History of Bangkok

Early History

Arguably the world’s biggest medical tourism center, Bangkok originated as a cluster of villages and paddy fields to the east of the 379-kilometer long Chao Phraya River.  The Chao Phraya greatly impacted the history of Thailand, with its fertile basin providing a welcome base for settlers interested in agriculture and fishing.  Thailand, then known as Siam, was embroiled in deep internal conflicts, with leaders of the various city-sates trying to wrest control through brute force.   

Burmese incursions did little to help relations, and following a major invasion in the 18^th century, a Thai general named Phraya Thaksin founded a new capital at Thonburi on the banks of the river Chao Phraya.  The villages here were called Bang Makok, meaning “village of wild plumbs.”   Before they left, the Burmese ravaged Ayuthaya razing it almost to the ground, and the stage was set for the sleepy cluster of villages to take its place. 

Thaksin set about trying to reclaim the rest of the country, and his reign saw the building of several temples, including Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn.  However, he was soon overthrown in a coup, and another general, Phra Buddha Yodea Chulaloke, was crowned king.  The new king named himself King Rama I, and one of the first things he did was to shift the capital from Thonburi to a spot on the east side of the river.  The location – surrounded by water from all sides - was thought to present a formidable defense against further aggression from foreigners.  The new capital had a new name – Krung Thep, which means “city of angels,” and which is actually the short version of a four line version that is the city’s real name.  In fact, Bangkok’s official name is the longest place name in the world.  Foreign traders however, couldn’t really be bothered with the name change, and the old moniker, Bang Makok (shortened to Bangkok) stuck.  Don’t be too surprised if locals on your medical tourism holiday keep referring to their city as Krung Thep – you didn’t catch the wrong plane. 

Modern History

On April 21, 1782, the city pillar was raised, signifying the beginning of the Chakri dynasty.  King Rama I was the first ruler in a line of Chakri kings that continues to this day. The new king ushered in an age of great cultural and architectural developments in the capital.  Modern day Bangkok’s two most visited attractions, the temple of the Emerald Buddha, built on land vacated by Chinese merchants, and the Grand Palace, were built during his reign.  

It was under King Mongkut or Rama IV that the face of the city began to change dramatically.  It was the mid nineteenth century, and winds of colonialism were sweeping across Asia.  Realizing that tiny Siam might get crushed in this imperial onslaught, Rama IV began wooing colonial powers, finalizing treaties that protected Siam from colonization. Under his reign, the city’s port was expanded, and the first paved streets were built.  The King & I was loosely based on Rama IV, although the film is officially banned in the kingdom due to its supposedly inaccurate portrayal of a beloved king.  

By the turn of the twentieth century, Bangkok had expanded, connecting surrounding areas with its growing network of bridges, canals, waterways, and highways.  This rapid growth helped put Bangkok on the map as international commerce and foreign investments helped boost the city’s reputation.  Bumrungrad Hospital’s arrival in the 1970s only further solidified the city’s growing importance as an international hot spot and medical tourism mecca.  Nowadays, Bangkok is one of the most visited health vacation destinations in the world offering unparalleled service to foreigners from all over the globe. 

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