Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Thai: กรุงเทพมหานคร, pronounced [krūŋ tʰêːp máhǎː nákʰɔ̄ːn] ( listen)), or กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep ( [listen]) (help·info), meaning ”city of angels” for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It came to the forefront of Siam when it was given the status as the capital city in 1768 after the burning of Ayutthaya. However, the current Rattanakosin Kingdom did not begin until 1782 when the capital was moved across the river by Rama I after the death of King Taksin. The Rattanakosin capital is now more formally called ”Phra Nakhon” (Thai: พระนคร), 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.

Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
Clockwise from top left : Wat Phra Kaew, BTS Skytrain, Sathon Financial District Skyline, Wat Arun, Democracy Monument, Rama VI Statue, Tuk-Tuk, Rama VIII Bridge, MBK Center
Flag Seal
Bangkok Location
Coordinates: 13°45′8″N 100°29′38″E / 13.75222°N 100.49389°E / 13.75222; 100.49389Coordinates: 13°45′8″N 100°29′38″E / 13.75222°N 100.49389°E / 13.75222; 100.49389
Country	Thailand
Settled	Ayutthaya Period
Founded as capital	21 April 1782
Government
- Type	Special administrative area
– Governor	M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra
Area
- City	1,568.737 km2 (605.7 sq mi)
- Metro	7,761.50 km2 (2,996.7 sq mi)
Population (January 2010)
- City	9,100,000
- Density	5,801/km2 (15,024.5/sq mi)
- Metro	11,971,000
- Metro density	1,542.36/km2 (3,994.7/sq mi)
– Demonym	Bangkokian
Human Development Index
- HDI (2009)	0.933 (very high) (1st)
Time zone	Thailand (UTC+7)
Area code(s)	+66-2
ISO 3166-2	TH-10
Airport Suvarnabhumi	IATA: BKK – ICAO: VTBS
Airport Don Mueang	IATA: DMK – ICAO: VTBD
Website	http://city.bangkok.go.th