Bangkok

Lore & Background

Bangkok is situated in the Chao Phraya River delta in Thailand's central plain. The river meanders through the city in a southerly direction, emptying into the Gulf of Thailand approximately south of the city centre. The area is flat and low-lying, with an average elevation above sea level. Most of the area was originally swampland, which was gradually drained and irrigated for agriculture by the construction of canals (khlong) from the 16th to 19th centuries. The city's waterway network served as the primary means of transport until the late 19th century, when modern roads began to be built. Up until then, most people lived near or on the water, leading the city to be known during the 19th century as the 'Venice of the East'. Many of these canals have since been filled in or paved over, but others still crisscross the city, serving as major drainage channels and transport routes. The geology of the Bangkok area features a top layer of soft marine clay known as 'Bangkok clay', which overlies an aquifer system. This has contributed to subsidence caused by extensive groundwater pumping, first discovered in the 1970s. Subsidence has resulted in increased flood risk, as Bangkok is already prone to flooding due to its low elevation and inadequate drainage infrastructure. Severe flooding affecting much of the city occurred in 1995 and 2011. Its coastal location makes Bangkok particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels due to global warming and climate change.

In Their Own Story

As the sun bleeds violet and orange across the horizon, the humidity thickens into a tangible weight. Near Siam Square, a tuk-tuk sputters through gridlock, its engine providing a rhythmic percussion against the distant, metallic chime of temple bells from Wat Phra Kaew. The air is sliced by the sharp scent of frying garlic and lemongrass drifting from a roadside cart, cutting cleanly through the haze of exhaust fumes. In this electric limbo, an elderly monk in saffron robes walks silently past a pulsating neon bar; his staff taps a steady beat on the asphalt, bridging two worlds that occupy the same street corner yet exist in different centuries.

Reader's Guide

Bangkok is divided into fifty districts (khet), which are further subdivided into 180 sub-districts (khwaeng). Each district is managed by a district director appointed by the governor. District councils, elected to four-year terms, serve as advisory bodies. The BMA is divided into sixteen departments overseeing city planning, building control, transportation, drainage, waste management, city beautification, education, medical, and rescue services. The city is the seat of all branches of the national government, including the Government House, Parliament House, and Supreme, Administrative, and Constitutional Courts. Sappaya-Sapasathan is the largest parliament building in the world. Bangkok is the site of the Grand Palace and Dusit Palace, respectively the official and de facto residence of the king. The city seal shows Hindu god Indra riding on Airavata (Erawan), holding his weapon the vajra. The tree symbol is Ficus benjamina. The giant barb (Catlocarpio siamensis) has been chosen as the aquatic animal. The official city slogan was adopted in 2012.

Did You Know?

• The city's ceremonial name is 168 letters long and is listed in Guinness World Records as the world's longest place name.
• The 1989 song 'Krung Thep Maha Nakhon' by Asanee–Wasan consists entirely of the city's full name repeated throughout.
• Bangkok was known during the 19th century as the 'Venice of the East' due to its waterway network serving as the primary means of transport.
• The nickname 'The Big Mango' is a tongue-in-cheek comparison to New York City's 'The Big Apple'.
• The city's seal is based on a painting by Prince Naris, a brother of King Chulalongkorn.