Bangkok is the capital and the largest city of
Thailand.Its population is 1oth of the country's inhabitants.It lies
on the delta of Chao Phraya River.It is Thailand's major port and commercial center with an area of 1565 square kilometers .It is known as Krung Thep which means City of Angels and Heavenly City .Older part of Krung Thep lies west, between the river front and a north-south line running through the railway station.The main commercial district lies in Sampeng, which is the Chinatown area.Pahurat,the Indian quarter, noted for textile is nearby.The government, Christian missions, and the
Chinese community all provide schools of various kinds.There are 13 universities and a Catholic college.Many temples and magnificent palaces like the Grand Palace are around.Grand Palace was once a home of the royals.
The temple dominates Bangkok culture.There are 400 temples in the city. Wat Pho is the oldest and
largest of the temples.It contains Thailand's largest collection of Buddha images and largest reclining Buddha.It is also the first center of public education.Wat Traimit is another temple that houses a golden Buddha that weighs 5 metric tons and is 3 meters high.
Bangkok population comprises about 97 % Thais,and Chinese make up the largest minority.Many Chinese and Thais intermarried.Small communities of Indians and westerners can also be found.3 out of every 5 inhabitants are below 30 years old.
About 30 kilometers from Bangkok, at Samut Prakarn, is Muang Boran(ancient city).It has 80- hectare exhibition of most famous monuments.In Bangkok, a miniature Thailand can also be seen.Other Tourist attractions are the Dusit Zoo,Rose Garden Country Resort with its cultural village and Thon Buri's floating market where people sells and buys while on their boats.
HISTORY
General Chao Phraya Chakri became Rama I in 1782.He moved his stronghold from the west to the east bank of Chao Phraya river.This meant that he was protected on 3 sides by a bend in the river.By the time he died, he established the palace complex.Rama II (1809-1824)and Rama III(1824-1851) built additional temples to serve as monasteries,libraries,schools and hospitals.Major streets were laid out by Rama IV(1851-1868).He also extended the canal system.Rama V(1868-1910) demolished much of the city walls to make room for new roads and bridges.He inaugurated an electric tram system.He also built a 3-storey 81-roomed mansion, the largest teak building in the world.
King Rama VI(1910-1925) established the Chulalongkorn University in 1916 and created Lumphini Park as first public recreational area.In 1937,.the capital was divided into Thon Buri ( capital from 1769 to 1782) and Krung thep.Both these township were then of roughly the same area.In 1971, both was reunited.A year later, Bangkok and 2 neighboring province merged to form a single province-Krung Thep Maha Nakhon