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Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and by far its largest city with an estimated population of over 11 million. Bangkok is one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities. Created as the Thai capital in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty, Bangkok is a national treasure house and Thailand’s spiritual, cultural, political, commercial, educational and diplomatic centre.
HISTORY
Bangkok (originally Bang Makok meaning ‘The Village of Olives’) was a small village on the banks of the Chao Phraya river, until a new capital was founded on the west bank (present-day Thonburi) after the fall of Ayutthaya. In 1782, King Rama I built a palace on the east bank (now Rattanakosin) and renamed the city as Krung Thep, as it is now known to Thais and which in English is tranlated to the 'City of Angels'. The full name is listed as the world's longest place name by the Guinness Book of Records; an English rendering goes like this: "Krung thep mahanakhon amorn ratanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilok pop noparatratchathani burirom udomratchanivetmahasathan amornpiman avatarnsathit sakkathattiyavisnukarmprasit" -- "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn"). The original village has long since ceased to exist, but for some reason foreigners never caught on to the change.
Modern-day is predominantly Thai-Chinese and they make up the majority of the registered Bangkokian, however the city is a second home to millions of upcountry Thai-Thai folk who come to make a living. The city is also home to a remarkable array of expats from all over the world, with districts inhabited by Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Koreans, Arabs and many more.
GEOGRAPHY
Bangkok exceeds 1,500 square kilometres in area and is home to more than one-tenth of the country's population. Major tourist attractions include glittering Buddhist temples, palaces, timeless “Venice of the East” canal and river scenes, classical dance extravaganzas, and numerous shopping centres.Bangkok is a large city, modern and Westernised and humming with nightlife and fervour. Administratively, it is split up into 50 khet (districts), which are further split into 154 khwaeng, but these are more often used in official business and for addresses. Visitors will find the conceptual division below of the main areas more useful for getting around.
HOW TO GET IN
Most major roads, trains and planes in Thailand lead to Bangkok.
AIR Bangkok now has two airports operating are Suvarnabhumi Airport & Don Muang Airport. Allow at least three hours to connect between them.Suvarnabhumi Airport Located 30 kilometres (19 miles) to the east of Bangkok, space-age Suvarnabhumi Airport started operations in September 2006 and is now Bangkok's main airport, used by all international flights as well as all Bangkok Airways , Air Asia , SGA Airline , PBair and Thai Airways domestic flights with three-digit flight numbers (eg. TG123). There is only one terminal building, which covers both domestic and international flights, but it's huge (by some measures the world's largest) so allow time for getting around.Don Muang Airport Located 20 km north of downtown, was Bangkok's main airport until 2006. The airport handles Nok Air and Thai Airways domestic flights with four-digit flight numbers (eg. TG1234), but the former international terminal is now limited to charters and general aviation.
BUS Bangkok's three official long haul bus terminals are: 1.Eastern Bus Terminal - also known as Ekamai, this relatively compact terminal is located right next to Ekamai BTS station on Sukhumvit (E7). Ekamai serves Eastern Thailand destinations, including Pattaya, Rayong, Ban Phe, Chanthaburi and Trat.
2.North & North Eastern Bus Terminal - also known as Moh Chit (or Mor Chit or Morchit), this is the largest, busiest, and most modern terminal. The upper floor serves the North-East (Isaan); the ground floor serves the North, as well as sharing some destinations with Ekamai (including Pattaya, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat). It's a 30-baht moto hop (or a lengthy hike across Chatuchak Park) from BTS Moh Chit/Metro Chatuchak stations (N8/18), or take the 77 bus and pay the 7-baht flat fare on board.
3.Southern Bus Terminal - also known as Sai Tai Mai, this older and relatively chaotic sprawling terminal serves all points west and south from its somewhat inconvenient location on the "wrong" side of the river. Note that in December 2007, the terminal moved to a new, even more remote location, 5 kms. away from the previous place at Baromaratchachonnani Road, Bangkok 10170. Tel: 02 8946122.
