Bangkok – capital of Thailand
The full name was in the Guinness Book of Records because of its length; it reads in its completeness: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit – thus consists of 170 letters. In the translation, the name is not much shorter either: City of Angels, great city and residence of the Emerald Buddha, impregnable city of the god Indra, great capital of the world, adorned with nine precious gems, rich in mighty royal palaces, the heavenly one Home of the Born Again God, city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarm. According to Abbreviationfinder, Bangkok is often abbreviated as BKK.
There are significant aspects involved in the name of the city. Indirect reference is made to the (around 400) wats or temples. The most important clue contains the Thai national shrine, the Emerald Buddha. Here you can visit magnificent palaces – above all the Great Royal Palace. Picturesque canals (khlongs) are reminiscent of Venice. The city’s cultural offerings are not limited to dance and music. Huge shopping centers and tranquil markets, the most expensive restaurants and cheap street food, world-class hotels and the cheapest accommodation are two sides of the same coin. The sprawling nightlife in Bangkok is famous, and in parts even notorious. But the city offers more than go-go bars and disreputable massage clubs. It offers theaters, cinemas, operas, martial arts, jokes and much more.
At the end of October, large parts of Bangkok were flooded by the Chao Phraya River flowing through the city. It was the worst flooding in over 60 years.
Note
Information that applies to the entire country, e.g. currency, entry requirements, health issues, etc., is not shown here again.
| Name of the city | Bangkok |
| Country | Kingdom of Thailand |
| Location | In the south of Thailand on the banks of the Chao Praya. |
| Landmark | Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Pho, Wat Ahrun |
| Function of the city | Capital, political, economic and cultural center of the country. |
| Area | 1,565 km² |
| resident | approx. 7,000,000 |
| Ethnicities | Thais, Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Americans, Europeans, Koreans, etc. |
| Languages | Thai, Chinese, English |
| Religions | 92% Buddhists, 6% Muslims, 1% Hindus, 0.6% Jews |
| National currency | Baht (1 Baht = 100 Satang) |
| flow | Chao Phraya |
| Official homepage | |
| Tourist center | 7/1 Phra Athit Road, Phra Nakhon Bangkok, 10200 Tel: 0066 – (0) 2225 – 76 12 4 |
| Telephone code with country code | 0066 – (0) 2225 – subscriber number |
| Time compared to CET | In summer +6 hours, in winter +5 hours. |
| Line voltage, line frequency | 230 volts, 50 hertz |
Bangkok: Known People
Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh (1914 – 1985)
“Prince Bira” was born in Bangkok and distinguished himself as a Thai racing driver. He took fourth place twice in a world championship race. He was the grandson of King Mongkut and thus also Prince of Siam.
Damrong Rajanubhab (1862 – 1943)
Prince Damrong is considered to be the founder of the modern school system and modernizer of the provincial administration.
Rama I. (1737 – 1809)
Born as Phra Puttha Yotfa Chulalok in Ayutthaya, Rama I was king of Thailand (then Siam) from 1782 until his death. He is the founder of the Chakri dynasty, which still rules the country today. In 1782 he declared Bangkok the capital of Siam.
Rama IV. Mongkut (1804 – 1868)
Rama IV. Was born in Bangkok and was King of Siam (now Thailand) from 1851 until his death. He introduced a modern educational system, asserted himself against the Western powers with his unsteady policy, worked as a writer and as an astronomer. He died of malaria in Bangkok in 1868. Historically, he was not immortalized correctly in the film “Anna and the King”.
Rama V. Chulalongkorn (1853-1910)
The King of Siam (1868-1910) was the son of King Mongkut and was crowned king at the age of 16. He distinguished himself as a successful foreign politician, introduced gentle democratization in Siam, banned slavery in 1905 and implemented some innovations in the education system. Religious freedom under him was limitless.
Rama VI. Vajiravudh (1880-1925)
He ruled as King of Thailand from 1910 to 1925. Rama VI. continued the modernization measures of his father (Ramas V) and improved the internal Siamese education system by introducing compulsory schooling. He founded Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. In 1921 the law on equality between men and women was passed and during the First World War Siam came closer to European politics.
In 1924 there was an unsuccessful coup against Rama VI. – He had the putschists pardoned.
Rama VII. Prajadhipok (1893 – 1941)
He was King of Siam / Thailand from 1925 to 1935. In a revolution in 1932, the absolute monarchy was abolished. The king gave thanks in 1935 and went to England, where he also died.
Rama IX. (born 1927)
Rama IX. is the currently ruling King of Thailand. His real name is Bhumibol Adulyadej. It comes from the Chakri dynasty, which was founded by Rama I. He is considered the longest-serving monarch in the world.
Sirikit (born 1932)
Sirikit is the current queen of the country and wife of Ramas IX. She was born in Bangkok and married the king on April 28, 1950. The queen is revered no less than her husband throughout the country and even ran the business independently for a short time in 1956.
Mahidol of Songhkla (1892-1929)
Prince Mahidol Adulyadej was the son of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and the father of Rama VIII and Rama IX. The latter currently rules the country.
Amorn Surangkanjanajai (born 1953)
The Thai actor was born in Bangkok and came to Germany in 1974, where he soon played the role of the Vietnamese “Gung” in “Lindenstrasse”. He also appeared in “Tatort” and “Liebling Kreuzberg”.
General Taksin (1734 – 1782)
Born in Ayutthaya as Hai Hong, General Taksin acted as King of Thailand and ruled from the end of the Ayutthaya dynasty to the beginning of the Chakri. He laid the foundation for Bangkok capital status after the old capital Ayutthaya was destroyed in the war against the Burmese.
Wan Waithayakon (1891-1976)
Prince Wan was born in Bangkok in 1891. He achieved fame as the 11th UN General Secretary of the UN General Assembly and permanent representative of his country at the UN. In addition, he is considered the founder of philological criticism in Thailand and was at times advisor to King Ramas VI.
