Bangkok – The New Thon Buri
The city of Bangkok, also known as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon in Thai, was once known as the village of ThonBuri until 1768.
Bangkok – The Capital
This city is the largest and the capital of Thailand. This was once a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya period. It came to the front of Siam when it became the capital in 1768. The current Rattanakosin Kingdom didn’t begin until 1782. At that time the capital was moved across the River by King Rama I after the execution of King Taksin. The Rattanakosin kingdom is now called Phra Nakhon formally. This name is pertaining to the boundaries placed in ancient times in the core of the city. The name Bangkok now incorporates the accumulation of the urban buildup since the 18th century and as of today has its own administration for the public and its own governor.
Since it was called Siam, the city has been at the center of colonial plans set by Europeans. Due to its location in Indochina it once was a buffer between European forces. Because of this, it has a gained a reputation in the world as being a highly independent and dynamic city. Over the span of over 200 years the city of Bangkok has grown to be a political and social economic center of Thailand. This is a long was to come from once being 2 other different cities.
Thonburi to Bangkok
The very first city was ThonBuri. ThonBuri was located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. It was a separate city then and is now incorporated into Bangkok. Thon Buri was the national capital from 1767 to 1972. The city was then merged with Phra Nakhon to form the metropolitan part of Bangkok we see today. As a result of the 1980’s Asian investment spike, many multinational companies now base their head quarters in this city and the city has become a force in finance and business. There is increasing influence on fashion, entertainment, and culture coming from the city by itself.
The wealth of Bangkok’s cultural landmarks and attractions plus its notorious entertainment areas has made the city exotic. The historic wealth found here goes well together with its rapid modernization of the city and the people alike. There are thousands of temples found here and the city has become quite famous for it’s notorious “Red Light Districts”, which help bring over 11 million international tourists and visitors a year. This makes Bangkok follow just behind the cities of Paris and London.
There are approximately 6,355,144 people as far as population of the rural areas of the city goes, whereas there are 11,971,000 people residing in the greater Bangkok metropolitan area. The amount of people located in this one city alone should bring one question to the mind of those that have yet to experience what the city has to offer: “What is bringing people there and keeping them?” The city’s charm and mystique offer plenty of adventure for tourists as its many multinational businesses provide pleasure for the business professional.
