Bangkok is the capital and largest city of Thailand. It was founded in 1782 by King Rama I (named Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke). It is situated on the Great Chao Phya River Delta which flows from the North down to the Gulf of Thailand. It has long been a gateway to Thailand because of its route which leads to the Gulf of Thailand. The word - Bangkok is obtained from two ancient Thai words, i.e. "Bang" means Village and "Kok" means Olive, thus its original meaning is "Village of Olive". Bangkok was just a small agricultural and fishing village where people traveled mainly by rowing boats. Bangkok began as a small trading center and port community, called Bang Makok, or "place of olive plums"

Rama II is supposed to be the founder of Bangkok as his capital while before the capital has been Thonburi. Bangkok has existed already for some time and European merchants had stopped at Bangkok on their way to the first capital Ayutthaya.

A nobleman Taksin who fought against Burmese troop decided to establish the new capital called "Krung Thonburi", because Ayuthaya was too large for his small army. He was later named "King Taksin the Great", and ruled over Krung Thonburi for fourteen years. Unfortunately, King Taksin was defeated by a group of his own noblemen who betrayed him. Yodfa Chulaloke, commander of his Grand Army quickly returned from war with Khmer and fought back. Although he won, it was too late as King Taksin and the Royal Family were all assassinated. Being a far-sighted man, Yodfa Chulaloke saw that Krung Thonburi would be too small to be a great capital in future; he then moved the capital to another side of Chao Phya Riverbank in 1782 - which is today Bangkok. Yodfa Chulaloke succeeded the throne and was the first Monarch of the present Chakri Dynasty. His Majesty gained the title "the Great".

Today, the Bangkokians and most Thai people called 'Bangkok' as 'Krungthep' which means the City of Angels. Bangkok has won the Guinness Book Records as the longest place official name.