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BANGKOK MAP

AROUND BANGKOK

Bangkok chaotic road system provides no reference to the tourist. Across the city by taxi can take hours…

bangkok traffic

For a short transfer worldwide famous three-wheels Tuk Tuk, Bangkok's icon; it should be a funny experience.

bangkok tuk tuk

Anyway to discover the major tourist attractions it’s much better to use the boats along Chao Phraya River.
Bangkok it’s a bit like Venice or Amsterdam: by boat you can reach almost all major tourist attractions.

boats on chao phraya river bangkok

Another good option is the elevated BTS line (Sky Train): its offers a cheap, comfortable and very useful way for the tourist to discover Bangkok (BTS across the city in twenty minutes).

bts-skytrain bangkok

Rattanakosin Island, also named Old City is located on the east bank of Chao Phraya River, included the most important temples of the Kingdom:

GRAND PALACE (WAT PHRA KAEW)

Grand Palace, with an area of 220,000 sq. meters and with a crenellated border wall 2 kilometers long, is Bangkok's most popular tourist attraction.
Royal residence until 1946, its main structure, the wonderful Chakri Maha Prasad, was the last to be built and was completed on 1882.
Within the complex there is the famous Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha): a jadeite statuette approx. 75 cm. height and 45 cm. wide; it's the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

the grand palace bangkok

guardians at wat phra kaew

WAT PO

Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), is Thailand's oldest temple and it's home to the world's largest reclining Buddha image: a reclining Buddha 46 meters long and 15 meters in height.

reclining buddha at wat po bangkok

WAT ARUN

Wat Arun, also known as Temple of Dawn, is Thailand's highest temple (104 meters).
It's surrounded by four smaller prangs.
The panoramic upper terrace is accessible through four stairs, placed at the cardinal points. On the basement of each stair is placed a statue of the four fundamental aspects of Buddha's life: birth, meditation, preaching and death.

wat arun bangkok

HISTORY OF BANGKOK

The role of Bangkok in Thai history was merely marginal: it was just a natural link along the Chao Phraya River between Ayutthaya and “The world beyond the sea”.

Bangkok’s history begins in the sixteenth century, when King Phrayai (1534-1546) ordered to dig a channel to shorten the route from Ayutthaya to the sea. Along Chao Phraya River, on the west bank Thonburi became the first post office of the Kingdom; on the east bank there was a small village, Bangkok.

In the seventeenth century, Ayutthaya was a real Golden City: the diaries and letters of visitors and merchants of the time spoke of "... splendid palaces and pagodas, over two thousand gold statues of Buddha, golden pinnacles visible far away ...”

ayutthaya thailand

Known as Krung Thep - literally the "City of Angels” - Ayutthaya was built on an island along the Chao Phraya, about 76 km. north of Bangkok.

The Burmese and Khmer, historical enemies who for decades had targeted the riches of Ayutthaya, plundered and devastated the city on 1767. The Greater City was swept away, it became a ghost city.

The Siamese army commander, Phya Taksin chose Thonburi as the new headquarters. Thai territory was hit for more than 15 years by fierce fighting against the armies Burmese, Vietnamese and Laotians.

On 1780 the commander Phya Taksin had conquered more territories than in the past Ayutthaya. On 1782 the triumphant military commander (in Thai Chakri), supported by the Siamese nobles, became the King of Thailand and he was named Ramathibodi. Later, King Vajiravuch (1910-1925) simplified the names of Chakri kings in Rama, the ancient warrior god Indian Ramayana.
King Ramathibodi is also known as Rama I.

The Birth of the City of Angels

On April 6, 1782, the king proclaimed the new capital of Thailand: Krung Thep. Two years later he completed the magnificent complex known as Wat Phra Keaw, the temple of the Emerald Buddha. To complete the complex, Rama I built his royal palace residence, also important political and commercial meeting place.

Rama II (1809-1824) is recognized for having enhanced Thais literature and art of the past, losted on 1767. Rama III (1825-1851) opened the gates of the Kingdom to foreigners and above all, on 1826 he signed a commercial and commercial agreement with Great Britain.
He understood that they had to fight against another enemy: the colonialism. Siam was no longer threatened by foreign invaders until the Second World War.

On 1863 Rama IV (1851-1868) ordered to paving Kharoen Krung, (Road of Prosperity); he settled important political and commercial relations with foreigner countries.

