Travel To Bangkok

Travel To Bangkok (www.bangkoktourist.com)

Historical outline
The settlement of present-day Thailand began about 2,000 years ago with waves of migration from China. For many centuries, the area was characterized by minor states and scattered systems of government. Some major states did exist during this period, however, especially the Khmer Empire, which was founded in the 9th century and covered the main part of both present-day Cambodia and Thailand. The Khmer people, by the way, called the Thai Siamese, so the area was known as Siam up until the 20th century.


During the 13th century, the Thai people was governed from the first kingdom of the Thai, Sukothai, which had become a regional kingdom as early as the 14th century after a short period of prosperity. Its power had gone increasingly to the kingdom of Ayutthaya, which was founded in 1350 and was ruled from the city of the same name. The Ayutthaya-period became a time of growth for the country and the trade connections with Europe were established.


In 1564, Burmese troops invaded the Kingdom of Siam and five years later Ayutthaya fell, and came under Burmese rule until 1593.

In the year of 1767, the Burmese attacked the capital, Ayutthaya, again, and this time they conquered the city and burned it down beyond recognition. In spite of the fact that the Burmese were driven out of Ayutthaya after a short time, the capital was in ruins and reconstruction was abandoned.

The Thailand military headed by General Taksin moved the capital to Thonburi on the western side of the Chao Praya River by present-day Bangkok.

General Taksin became the new king, but he was dethroned in 1782 and Rama I moved his court and his administration to Bangkok on the other side of the Chao Phraya River. By doing so, he made Bangkok the new capital of the country. Rama I, who founded the Chakri-dynasty, which is still in power, considered Bangkok an easier place to defend against potential enemies than both Ayutthaya and Thonburi, because the Burmese would have to cross the relatively wide Chao Phraya River.

The construction of a number of canals was initiated. These canals, the so-called klongs, were since used as waterways in the new city and a few of them still exist. It was thus possible to sail around in most of the city area east of the Chao Praya River. Klongs were also dug in Thonburi. Rama I also had the Grand Palace and the temple of Wat Phra erected. The buildings were highly inspired by the architecture and constructions of Ayutthaya and they were the centre of power of the kingdom.

Apart from these constructions and buildings for the national administration, the period until the middle of the 19th century was characterised by a steady development. The city did not take serious steps towards becoming the absolute centre of the country that Bangkok is today – northern Thailand, for instance, was still governed from Chiang Mai.

During the latter part of the 19th century, construction work in Bangkok accelerated and the population increased. King Rama IV had major construction projects carried out, including several canals and a number of road systems. His successor, King Rama V, stepped the modernisation process and the development of the city up further by considerable investment in the judicial system, health care and education. During this period, a large part of the farmland was transformed into residential areas, and in order to cope with the ensuing pressure on the infrastructure of the city, many new roads were

constructed, some of them on top of canals that had been filled up for this purpose.

In 1932, the present constitutional monarchy of Thailand was established and after that, a number of public institutions were founded and Chiang Mai became an official part of Siam, which was still the official name of Thailand.

During the Second World War, the Allies bombed Bangkok. The ruined buildings were soon rebuilt and the capital experienced a rapid development during the decades following the Second World War.

During the Vietnam War in the 1960s, Bangkok was, as were several other places in Thailand, a refuge for primarily American soldiers, and this underlined the status of the city as a regional entertainment center.

The population has since exploded and many high-rise buildings with flats and offices have been erected. The high increase in the number of inhabitants has caused a heavy growth in traffic, which has been one of the major challenges that has faced the metropolis for several years. A number of train lines have been constructed, such as the Skytrain (BTS) and the Subway (BMCL) in the centre of the city, and they are extended continuously.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the economy of Thailand boomed. Bangkok was the economic locomotive and this period became the foundation of modern Bangkok, which the tourist will meet today. A wealth of new buildings has sprouted up, including some of the luxury hotels that tourists appreciate. After a recession at the end of the 1990s, the tourist trade is booming again to the benefit of local people and visitors alike.

