A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only South-east Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Thailand's history emerges from the Bronze Age, whereas Bangkok is a young city founded in 1782. With a population of around six million (nine million including the surrounding provinces), Bangkok's population is 49 times greater than that of the next largest city, Chiang Mai. Bangkok lies on the banks of the Chao Phraya river, a wonderful working waterway full of sampans and a wide variety of boats and rice barges.

Bangkok is a beautiful mix of the old and the new, the modern and the ancient evident from its skyline that comprises of Buddhist temples, luxury hotels, high rise office buildings and shopping malls making it a kaleidoscope. Under the thin veneer of new found Western influence you will find that the Thais are not devoid of traditional values. The sights of ubiquitous street food sellers, monks on morning begging rounds and women stringing jasmine blossoms on thread near Buddhist temple will display the cultural heritage of Thailand that is not lost in the arc lights of modernity.

Bangkok is packed with more attractions per square kilometre than any other city in the world. Despite the crowds, the architecture and the attractions are worth the effort to see. On the top of the list would be Wat Phra Khao, the Grand Palace, the National Museum and Wat Pho. Chinatown, one of Bangkok's major attractions has a unique traditional life untouched by modern civilisation. Historical sites like Rattanakosin Island (central point when Bangkok was founded) are also worth visiting. The main symbolic places of Bangkok are Wat Arun on the Chao Phraya River.