of Thailand are native Thais, although there is an influx of Chinese immigrants as well as Indians, Arabs, Malays and Europeans. Most Thais are welcoming and friendly to visitors to Bangkok, and thus is one of the most highly visited cities in Southeast Asia. In addition, Bangkok exerts an important influence on Southeast Asia's industrial and financial sectors.

One of the busiest airports in Southeast Asia is located just outside Bangkok, namely Don Muang International Airport. So great are the number of visitors to Thailand, however, that a huge new replacement airport, Suvarnabhumi, is scheduled to open here in October of this year (2006). Bangkok is also well-known for its water travel by way of its rivers, and is the center of transportation in Thailand, with major roads and railways branching out to various parts of the country.

In Bangkok, numerous beautiful temples can be found featuring traditional Thai architecture. The old sections of Bangkok are immensely popular tourist spots, particularly the area around the Royal Grand Palace. Bangkok is an interesting blend of traditional buildings and modern skyscrapers.

THE MOST VISITED PLACES.

Like other modern cities in the world, Bangkok boasts lots of massive buildings, numerous luxurious hotels, shopping centres, and a brand-new modern international airport. But Bangkok has also retained its traditional charms. It is a mixture of East and West, the ancient and the modern. Its surface has taken on the look of the present time, while underneath the old ways are much alive in Thais' everyday life. So, despite its modernization, Bangkok is still well suited for a glimpse of the traditional arts, architecture, religions and other aspects of the culture of Thai people.

The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)

This most famous of places is a must for all tourists. It is a large compound located near Sanam Luang in the very heart of Bangkok. The Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha were built after King Rama I ascended the throne as the founder of the Chakri Dynasty on 6 April, 1782 and have undergone numerous repairs and renovations. The Grand Palace consists of several buildings with different styles of architecture. Wat Phra Kaeo is renowned as the most beautiful and important Buddhist temple in Thailand. It houses Phra Kaeo Morakot (the Emerald Buddha), which is the most highly revered of all Buddha images, and is carved from a single block of fine jade. Scattered in the temple grounds are numerous interesting sculptures of artistic value, including the fanciful animals in mythology, including the fierce-looking giants standing guard at the gates, the six pairs of Cambodian-style bronze lions and the stone figures from China. On the inside walls of the temple's compound there are extensive mural paintings depicting scenes from the famous epic "Ramayana". It is the longest wall painting in the world, as well as one of the delights of all Bangkok. A distinctive characteristic of this temple is that there are no monks living in it as there are in other temples.
An Evening Scene	Wat Phra Kaeo
Chakri Maha Prasat, Grand Palace	Among the four groups of palaces, the Chakri Maha Prasat is the largest and most famous. Erected by King Rama V in 1882 as his own residence, the 3-storey building is a mixture of Thai and Western architecture. The top part is pure Thai with tapering spires and tiered, sloping roofs, and the lower parts, designed by a British architect, are in the Imperial Victorian style.
Boromphiman Hall. This French-inspired structure was built by King Rama V for Crown Prince Vajiravudh as his residence. It is now used to accommodate visiting foreign heads of state. Note: Proper dress is required. Women visitors must wear long pants or long skirts. Men in short pants are not allowed to enter the temple. Photography inside the main temple is forbidden. Open Daily, 08.30-15.30 Current Admission fee 250 baht to Wat Phra Kaeo and the Grand Palace Compound. The fee includes entry to the Royal Thai Decorations & Coins Pavilion (in the Grand Palace Compound) and to Vimanmek Mansion and Apisek Dusit Throne Hall (Ratchawithi Road). Buses 1, 25, 44, 47, 82, 91 For taxi to read: Map : Rattanankosin Island

City Pillar Shrine (San Lak Muang) Sanamchai Road

Dancing to redeem a vow to the God

Located across the street from the eastern wall of Wat Phra Kaeo to the southeast of Sanam Luang, this shrine contains a wooden pillar erected by King Rama I in 1782 to represent the founding of the capital. The spirit of the pillar is considered the city's guardian deity, to whom hundreds of Thai worshippers daily come to pay homage and offer prayers. Thai classical dance performances are given many times daily from 08:30 until 15:30 (16:00 on Sundays). Open daily, 05.30 - 19.30 hrs. Map : Rattanankosin Island