 

Tour 1: Bangkok

1. Boat trip on the Chao Phraya River

Station: Saphan Taksin,  Pier: Central Pier

A good way of getting a first impression of Bangkok is by taking a boat trip on the Chao Phraya River. The name means “the River of Kings”. Several of the major sights of Bangkok are situated along the river, and there are fine and easy ways of transportation by boat.

Ordinary river busses go north and south from all piers on both side of the river. It is always possible and cheap to board a river bus and get to the next pier. If you do not live by the river, take the Skytrain to the Saphan Taksin Station, which is close to a big pier on the river. Saphan Taksin is also close to River City where many of the tour boats depart from.

2. The East Asiatic Company Building

Oriental Avenue, Station : Taksin, Pier : Oriental.

The old headquarters of the Danish East Asiatic Company is situated on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is a charming house built in 1901 in a colonial Venetian style. Right behind it, you can see the Christian Ascension Cathedral from 1910. Together, the two buildings tell a tale about Western influence on the history of Bangkok. Today, high-rise blocks and international hotels, among them the Oriental, which is the oldest in Bangkok, surround the buildings.

3. The Santa Cruz Church Soi Kudi Chain Station: Saphan Taksin Pier: Central Pier (some boats for Santa Cruz Pier opposite Rajinee) The Santa Cruz Church in Thonburi is the oldest Christian church in Bangkok. The church was originally built in 1770 when Thonburi was the capital for a short period. The Portuguese built the Church. They were the first Westerners in Thailand as they had traded with Ayutthaya since the 16th century. After the Burmese attacked and destroyed Ayutthaya, the Portuguese gave King Taksin military aid to drive out the enemy. To thank the Portuguese, the King granted them land where they erected the Santa Cruz Church. Originally, it was a wooden building, but the Church was rebuilt in 1835 and again in 1913 in its present form. The Church was constructed in European style under the leadership of Italian architects. 4. Wat Arun/хягыс в Thanon Arun Amarin 34, Pier : Wat Arun. Wat Arun is also called "The Temple of Dawn". The name is due to the beautiful reflections of the sun in the glazed ceramic tiles of the temple in the morning, when Wat Arun allegedly is at its most beautiful. It is, however, also an unforgettable experience to watch the sun set behind the temple prangs. Wat Arun has a beautiful position overlooking the Chao Phraya River directly opposite the Grand Palace. With its central pagoda Pha Prang of 79 metres, Wat Arun is one of Bangkok’s best known monuments. The style is inspired by Khmer architecture. It was constructed when Ayutthaya was still the capital. Later, King Rama II enlarged the temple; among other things he added to the height of the central prang, which is a symbol of the mythological mountain Meru. According to Hindu mythology, Meru is the dwelling of the Gods. 5. The Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew/ мсюисппщ с ЩхяЦ& хягмсю Р х Bangkok’s Grand Palace and the temple complex of Wat Phra Kaew belong to some of the most remarkable building complexes in the world. They were founded by King Rama I in 1782 when Bangkok became the new capital of the country. There is one shared entrance to the two sights. 5a. Wat Phra Kaew/хягмсю Р х Many of the buildings inside the temple area bear resemblance to earlier Ayutthaya buildings. The great, golden chedi Phra Si Ratana contains a piece of bone of the Buddha, and the particularly beautifully ornamented chedi next to Phra Mondhop is a library of scriptures. The two biggest buildings are the Bot and the Pantheon. The Bot houses the most sacred statue in Thailand – the Emerald Buddha, which is 66 centimetres tall, cut from one single piece of jade and resting on a platform 11 metres above the floor. The statue is thought to be from the 15th century. At that time, it was placed in Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. On its way to Bangkok, the statue has been in Lampang, Chiang Mai and Vientiane. At the beginning of each of the three Thai seasons (summer, rainy and winter season), the King changes the clothes of the Buddha at a great ceremony. Originally, the Pantheon should have housed the Emerald Buddha. Figures of Chakkri kings are now on display here. In the temple complex, it is