Bangkok - The capital city of Thailand

Bangkok is the capital and tourist destination of Thailand, attracting countless tourists every year. Bangkok is considered as the "City of Gods" and is also known as the "Venice of the East" because of the beautiful sightseeing attractions as well as the hospitality of Bangkok people.

Admiring the magnificent Grand Palace, the sacred treasure of Thailand. Visiting the Golden Buddha Temple and seeing the largest monolithic Buddha image in the world. Learning more about Thailand's history and culture with the Bangkok National Museum and Dusit Palace.

Bangkok is known as "Venice of the East"

Having fun on the Amphawa floating market, the Asiatique Riverfront night market or the famous Maeklong Railway to experience the indigenous culture never before seen in the heart of a busy city.

Relieving stress and fatigue with the traditional Thai massage experience; all will be covered in your fantastic trip to the beautiful city of Bangkok.

Main history events of Bangkok

In 1782, Bangkok became the capital of Thailand with its full and official name, arguably the longest one in the world. Bangkok has a favorable geographic location, in the heart of the country and near the Gulf of Thailand with a large area of about 16000 km. Located in the center of the Asian granary, Bangkok is also known as the Chao Phraya River Delta.

As a contemporary political and cultural center in Thailand with more than 14 million people, Bangkok is a city rich in historical traditions. During the Ayutthaya kingdom, Bangkok was just a small business town called Bang Makok.

Because of its strategic location near the river mouth, this town gradually gained its significance. Bangkok initially acted as an outpost port with a fortress on both sides of the river, and became a besieged place in 1688, with the French being repelled from Siam.

During 1768 – 1782, after being occupied by Myanmar, Bangkok has two capitals: Thonburi (1768) on the west bank of the Chao Phraya and Rattanakosin in 1782.

Bangkok is home to numerous historical sites to visit

Since the 19th century, Bangkok has been the capital of the Kingdom of Siam. From the 1980s, Bangkok really escaped from being a poor city and started to grow rapidly in population as well as infrastructure, along with the lush areas and rice fields on the outskirts.

In 1997, Bangkok was also heavily influenced by the financial and economic crisis in Asia. Recovered in the last 2 decades, Thailand has been focusing on the economic development of a modern public transport system and shopping centers.

Top Bangkok's Attractions

Grand Palace

The Grand Palace, once the residence of the Thai royal family, is a long-standing historical architecture, built-in 1782. Although currently, the Thai royal family lives in Dusit Palace, the government is still working at the Grand Palace.

Inside the campus, tourists can visit the Jade Buddha Temple (local name is Wat Phra Kaew), one of the holiest temples in Bangkok. The palace of Thailand continues to attract many tourists because of the beauty in the architecture and the sophistication of every detail.

This is considered a proud greeting of the virtuosity and creativity that the Thai achieve. Inside the walls are sets, departments, and even foundries. Today, the complex is still the spiritual center of the Thai kingdom.

The Grand Palace in Bangkok

Wat Phra Kaew

A small yet extremely important symbol in Thai religious life dwells on a golden pedestal in the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew temple complex. Wat Phra Kaew is located in the Complex of the Royal Palace. The official name of the temple is Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram, meaning "the abode of the holy Buddha".

This magnificent temple was built in 1782, under the reign of King Rama I - who moved the Jade Buddha image from Wat Arun across the river here. The statue was actually hidden among the stucco walls at a temple in Chiang Rai when it was discovered in the early 1400s. Take time to admire the enameled and gilded mosaic decorations outside the temple before stepping inside.

Wat Phra Kaew is located in the Complex of the Royal Palace

Wat Pho

Wat Pho is one of the most ancient temples in Bangkok and is home to Thailand's largest collection of Buddha images. Among the impressive statues, the most famous one is the 46-meter-long reclining Buddha image, with the entire body covering in gold leaves while the legs are designed with nacre.

If you are seeking for some relaxation, stopping by the Thai traditional medicine school is a great idea. The school is located right in the temple complex and is also the birthplace of Thai massage art, a specialty of “the land of Golden Pagodas”.

Wat Arun

Wat Arun was originally known during the reign of King Taksin in 1768. It is believed that after his expulsion from Ayutthaya, he arrived at the temple at dawn. He later restored the temple and changed its name to Wat Chaeng. It was once considered the home of the Emerald Buddha, before the capital and imperial palace were moved across the river.

Wat Arun is not only known as one of the most ancient temples in Bangkok but also famous for its spectacular architectural design. Sitting in a high spot on Wat Arun and watching the breathtaking sunset is like a dream come true for every romantic visitor.

Beautiful sunset over Wat Arun, Bangkok

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Bangkok Culture

Thailand is the country of Buddhism, so before packing stuff and heading straight to Bangkok, tourists should make sure to bring along: shirts with sleeves and long pants if you wish to visit any temple here. Hats and umbrellas are recommended under the heat and unpredictable pouring of the city.

Bangkok Weather

It would be great if you visit Bangkok during the months of March to July since the weather is pretty dry and the temperature is not yet on-and-off, perfect for any outdoor activities such as visiting temples and traveling across the Chao Phraya River.

Learn detail about Bangkok weather

Transportation in Bangkok

• Public transportation: Public transportation is the frequently chosen means of traveling within Bangkok city. Some suggested for tourists are airport rail links, buses, BTS, or MRT. If you wish to stay in Bangkok for a long period of time, booking tickets online in advance are highly recommended. The fee of using public transportation is relatively affordable, depending on your distance of travel. Boats are also famous if visitors want to get to destinations such as Wat Arun or Icon Siam.
• Grab: If you travel in groups of 4 people, grab a car is an ideal choice as you can share the fee among your group. The price is also very cheap compared with local taxis.

Tuk-tuk is popular among travelers in Bangkok

Travel information in Bangkok

• Tips: You can get all the ancient and chill vibes by watching sunrise or sunset from the temples. Booking entrance tickets or hotel room beforehand to get the best price.
• Currency: Local currency in Myanmar is Baht. The rate of money changing at the airport is nearly the same as locals, so when you get to Bangkok, simply just exchange money after getting your baggage.

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