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Bangkok is the capital and the most populous city of Thailand. Bangkok traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century, which eventually grew in size and became the site of two capital sites. Bangkok is a cultural phenomenon, shopping heaven and tourist treasure, one of the most cosmopolitan, contrasting and above all compelling of Asian cities. A steamy, pulsating, yet smiling metapolis of more than ten million, intense at first, but addictive as anything. Find your niche among dazzling temples, hotels of every breed and size, eclectic markets, gleaming palaces, ritzy shopping malls, a famous nightlife and the many things. Here, we enjoy a memorable dinner cruise adrift the Chao Phraya River. BBask in the city's warm, affluent glow at a skyscraping rooftop bar. Modern Bangkok is centred along Rama 1 Road, which becomes Phloen Chit Road, before transforming into seemingly never-ending Sukhumvit Road. This is the city's retail and entertainment heart and the superb BTS Skytrain runs overhead along much of this route.
Bangkok was "the Venice of the east" for a reason. Built upon water, its river and canals or khlongs formed the thoroughfares until roads were constructed in 1851. Chinatown and Bangkok are Bangkok's next oldest and most atmospheric neighbourhoods. Chinatown's neon lit Yaowarat Road is lined with Chinese herbalists and gold shops. Both are home to some of the city's best street food.
Bangkok's old city boasts sparkling must-see temples, including Wat Pho, with its enormous reclining gold Buddha, and the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Less known are Wat Ratchapradit, opposite the rear entrance to the Grand Palace but secreted down a lane behind Saranrom Park, and decorated with intricate murals, majestic Wat Ratchbophit nearby on Asadang Road, covered in ceramic mosaics, and on Bamrung Muang Road, Wat Suthat, with hundreds of gilt Buddhas, a monumental ordination hall and, outside, a giant swing used for Brahman ceremonies.