also possible to se a model of the impressive temple city of the Khmer, Angkor Wat, which for a short time was part of the Kingdom of Thailand. The model was built as a monument to the conquest of the place, even though the Thai supremacy only lasted for a short period. Elephant figures symbolising the elephants that helped various kings of Thailand are placed round the model. Within the temple grounds, a number of exciting figures can be seen, including Garudas (half man - half bird), Singhas (stone lions), and the awesome temple guardians, the demons who, according to the mythology, were overcome by Good. Full of remorse, they are now guarding the temple. On the edge of Wat Phra Kaew there are eight prangs colourfully decorated with Chinese porcelain. They represent the eight elements of Buddhism. The Ramakien Gallery is the gallery that circles the temple buildings. Brilliant mural paintings from the 18th century depict the legend Ramakien of how Good prevailed over Evil. 5b. Grand Palace/мсюисппщ с ЩхяЦ The original royal residence, the Grand Palace, was built in 1782, as was the temple, and it was the residence of the kings of Thailand until 1946. Today, the beautiful buildings are mainly used during various ceremonies. On the left hand side of the exit from Wat Phra Kaew, there is a building where a significant event in the history of Thailand took place in 1946: the Barom Phiman Palace. King Ananda (Rama VIII) was murdered here under mysterious circumstances. After this incident, the new King Bhumibol IX chose to move to the Chitralada Palace at another location in Bangkok. To the right of the Barom Phiman Palace, you will find the Phra Maha Montien. It is a group of buildings that were the residence and audience room of the king. This is where crowning ceremonies take place. Outside the building there is a pavilion where the king would arrive riding an elephant. He would change his clothes inside the building and walk the few steps to the audience room itself. The next big building to the right is the Chakkri Throne Room built by King Rama V in 1882 in a neoclassical, European style with a roof in Thai style. The architect was John Clunich from England, and the European style was chosen because King Rama had studied in Europe where he was overwhelmed by the buildings and the development of especially London. The inspiration has come from Buckingham Palace and outside you can see some contemporary streetlights from London. The Throne Room is lavishly furnished. The last building to the right of the Chakkri Throne Room is the Dusit Throne Room, which was built from 1784-1790 by King Rama I. The building is constructed as a copy of one of the most distinguished buildings of Ayutthaya. There is a beautiful and striking spire on top and inside you will find Rama I's throne made from teak and mother-of-pearl. 6. Wat Pho/хяг мж Thanon Sanamchaic2, Pier : Tha Tien Wat Pho is a very large temple complex in central Bangkok. This is where the enormous Reclining Buddha can be found. With a length of 46 metres and a height of 15 metres, it is the biggest of its kind in the world. The statue is impressive in other ways than size, as it has some very beautiful mother-of-pearl engravings on the soles of its feet. The Reclining Buddha is from 1832 and it was built to draw people’s attention to Buddha’s Nirvana. Close to the viharn with the Reclining Buddha, there is an enclosure with the four biggest chedi out of the temple total of 95. King Rama I built the middle chedi to house the Phra Si Sanphet Buddha, which was brought here from Ayutthaya. The ashes of King Rama II and King Rama III respectively are kept in the northern and southern chedi. King Rama IV built the fourth chedi to an unknown purpose. In the grounds of Wat Pho, you can see statues of people wearing hats symbolising Westerners and a Chinese philosopher depicted so that he appears to be in a good mood. The remaining works put together form an immensely beautiful complex with many details of classical Thai architecture and temple art. Wat Pho was built under King Petraja of Ayutthaya in 1688 and this makes it the oldest in Bangkok. The complex went through a major renovation under King Rama I and since then several kings have extended it. Beside its many beautiful temple buildings and small gardens, Wat Pho is also known for its massage school. Many people are trained here every year to perform the traditional Thai massage.  Travel To Bangkok