Bangkok

With Dom Muang, south-east Asia's largest international airport, sited just outside the city, Bangkok is the point of arrival for the great majority of visitors to Thailand. The name Bangkok, probably a corruption of "Ban Makok" meaning "village of olives", is seldom used by the Thais themselves. The capital's official name is "Krung Thep Mahanakorn Amorn Rattanakosin Mahintara Mahadirok Popnoparat Ratchathani Burirom Udommahasthan Amornpiman Awathansathit", usually shortened, for obvious reasons, to "Krung Thep" (City of Angels). Alternatively the city is known as "Phra Nakhon" (the Heavenly Capital). Bangkok is the only city in Thailand which enjoys full provincial status in its own right.

When the old Siamese capital of Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767, General Phya Taksin, together with about 10,000 troops, made his escape to Chonburi by way of Bangkok. After launching a number of successful counter-attacks he finally drove the Burmese from the country and, in 1772, had himself declared king. One of his first official acts was to make Thonburi (now a district of Bangkok) the new capital of Siam. Bangkok at the time appeared, in the words of Europeans passing through on their way to Ayutthaya, a "small place with two forts". In fact the village was already a strategically situated trading post of some consequence, but one to which Europeans as yet attached little importance. In 1782 Bangkok itself became the kingdom's capital, seat of the royal house and of government and parliament. It was Rama I (1782-1809), founder of the still-ruling Chakri dynasty, who, in the early years of his reign, moved his royal residence from Thonburi to the opposite bank of the Menam Chao Phraya. In so doing he set the scene for the transformation of Bangkok from erstwhile village to metropolis. Monasteries and temples were built and leading business-houses established themselves on the banks of the Menam, quickly turning the city into a center of international trade.

Bangkok experienced a particular heyday during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V; 1868-1910); it was he who built the first wide streets, and also a 10-km (61/2-mi.) tramway. Under his successors the city expanded in uncontrolled leaps and bounds, the lack of planning being all too evident today.

Now merged, Thonburi and Bangkok form a melting pot of more than six million people, who inhabit an area of only 650 sq. km (250 sq. mi.). "Greater Bangkok" has a population of nearly nine million.

Bangkok has over 400 temples, a big part of the numerous cultural sites that make it a popular tourist destination as well as Thailand's major tourist gateway. The design of many of the wats was influenced by buildings in other parts of Thailand; for the visitor this means an insight into differing styles of temple architecture, not simply the Bangkok (or Rattanakosin) style. There are a number of palaces, some still used by the Royal family. The Grand Palace is the King's official residence.