Vimanmek Mansion Ratchawithi Road

Located in the Dusit Palace area behind the old National Assembly Building, this three-storey European style mansion is the biggest golden teakwood building in the world. It was originally built in 1868 by command of King Rama V as a summer house on the island of Ko Si Chang off Chon Buri province. It was moved to Dusit Palace compound in 1901 and used as a royal residence. After having been deserted for decades, it was renovated by order of H.M. Queen Sirikit (Thailand's present queen) in 1982 and opened to the public as the private museum of King Rama V, with 31 exhibition rooms in total. Some rooms such as the bedrooms, the throne room and the bathrooms, are kept in their original conditions, while the others are used to display art works.
Photos by courtesy of Vimanmek Mansion
The collection consists mostly of photographs of royalty and other personages. Also displayed are antique furniture, elegant Thai ceramics, precious china, European porcelain, splendid gift items from abroad and many other invaluable memorabilia. There are several other buildings in the compound that are worth visiting. Most of them display a variety of artifacts and precious art objects. Some interesting ones are: Abhisek Dusit Throne Hall. Built in an harmonious Euro-Thai style, this throne hall is a one-storey building decorated with intricate fretwork known as floral design, with coloured glass and stucco motifs on the gable. It is now used as a museum exhibiting art works and handicrafts of great value, especially those of the SUPPORT Foundation under the royal patronage of HM the Queen. Suan Farang Kangsai Residential Hall. This was originally the residence of Princess Dara Rasmi, a royal consort of King Chulalongkorn. It now displays oil paintings by members of the royal family and various royal paraphernalia, such as an insignia of the king, royal sedan chairs and the Grand Butsabok, or movable throne. Suan Hong Residential Hall. This two-storey building was the residence of Queen Sawang Wattana from 1902-1910. Now it houses collections of pictures of royal ceremonies. The Royal Carriage Museum contains 23 royal horse-drawn carriages mostly imported from Europe in the reign of King Rama V. In addition to all this, cultural shows are presented in the mansion compound every day at 10.30 a.m. and 02.00 p.m. A tram service is also available at a fee of 50 baht per person. For more details, contact Tel. 0 2628 6300. Note: Proper dress is required. Women visitors must wear long skirts or long pants. Men in short pants are not allowed to enter. Open Daily, 09.30 - 16.00 hrs Current Admission fee 100 baht Buses 10, 18, 27, 70, 28, 108 Give to taxi: Map : Bangkok Metropolis Area A

National Museum Na Phrathat Road

Established in 1926 in the reign of King Rama VII, the National Museum is located within walking distance of the Grand Palace next to Thammasat University, and is the largest and most comprehensive museum in Southeast Asia. It contains an 18th-century palace and a group of well-designed buildings housing Thailand's artistic treasures from prehistoric to contemporary times. The National Museum houses three permanent exhibition galleries as follows: 1. The Thai History Gallery 2. The Archaeological & Art History Collections 3. The Decorative Arts & Ethnological Collections
Head of Buddha, Ayutthaya Style (15th-17th centuries AD)	Entrance to the National Museum
Tours conducted at 9.30 a.m. daily -- in English (on Wed and Thur), French (Wed and Thur), German (Thur) and Japanese (Wed). Open Daily, 09.00 - 16.00 except Mon, Tue and public holidays Current Admission fee 40 baht Buses 3, 15, 30, 32, 39, 53, 59, 70, 201 Give to taxi: Map : Rattanankosin Island

Wat Pho (Wat Phra Chetuphon or Temple of the Reclining Buddha)

Chetuphon Road. Located next to the Grand Palace on the south side, this is the oldest and biggest temple (built in 1688), with the largest number of pagodas (total 95) and the largest collection of Buddha images (total 394) in the city. Wat Pho is well known for its huge Reclining Buddha, 46 m long and 15 m high. The most striking part of the statue is its soles, which are decorated with 108 auspicious patterns inlaid with mother-of-pearl. This temple also was the first open university of Thailand, and used to offer courses in several branches of knowledge such as literature, archaeology, astrology and medicine.
Reclining Buddha	Wat Pho
Nowadays, Wat Pho is famous among foreign visitors for its Thai Traditional Massage School, which offers three kinds of massage services, namely body massage, body massage with herbs, and foot massage. The massage service opens daily from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. Three learning courses are also available, being. general Thai massage, therapeutic and healing massage and foot massage. For more information about the massage services and courses, please call 0 2211 2974 Open Daily, 08.00 to 17.00 Buses 1, 6, 9, 12, 25, 44, 48, 53, 91 Give to taxi: Map : Rattanankosin Island

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) Arun Amarin Road

Located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River with Arun Amarin Road at its back, Wat Arun can be reached by boat from Tha Chang Pier near Wat Phra Kaeo or Tha Tian Pier near Wat Pho. Constructed in the 17th century, it is attractive in its striking prangs (a kind of pagoda) which are decorated with millions of pieces of Chinese porcelain. Its central prang, at a height of 82 metres (equal to a 20-storey building) is the tallest prang of Thailand. Visitors can climb up to a high level to have a good view of the Chao Phraya River and the nearby surroundings. However, the most beautiful view of it is from the east bank of the river at sunset.

Open Daily 08.30 - 17.30 Buses 19, 57, 83 Give to taxi: Map : Rattanankosin Island

Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)

Si Ayutthaya Road near Chitralada Palace. Wat Benchamabophit is one of the most modern works of Thai religious architecture, and where the relics of King Rama V are enshrined.

