Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 9.0 million as of 2021, 13% of the country's population. Over 17.4 million people (25%) lived within the surrounding Bangkok Metropolitan Region at the 2021 estimate, making Bangkok an extreme primate city, dwarfing Thailand's other urban centres in both size and importance to the national economy.
Some of the key events about Bangkok
- 1767The city was sacked by Burmese invaders, leading to its near-total destruction
- 1782The city was officially founded as the new capital of Siam (now Thailand)
- 1851The Grand Palace was completed, becoming the official residence of the Thai monarch
- 1863The first paved road was constructed in Bangkok
- 1893The first railway line in Thailand opened, connecting Bangkok to Paknam
- 1932The Siamese revolution transformed Thailand from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy
- 1942Bangkok was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II
- 1946Bangkok's Thammasat University was established, becoming one of Thailand's most prestigious institutions
- 1967The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in Bangkok
- 1968A major cholera outbreak occurred in the city, causing numerous deaths
- 1973Violent protests against military rule resulted in many casualties
- 1976A massacre of students at Thammasat University shocked the nation
- 1997The Asian financial crisis severely impacted Bangkok's economy
- 1999The Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS), also known as the Skytrain, began operations
- 2004Suvarnabhumi Airport opened, becoming Thailand's main international airport
- 2006A military coup overthrew the elected government, causing political instability
- 2008Anti-government protesters shut down Bangkok's airports, disrupting travel
- 2011Severe flooding submerged much of the city, causing widespread damage
- 2015A bomb explosion at the Erawan Shrine killed 20 people and injured 125
- 2016Bangkok was named the world's most visited city by Mastercard's Global Destination Cities Index
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
