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Introducing Bangkok

Bangkok means City of Angels, but a less angelic city may be difficult to find. A collage of urban squalor, gleaming affluence, abject poverty, exotic consumerism and astounding pollution, it`s a city that assaults the senses. Krung Thep (City of Angels) is Thailand`s capital and largest city. it`s in the central part of the country, on the Chao Phraya River near the Gulf of Thailand (still often called the Gulf of Siam). Bangkok is Thailand`s administrative, economic, and cultural center, and a major commercial and transportation center of Southeast Asia. Greater metropolitan Bangkok extends for more than 32 kilometers (20 miles) in all directions. It includes much of five neighboring provinces (Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, and Samut Songkhram) and covers an area of 7,758 square kilometers (2,995 square miles).

You need not travel far in Bangkok to find the trappings of modern civilization giving way to historical treasures. The Grand Palace, a fantastic complex with gilded stupas (domelike shrines to Buddha), is a living monument where people go to pay homage to the Buddha and their king. The National Museum houses Thai art and artifacts from Neolithic times forward. Performances of traditional religious and court dances take place at the Thai Cultural Center, a polished modern venue. The Erawan Shrine offers a glimpse of the old rituals manifested in daily life.

For tourists, Bangkok has a feast of attractions to offer. The city is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples of great beauty and fascination, magnificent palaces, classical dance extravaganzas, numerous shopping centres and traditional ways of life, especially along the "Venice of the East" timeless canals and the Chao Phraya River of the "River of Kings" winding through the city. It is worth taking a trip along its waters before exploring further into different canals to take a glimpse of old Bangkok.

Geographical Of Bangkok

The Bangkok special administrative area covers 1,568.7 km2 (606 sq mi), making it the 68th largest province in Thailand. Much of the area is considered the city of Bangkok, therefore making it one of the largest cities in the world. The Chao Phraya River, which stretches 372 km (231 mi), is Bangkok's main geographical feature. The Chao Phraya River basin, the area surrounding Bangkok, and the nearby provinces comprise a series of plains and river deltas that lead into the Bay of Bangkok about 30 km (19 mi) south of the city center. This gave rise to Bangkok's appellation as the "Venice of the East" due to the number of canals and passages that divide the area into separate patches of land. The city once used these canals, which were plentiful within Bangkok itself, as divisions for city districts. However, as the city grew in the second half of the 20th century, the plan was abandoned and a different system of division was adopted.

Weather All Year Round

Climate
Bangkok is a tropical city that sits just north of the equator, and so it's pretty warm throughout the year. If your especially adverse to extreme temperatues, avoid between April and May when the weather is especially hot and sticky (temperatures around 34°C). However, don't fret if you do choose to come then: one of Thailand's most celebrated festivals, Songkran, takes place in April and involves lots of refreshing water throwing to help cool everyone down.

Perhaps the best time to visit is from October until February, when temperatures hover between 25°C and 28°C and there are light breezes and only occasional showers. From June through to September there's still plenty of sunshine and it's much cooler (around 24-28°C). Remember though, this is the season for rain and there can lots of it. However, this is actually quite refreshing!

Culture

A country with rich history and refined tradition, Thailand is famous for its culture that has long been known in the world for its individuality and uniqueness. Thai culture has been passed down from generation to generation staring from early Lanna period through Sukothai, Ayutthaya, Thonburi and this glorious era of Ratanakosin.

Colourful Thai culture includes beautiful Thai classical dance and music, Thai traditional costume, architecture, Buddhism, art and craft, all of which can be widely seen everywhere in Thailand. But the most well-known seems to be the Thai gracious gesture of 'wai' greeting which is the brining together of both hands to the chest and bending the head to the tips of the fingers. Thais 'wai' to show respect to the elders as the way to say hello, good bye, thank you and sorry. Every Thai person is taught to learn how to 'wai' from a young age, most of the time even before they can utter their first word. It's all part of a complex structure of etiquette which is so important for showing respect to others in Thai culture.

Bangkok, the capital city since the late 18th century, has been the main centre of Thailand. Blending together traditional values and metropolitan atmosphere, Bangkok preserves full range of Thai culture together with historical heritages that can be seen around Bangkok in the form of beautiful temples and unique architectural splendours. The most notable area is around Sanam Luang where you can find Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of Emerald Buddha, situated within the Grand Palace, and other architectural gems. The Emerald Buddha is a sacred symbol of the Rattanakosin and the temple acts as the most important temple in realm. All of these are are inspired by Buddhism, which has a profound effect on the lives, beliefs and artistic expression of Thailand and it's legacy.

Thai classical dances performed by beautiful ladies in traditional costumes can be seen in special events while Thai traditional music is still popular among later generations. The Bangkok National Museum, near Phra PinKlao Bridge, showcases history of Thailand and its fascinating culture in a variety of collections and many exhibitions housed in the museum. Nearby are the National Theatre hosting authentic traditional Thai dance and music and the National Gallery displaying art pieces dating from 17th century. Then there are the numerous colourful, and often fun, festivals that occur periodically throughout the year and its worth planning your visit to co-incide with some of the most popular such as the Songkran water festival or Loi Kratong festival of light.