Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

Delve a little deeper and you'll find a city of climate-controlled mega-malls and international brand names just minutes from 200-year-old village homes, of gold-spired Buddhist temples, neon-lit strips of sleaze, of slow-moving rivers of cars bypassed by long-tail boats plying the royal river and of streets lined with food carts.

Bangkok was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty. It is now the country's spiritual, cultural, diplomatic, commercial and educational hub. It covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometres, and it is home to approximately ten million people or more than 10% of the country's population.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, has changed into a modern, exciting and sophisticated city. It offers visitors not only the cosmopolitan amenities they would expect from other big cities, but also a unique treasure trove of cultural attractions. Thailand was never colonised and thus has kept its unique culture and heritage intact. Bangkok offers visitors the opportunity to experience fascinating glimpse of Thailand's gentle culture amidst the bustle of a great and dynamic metropolis. This great city has had astounding success in combining the ancient and modern world.

The full ceremonial name of the city given by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, and later edited by King Mongkut, is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

It translates to "The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city 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 Vishnukam"

  The Grand Palace - For just about 150 years, Bangkok's Grand Palace was not only the home of the King and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government

  The Floating Market - The floating market boats are still piled high with tropical fruit and vegetables, fresh, ready-to-drink coconut juice and local food cooked from floating kitchenettes located right on the boat

  Chinatown (Yaowarat) - A colourful, exotic and busy area, packed with market stalls and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city.

The sprawling Klong Toey slum south of the city, near the port go here at your own risk, the Tourist Police won't be here.

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