Bangkok

Many first-time visitors to Bangkok have little idea of what they will actually encounter. Bangkok metropolis, accommodating around eight million residents, is a sophisticated, fast-growing and, on occasions, traffic-clogged city. Referred to today as the City of Angels ( Krung Thep in Thai). Bangkok was once called the Venice of the East because of its many canals.

Although many canals have been filled-in, taking away some of the city’s old-world charm, it is still one of the most intriguing places worth visiting in Southeast Asia. Many visitors keep coming back to the city, some for business, some for vacations and some even to settle down here. Without doubt, modern-day Bangkok is a tourist Mecca of the East offering a greater variety of things to see and do than any other city in Southeast Asia.

Established in 1782 as Thailand’s capital, the official, full name of the city is probably the longest in the world: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosi n Mah i nthara Ayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Maha Sathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathatthiya Witsanukam Prasit.

Bangkok , City of Angels, offers an abundance of sites and attractions for tourists and is famous for its Buddhist Temples (Wats) including the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo), adjacent to the Grand Palace. This temple, and other beautiful examples of carefully-preserved Thai architecture, is referred to in more details in our section on Sightseeing in Bangkok. Bangkok , located in the centre of the country, is also an excellent stepping-off point for visiting other parts of Thailand. Although the measured pace of old Siam is now a thing of the past, the country’s rich cultural and natural heritage still survives. Accommodation in the city covers a variety of price ranges, but all offer high standard of service presented by friendly staff. The city probably has the highest concentration of luxury hotels in the world.

Hotels and shopping venues offer amazing bargains, following the depreciation of the Thai baht currency in 1997.

And for those in search of bargains, Bangkok has excellent examples of Thai Handicrafts, Thai Antiques, Paintings, T-Shirts, In- Fashion Accessories, High-Grade Thai Silks and High-Quality Jewellery. Our section on Amazing Shopping directs you to some of the best spots in the city for bargain- hunting. The city also boasts a cornucopia of inexpensive restaurants featuring mouth-watering dishes from all regions of Thailand and international cuisine from just about everywhere in the world. Many gourmets of Thai food, now rated No. 5 in the world’s culinary top ten, consider Bangkok to be on a par with Hong Kong for gastronomic experiences.