The Marble Temple Singh statue in front of the temple

Graceful and tranquil, this temple is famous for its main chapel built in white Cararra Italian marble to house a replica of Thailand's most beautiful Buddha image, Phra Phutthachinnarat. The courtyard behind the chapel exhibits 53 Buddha images representing famous images and styles from all over Thailand and Asia. Open Daytime Buses 10, 16, 23, 70, 99, 201 Give to taxi: Map : Bangkok Metropolis Area A

Samutprakan Crocodile Farm & Zoo Samut Prakan, 25 km from Bangkok

Here is the world's largest crocodile farm with over 60,000 crocs in stock. Visitors can also view a crocodile wrestling show and elephant shows which are presented several times daily. There is, in addition to this, a modest-sized zoo with some rare animals such as tigers, chimpanzees, lions, leopards, pythons, camels, etc.

Information Tel. 0 2703 4891 -5 Duration of visit About half day Open Daily, 08.00 - 18.00 Accessibility By road 28 km from Bangkok by Highway No. 3 about 30 min. drive. By bus : Take a No. 8 or 11 air-con bus to Samut Prakan and then take a local minibus Give to taxi:

Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo Km 30 of Phetkasem Highway

This zoo boasts an elephant theme show which includes elephant training by mahouts, elephants working, dancing and playing football and scenes of ancient elephant-back battle. The zoo also includes a crocodile farm with more than 10,000 crocodiles, where daily crocodile wrestling shows are held.

Information Tel. 0 2429 0361-2 Duration of visit About half day Open Daily, 08.00 - 17.00 Accessibility By Phetkasem Highway about 40 min. drive. Daily coach service from the Southern Bus Terminal. Give to taxi:

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

This large and popular floating market is about 80 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province. Photos of this vibrant market featuring many small boats laden with colourful fruits and vegetables and paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats, are among the most often-published in travel magazines and brochures of Thailand. The Damnoen Saduak canal was ordered to be built in 1866 by King Rama IV of the Chakri Dynasty to facilitate waterborne travel between Ratchaburi and Samutsakhon Provinces. It was finished and opened to the public in 1868. Nowadays, apart from providing transportation, Damnoen Saduak canal also provides local farmers with adequate water for agricultural purposes. A number of canals were dug to connect with it by local peasants to get water to irrigate their land. As the excellent quality soil along the canal is very fertile, the area has a high potential for producing various kinds of fruits and vegetables. The Floating Market is routinely crowded with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats selling and buying agricultural products and local food, which are mostly brought from their own nearby orchards. It is therefore a very attractive place for tourists to osbserve this old style and traditional way of selling and buying goods. Around this area, boat trip services are available for sightseeing along smaller canals branching off from the Damnoen Saduak canal. Visitors can observe Thai traditional houses and the way Thais life there, as well as tasting exotic fruits, local food and refreshing drinks along the waterway. There are bus services to Damnoen Saduak from the Southern Bus Terminal on Borommarat Chachonnani Road starting at 6 a.m. It is recommended that you get there as early in the morning as possible to escape a crowd of visitors.

Duration of visit About 2-3 hrs. Open Early morning daily. Most boats will be there up to about mid-morning. Accessibility Recommended to contact tour agent Thai name

Royal Barges Museum On Bangkok Noi Canal near Arun Amarin Bridge.

This museum can be reached by boat from Tha Chang Pier near the Grand Palace. It houses several royal barges used in Royal ceremonial processions on the river. The most beautiful and important barge is the Suphannahong, the king's personal barge, which was built in 1911 in the reign of King Rama VI. It is 44.7 metres long and 3.1 metres wide, being the largest and most elaborate dugout in the world. The name, meaning "golden hongsa", came from the bow of the barge carved into the shape of the head of a mythical bird called hongsa.
Suphannahong	Royal Barges Museum	Narayana Songsuban
Another important barge is Narayana Songsuban, the newest royal vessel constructed for King Rama IX. Its bow was carved in the shape of the Hindu God Narayana riding the Garuda. Information Tel. 0 2424 0004 Open Daily, 09.00 - 17.00 Current Admission fee 30 baht Buses 57, 81, 91, 146, 149 Give to taxi: Map : Rattanankosin Island

Snake Farm (Pasteur Institute)

At the corner of Henri Dunant Road and Rama IV Road. This is the second largest snake farm in the world. The extraction of venom and the feeding of snakes are demonstrated daily at 10.30 a.m. and 02.00 p.m. on weekdays and at 10.30 a.m. on holidays. For more information: Tel. 0 2252 8186-8 Open Daily 08.30 - 16.00 (weekdays) 08.30 - 12.00 (holidays) Current Admission fee 70 baht Buses 4, 21, 25, 29, 34, 46, 73, 109 Give to taxi: Map : Silom / Sur

Map of Silom / Suriwong / Sathon

Map of Sukhumwit / New Phetburi