Bangkok is an amazing city and the capital of Thailand, Asia. Thailand’s capital visitors are just overwhelmed of everything they see here. The city is intimidating, a modern to develop endlessly; the traffic is intense, a bustle without end and annoying crowd. Many people are waiting to escape on South beaches or in the Northern jungles and mountains. That is a pity, because Bangkok is really one of the most beautiful cities in Asia.

The complete name of Bangkok is the longest name in the world of a city: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonratankosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Nophosin Ratchathaniburirom Udomrathaniwetmahasa Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathatiya Witsanukamprasit. This means “The City of Angels, The Immortal’s Great City, The Magnificent City of the Nine Stones, The King‘s Throne, The City of Royal Palaces, The House of the Reincarnated Gods, Built by Visvakarman at Indra‘s command”. Thais usually tell “Krung Threp” or “The City of Angels”.

Bangkok (bang means “village on the bank” and kok means “wild olive”) became the Thailand’s capital when Ramathibodi moved the city over the Chao Phraya River in Thon Buri (the former capital) in 1782, to ensure the fortification against Burma, which plundered the Ayutthaya capital. Here were built wonderful palaces, temples and canals. The area is known as the “Rattanakosin Island” or the “Old Royal City, today hosting the Grand Palace, the National Museum and one of the most famous wats (complexes of temples). Since the Rattanakosin era and now the city is extending. Because of the royal orders, the Chinese merchants moved to East to form a new colony – the vibrant Chinese city of today. Chulalongkorn King was inspired by his European travels, he built large boulevards in Neoclassical style and now you can find many buildings of this style in Dusit, North of Rattanakosin. The continued development began at the end of 50s and continued, more or less, the  canals (knlongs) brought to Bangkok the name of “The East Venice”. Monotonous rows of shops were built. Later, here began the construction of tall office buildings, hotels and apartments with almost no urban planning.

Today, Bangkok impresses tourists with its controlled chaos. If you go beyond the appearances of this metropolis (population of 8 million people) you’ll find beautiful and attractive dwellings. The excess of greatness, Thai architecture excessively decorated connects the city with its past.

• Rattanakosin

The historic and cultural centre of Bangkok is the Rattanakosin Island. The settlement of the old royal city. Here you can visit so much architectural and religious beauties of Bangkok, and you’ll find the magnificent Grand Palace, the famous complexes of Wat Mahathat, Wat Suthat and Wat Phra Kaeo temples, very good universities, the National Museum and the National Gallery.

When Rama I moved the capital over the Chao Phraya River in Thon Buri to Bangkok in 1782, he decided to built the new centre of power of the country after the gorgeous architectural model of the former capital, Ayutthaya. Concentric canals were built to revoke the rivers that surrounded the old capital, the brick was taken from there to built palaces, temples and statues that represented Buddha were recovered from the ruins in Ayutthaya and installed them in the new temples in Rattanakosin. Both the New Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo were decorated by the Chakri successor kings. While the new capital was strengthened, the temples and governmental offices were built in the outlying districts and Bangkok extended in all directions. Rattanakosin and Bangkok were extended under the reign of Mongkut King. In 1862, he ordered to built the first road of this city to connects the palace and its commercial enclave of the Chinese district.

The historic centre remained a royal enclave, hosting neighbourhoods of the royal family, governmental offices and royal temples until the overthrow of the absolute monarchy in 1932. However, the specifics of the old royal city remain intact in Rattanakosin.

Wat Phra Kaeo is one of the most wonderful views in Thailand (and one of the greatest wonders of Asia) together with the neighbouring Grand Palace (it has a role pure ceremonial). The temple and palace’s surroundings contain a stunning number of other sacred buildings and constructions. Here you can visit the mural paintings in Ramakien, Golden Chedi, Ho Phra Monthein Tham, the Royal Pantheon, the Emerald Temple of Buddha, the Inside Palace, the Throne Hall and others.

Wat Pho known as the Lying Buddha Temple is the oldest and the biggest complex of temples in Bangkok. Built in the 16th century, it has a high contrast with its surroundings, that are more reserved. Officially it’s called Wat Chetuphon and has a gorgeous exhibition with stones, painted bells and more significant chedi. Of course, the most famous inhabitant is a statue of Lying Buddha with a height of 46 meters.

Wat Mahathat and Lak Muang. The Temple of the Great Relic or Wat Mahathat is located midway the Grand Palace and the National Museum. Rebuilt at the middle of the 19th century, has nothing special in its architecture. It’s also one of the most important centres in the country where is teaching Buddhism, Mahachulalongkorn University.

The National Museum is one of the biggest and the most comprehensive museum in Thailand (certainly this is the place where you need to come if you want to know about the history of this country and anything else that interests you). This museum includes a wonderful temple of the 18th century and three historical towers.

Other tourists attractions that you can visit in Rattanakosin: The Saket Temple and the Golden Mountain, The Suthat Temple and the Huge Swing, Loha Prasart, Wat Rachabophit, Wat Rachanat and Wat Rachapradit.

• Chinatown

Chinatown is a neighbourhood located South of the Grand Palace, bounded on one side by the Chao Phraya River and another by the Charoen Krung Road. It’s rarely visited by foreigners, even if it’s one of the most interesting ethnic enclaves in Bangkok.

Hidden behind the main streets, which have a modern monotonous aspect, are the decorated temples. Chinatown is also one of the oldest neighbourhoods of the city, since the 18th century. The Chinese merchants moved their stores in South when they were expelled of the lands where Rama I wanted to built the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo.