Bangkok is the
capital and chief port of Thailand. It stands on both banks of the Chao Phraya River, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) up from the Gulf of Thailand, and has a tropical climate.
Bangkok is the name commonly
used by foreigners, but the Thais call their capital Krung Thep. These are the first words of a splendid official name in which Bangkok is described, among other things, as the “City of Gods”, the “Grand Capital of the World”, and the “Happy
City Abounding in Enormous Royal Palaces”.
People from the West have always been attracted to Bangkok. It became capital of Thailand in 1782. the country was known then as Siam. Despite a mass of
modern buildings, much of the old city remains. There are more than 300 beautiful Buddhist temples and monasteries
called wats.
The Grand Palace, the former residence of the Kings of Thailand, is a famous landmark. It stands on a bend of the river and was built in the year that Bangkok became the capital. Within its walled enclosure is the royal chapel, Wat Phra Kaeo, which
houses the “Emerald Buddha”, a sacred image of the Buddha made of jasper and clad in gold and precious stones.
Europeans have called Bangkok the “Venice of Asia” because of its many canals –
khlongs in the Thai language. At one time most of the houses were built on rafts or stilts, and the easiest way of getting about was by boat. When the city was modernized, most of the khlongs were filled in and paved over with roads to take the ever-increasing traffic. Those remaining are still used by small boats to bring fresh fruit and vegetables to the famous floating market. There used to be several floating markets and traders sold their produce door-to-door from boats.
The newer parts of Bangkok look much like a modern Western city with high-rise office and apartment blocks. Like many other Third World cities Bangkok has grown rapidly in the second half of the 20th century. This has caused a severe shortage of housing, and problems of pollution and traffic congestion.
Bangkok is the commercial and industrial centre of Thailand. The port handles nearly all the country’s exports and imports. The principal industries are food processing and the production of textiles and buildings materials. Business is largely controlled by the Chinese who live in the main commercial district called Sam Peng. Indians, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans own many of the smaller shops. The city’s airport at Don Muang is one of the busiest in Southeast Asia and a new and better one with all modern amenities has also been constructed to handle the extra burden of the older airport. The population of Bangkok is 5,972,000 (as in 1987).
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