TRAIN The three main stations in Bangkok are: 1. Hualamphong Train Station The main station and the terminus of the Bangkok Metro line. Located right in the middle of downtown Bangkok, it is a huge and surprisingly nice station, built during the reign of King Rama VI and spared bombing in World War II at the request of the Free Thai underground. The station has a good tourist office. Only listen to the people at the Info desk - anyone walking around offering to help you "find" a hotel or taxi is just a tout, even if they are wearing very official looking badges. Likewise, the second floor shops offering "Tourist Information" are just agents in disguise.
2.Bang Sue Train StationIf coming from the north or north-east, connecting to the Metro here can shave the last half-hour off your train trip. This is not a very good place to board trains though, as there is practically no information or signage in English. However, this situation will doubtless improve as more and more long-distance departures are switched to here from Hualamphong.
3.Thonburi Train StationAlso known as Bangkok Noi, this station is located on the "wrong" side of the river in Thonburi District and is the starting point for services to Kanchanaburi (via Nakhon Pathom), River Kwae Bridge and Nam Tok.
BOAT Cruise ships visiting Bangkok arrive at Laem Chabang, about 90 minutes south-east of Bangkok and about 30 minutes north of Pattaya.Frequent first and second class bus services directly connect Laem Chabang with Ekamai (Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal, on Sukhumvit); less frequent direct services run to Moh Chit (Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal). A first class air-con bus (blue and white) to either will usually take 90 minutes or less; the fare is around 100 baht. A good way to make the most of a quick visit is to board an Ekamai bus and then disembark early at the On Nut Skytrain Station on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok (the bus will always pause here provided a passenger requests it); in the opposite direction, use the Ekamai Skytrain Station and board the bus at the terminus. To get to or return from the Chatuchak Weekend Market, use the Moh Chit bus instead.
CULTURES
Major Exhibition Centers
Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre , Tel: 0 2229 3000-9 or www.qsncc.co.th.
Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre Tel: 0 2749 3939-60 or www.bitec.net.
IMPACT Exhibition Centre Mueang Thong Thani, Tel: 0 2504 5050 or www.impact.co.th
Turf Clubs
Horse Races are held on Sunday from 12.30 a.m.-6.00 p.m. at two alternate turf clubs:
Royal Turf Club of Thailand Tel: 0 2628 1810-5, 0 2280 0020-9.
Royal Bangkok Sports Club Tel: 0 2251 0181-6, 0 2652 5000, 0 2255 1420-8 or www.rbsc.org
GET AROUND
Bangkok has the full spectrum of public transportation methods. Buses and taxis operate everywhere in the city. The Sky Train (BTS) and metro are available only in the city centre. And vans generally operate only in more out-lying areas.
TOURISM
Bangkok is considered to be one of the world's top tourist hotspots. According to Travel and Leisure magazine it is Asia's best tourist destination, the third in the world in 2006 and overall best city in the world in 2008. It is also voted the best city in Asia according to Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Bangkok is Thailand's major tourist gateway, which means that the majority of foreign tourists arrive in Bangkok. The Tourism Authority of Thailand hopes to draw 15 million tourists in 2007, up from 11.6 million in 2005. The city boasts some of the country's most visited historical venues such as the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. There are numerous projects to maintain Bangkok's historic sites in the Rattanakosin area and river districts.
USEFUL CONTACT
- Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) 1672, 0 2250 5500
- Tourist Police 1155
- Bangkok Tourist Bureau 0 2225 7612-4
- Thai Airways 1566 (flight schedules), 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 (reservation)
- Bangkok Airport 0 2723 0000
- Bangkok Railway Station 1690, 0 2220 4334
- Eastern Bus Terminal 0 2391 2504, 0 2391 6846
- Southern Bus Terminal 02 894 6122
- Northern/ Northeastern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) 0 2936 2852 -66
- BTS Sky Train 0 2617 7340, 0 2617 7300, 0 2617 6000
- Bangkok Metro 0 2354 2000 ext. 3265-66 or 0 2624 5200
- BMTA Public Bus 184
- Telephone Number Inquiry 113
U.S. Embassy Bangkok, 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Tel: +66-2-205-4049. E-mail: acsbkk@state.gov |
