Bangkok

Bangkok, (in Thai ??????? ?, ?????????????, or Krung Thep, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, IPA: {{IPA|}}), population 8,538,610 (1990), is the capital and largest city of Thailand. The city is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, near the Gulf of Thailand. Bangkok is located at {{coor_dm|13|45|N|100|31|E|type:city}}. http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html

Transportation

An elaborate network of canals (khlong) gave the city the nickname "Venice of the East", at a time when all transportation was done by boat. Today almost all are filled in and converted into traffic-filled streets. However, many do still exist, with people living along them, and markets being conducted there as well. Notable one is the floating market in Taling Chan district.

Related Topics:
Khlong - Venice of the East - Taling Chan district

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several elevated highways, and a partially-finished ring road around Greater Bangkok, have been built to overcome the jams.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1999 an elevated two-line 'Skytrain' (officially called BTS) metro system was opened. The first line of the underground Bangkok Metro opened to the public in July 2004. The remains of a failed elevated railroad project (the Hopewell project) can still be seen all the way from the main railroad station out towards the Don Muang airport - due to the Asian financial crisis the construction was halted and the concrete pillars were left unused. Locals call them "Hopehenge" or Stonehenge.

Related Topics:
1999 - Skytrain - Metro - Bangkok Metro - 2004 - Elevated railroad - Hopewell - Railroad station - Asian financial crisis - Stonehenge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In July 2004, a new MRT subway system was launched connecting the northern train station of Bang Sue to the Hua Lamphong railway station near the city center, while going through the eastern part of the city. It connects to the BTS system at BTS Stations Mo Chit, Asok, and Sala Daeng.

Related Topics:
2004 - MRT - Bang Sue - Hua Lamphong - BTS - Sala Daeng

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For travel by train, most passengers begin their trips at Hua Lamphong, at the southern end of the Metro. Here, trains connect Bangkok to Malaysia to the south, Chiang Mai and beyond to the north, and Khon Kaen and beyond to the northeast.

Related Topics:
Hua Lamphong - Metro - Malaysia - Chiang Mai - Khon Kaen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Virtually all cities and provinces are easily reachable by bus from Bangkok. For destinations in the southwest and the west, buses leave from the Southern Bus Terminal, west of the city. For destinations in the southeast, such as Pattaya and Ko Samet, buses leave from the Eastern Bus Terminal, at Ekkamai, the third-eastern-most stop on the Skytrain. And for all destinations north and northeast, the Northern Bus Terminal at Mo Chit, which is reachable by both Skytrain and Metro, is the place to start.

Related Topics:
Pattaya - Ko Samet - Skytrain

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airports

Bangkok International Airport, commonly called "Don Muang", the busiest in South-East Asia, is located north of the city, now already enclosed by urban areas. Construction for the new Suvarnabhumi Airport (pronounce Suwannaphum), in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan Province to the south-east of the city started in 2002, it is scheduled to be opened in early 2006. Once the new airport is completed, all international traffic is expected to go there and Don Muang will become domestic only. There is also a train station at Don Muang for destinations to the north and northeast.

Related Topics:
Bangkok International Airport - Suvarnabhumi Airport - Bang Phli - Samut Prakan Province - 2002 - 2006

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~