Rama V (1868-1910), probably the most famous sovereign of Kingdom, abolished slavery, introduced electricity and public lighting, founded the first hospital and also realized the first electrified tram network of Bangkok. He was the first monarch to travel abroad, to make state visits to countries in Europe and Asia, broke tradition by appointing the first woman, his wife, as a substitute during his absence.

rama V king of thailand

The financial and economical crisis and the Second World War was a dark period for the Kingdom: during the Japanese invasion, Thailand created a strong resistance movement. Thailand wasn't punished as a defeated enemy country.

In 1946, King Ananda died in mysterious circumstances. His brother Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowned as successor (Rama IX), current King of the Kingdom.

king and queen of thailand

BANGKOK HOTELS

Bangkok

Bangkok is the cosmopolitan capital of Thailand; it's Kingdom's economical, political and commercial centre. With en estimated population of over 10 million and an urban area of 1600 km², Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand (see Thailand Map).

bangkok
Bangkok

Bangkok is also the city with the world longest official name:

"Krung Thep Mahanakon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchanowet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit"

It’s located approx. 14 degrees north of the Equator (13°45'N, 100°29') on the flat valley of Chao Phraya River.

The climate is tropical with high relative humidity and temperatures all year around.

bangkok klong
Klong - canal - in Bangkok

New Bangkok international airport Suvarnabhumi (BKK), located approx. 30 km. south-east of Bangkok, Samui Phrakan province, offers all facilities expected of a major international airport: hotels, restaurants, coffee shop, lounge, ATM, fast food, shops and duty free...

The best option to get to Bangkok downtown is the ordinary Taxi Meter: following "Public Taxi" signs that lead you outside the airport, on 1st floor (Level 1) you will get your ticket with your destination written on it.
The trip to the city takes about 30 min. and it will cost 5-600 THB.

taxi meter transfer to bangkok from suvarnabhumi airport
Taxi Meter from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok

bangkok viewed from the highway
Bangkok from the highway

Bangkok is terrific and infamous for its chaotic traffic.

Following the high population growth and consequent urban development, in the last decade many important public infrastructures have been done to try to make traffic "more smooth flow" and stimulate urban public transport (BTS, metro, highways and ring roads, public transportation along the Chao Phraya River).

sukhumvit road bangkok
Traffic in Sukhumvit Road

sukhumvit bangkok
Traffic in Sukhumvit Road

Bangkok is a flat city, built on the flat valley of Chao Phraya River; it doesn't provide any reference for the visitors (the chaotic traffic system doesn't help).

Administratively Bangkok is subdivided in 50 districts.
We report below the main tourist and serviced areas:

RATTANAKOSIN: located between Thonburi and Sukhumvit, Rattakosin Island included the famous Wat Phra Kaew (Grand Palace) and Wat Po.

THONBURI: the west bank of Chao Phraya, a quiet area characterized by many small canals and the popular Wat Arun, the highest temple of Thailand.

SIAM SQUARE: this is Bangkok's main modern commercial area, full of shopping centers and hotels.

SUKHUMVIT: Sukhumvit Road represented Bangkok's nightlife centre. There are available a lot of hotels, restaurants and, above all, red light areas as Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy.

SILOM: Silom Road and Sathorn Road are located on the south of Sukhumvit, close to the major tourist attraction. This area is a mix of commercial stores and nightlife clubs.

RATCHADAPISEK: also named "Ratchada", this district is located on the north of Sukhumvit along Ratchadapisek Road. It included Asoke area, several hotels and many sois to enjoy a colorful nightlife.

KHAO SAN ROAD: famous Bangkok's backpacker destination, Khao San Road offers cheap accommodations for budget traveler.

PHAHONYOTHIN: known for Chatuchak Weekend Market and Pratunam (Phahonyothin Road and Viphavadi Rangsit Road).

YAOWARAT - PAHURAT: along Yaowarat Road there is famous Bangkok's Chinatown; Pahurat Road is a sizeble Indian centre. This is an example of multicultural and multiethnic living without any kind of trouble.

chinatown in bangkok
Chinatown Bangkok

sukhumvit soi in bangkok
Arabian-Middle East Restaurants in Sukhumvit

Definitely a stay of 2-3 nights, like the majority of package tours provides is not enough to visit and discover a metropolis such as Bangkok.

Bangkok by night

You need time and patience to understand the rhythm of Thai life; this is the only way to capture the beauty and charm of this greater city that, despite its huge contrasts, you will not easily forget. Indeed, probably one day you will return.

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