Official name:	Krung Thep ( City of Angels )
Population:	Officially 6,355,000 ( taken from the 2000 consensus ) but probably a lot higher
Currency:	Thai Baht. ( THB )
Neighbours:	Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia

Bangkok was founded in 1782 by king Rama I. King Rama I was originally known as General Chakri but he became king after the previous king, king Taksin, was executed after a long battle with mental illness.

It was king Taksin who moved Thailand's capital to Thonburi from Ayutthaya after it fell to the Burmese, but after Taksin's death and Chakri's assession to the thrown, Bangkok moved to its present position.

The name Bangkok stems from the name Bangmakok which was a small area that was actually a trading port which provided goods and services to the previous capital of Ayutthaya.

Bangkok is the name foreigners use to refer to its actual name of Krung Thep which translates to mean "The City of Angels".

The name Krung Thep, or the slighly longer version of Krung Thep Mahanakorn, is actually a much abbreviated version of the worlds longest name for a city. The full name is: Krung Thep Mahanakorn Amonrattanakosin Mahintara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phonoppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasatan Amorn Pimanawatan Satit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit.

The positioning of Bangkok on the banks of the Chao Praya river( River of Kings ) meant that it was ripe for strading and shortly, trading communities starting spring up with the Chinese setting up their own community called Yawarat ( China Town ) and the Indians in an area called Pahurat.

increased trade with various countries then spread the word about Bangkok and it soon grew into a much larger community with many rural Thais moving to Bangkok seeking work and to madernise the city.