Wednesday, April 30, 2008

History of Bangkok ( Capital of Thailand )


History of Bangkok
capital of Thailand


Bangkok (originally Bang Makok) 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 the City of Angels (and much more: 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.


Bangkok today widely is considered to be one of the most dynamic and colorful cities in Asia. Its history is no less a colorful transformation from a sleepy village to a fast-paced 21st century mega-city, with a modern city skyline. Bangkok has considerable cultural and historical signifi cance, from the early days of the “Rattanakosin Era” to its expansion in the nineteenth century. Bangkok’s evolution into the current regional hub of Asian came about while preserving the city’s unique soul and character, with its landmarks of temples and palaces that remain relatively unchanged over the years.

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