Bangkok, known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
for short, is the capital, largest urban area and primate city of Thailand.
It was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during
the Ayutthaya Kingdom and came to the forefront of Thailand when it was given
the status as the capital city in 1768 after the burning of Ayuthaya.
However, the current Rattanakosin Kingdom didn't begin until 1782 when the
capital was moved across the riverafter being sacked by the Burmese.
The Rattanakosin capital is now moreformally called "Phra Nakorn",
pertaining to the ancient boundaries in the metropolis' core and the name
Bangkok now incorporates the urban build-up since the 18th century which has its
own public administration and governor.
In the span of over two hundred years, Bangkok has been the political,
social and economic center of not only Thailand but for much of South East Asia
and Indochina as well.
Its influence in the arts, politics, fashion, education, entertainment as well as being the
business, financial and cultural center of Asia has given Bangkok the status of a global city.
The city's mix of Thai, Chinese, Indian, Buddhist, Muslim and Western
cultures combined with the driving force of the Thai economy makes it
increasingly attractive to foreigners both for business and pleasure
and has made the city one of the world's top tourist destinations.
Bangkok is the world's 22nd largest city by population withapproximately 6,704,000 residents, but due to large unregistered
influxes of migrants from the North East of Thailand and of many nations across Asia, the population of greater
Bangkok is estimated at nearly 15 million people.
This has in turn shifted the country from being a rather homogenous Thai population to increasingly
a more vibrant mix of Western, Indian and Chinese people.
The Bangkok Province borders six other provinces: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan,
Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom and all five provinces are joined in the
conurbation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area.
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