City in brief
Thais never call their capital city Bangkok - actually, some Thais in the far districts may never heard of it being called that. it is known as Krung Thep, which roughly translates to 'City of Angels'
you can't imagine what you are going to see when you arrive in the capital of Thailand, and some may be disappointed by their first impressions on the way into town – endless of skyscraper, and signboards of western companies advertising in English. you only need to look a little under the surface to see that it remains undeniably a Thai place at heart. In between the skyscrapers and sophisticated shopping centers there's still the remarkable Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace (pictured), the Temple of the Dawn and many more. Traditions live on too: don't be surprised, for example, to find a large dedicated spirit house built for good luck alongside almost every major building, - and it's surely one of the only major cities in the world where seeing an elephant paraded round the streets hardly even ranks as being unusual.
Most visited sites in the city
1-The grand Palace
It's the home of Thai king, administrative seat of government, and the royal court Built in 1782 .the grand palace is a beautiful architecture and complex details, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people.
2- China Town
Chinatown is a colorful and busy area, Fill of shops and probably the greatest Center of gold shops in the city. The Chinese community, was living here since 1700's, still continues their own traditions and religious practices, and the area is quite unlike the rest of Bangkok. Relatively untouched by modern development — and despite being always crowded, hot and exhausting — it's an experience not to miss.
3- Floating Market
Although most transactions are concerned with tourists rather than locals these days, the floating market boats are still piled high with amazing variety of fruit and vegetables, fresh, ready-to-drink coconut juice and local food cooked from floating kitchenettes located right on the boat. Totally chaotic, small 'klongs' or canals are filled with small flat boats jockeying for position, expertly paddled by mature ladies ready to stop and bargain at a moment's notice. It's colorful, noisy and totally touristy — but great fun!
4- Wat Arun
Wat Arun (the Temple of the Dawn) is situated on the west (Thonburi) side of the Chao Phraya River. It is believed that after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya, which was under siege by a Burmese army at the time, King Taksin arrived at this temple just as dawn was breaking. He later had the temple renovated and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the Temple of the Dawn. During his reign, Wat Chaeng was the chief temple, and it once enshrined the Emerald Buddha and another important Buddha image.
5- Khao San Road
If Bangkok is a city where West greets East, then Khao San Road is the scene of their collision, the place where they jostle for superiority and poke one another in the eye. With travellers from every corner of the modern world, sleek clubs playing sophisticated sounds, eclectic market stalls, converted VW cocktail bars, and foods tamed to suit the Western palate, it may seem clear who won the fight. However, whether you're a hard-up farang (foreigner) or open-minded Thai, its irrepressible energy and carefree vibe makes it well worth a visit.