The capital of Thailand is Bangkok; this city is by far the largest in the country. In reality the city’s name is 166 characters long (so you can see why it’s not really used) which the Thais shorten to Krung Thep Mahanakhon; the name Bangkok is actually the name of the original fishing village that later became the city. One of the best sights in the city is probably the Old Town district on Rattanakosin Island. And if you’d like to see some of the temples, the best ones to visit would be Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the Grand Palace, featuring Wat Phra Kaew. For a spot of retail therapy why not head over to Sukhumvit Road?Thailand Car Hire Tip: Though never a colony, the people of Thailand drive on the left; very handy for British and Irish drivers.
Within this urban melange are groups of people that consist of Thai, Indian, Chinese and people from a variety of western countries. The politics of Thailand took some significant turn on 24 June 1932 when a group of young intellectuals, educated abroad and imbued with the concept of Western democracy, staged a bloodless coup, demanding a change form absolute to a constitutional monarchy, Determined to avoid any bloodshed, His Majesty King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) agreed to the abolition of absolute monarchy and the transfer of power to the constitution-based system of government as demanded. On 10 December 1932, His Majesty King Prajadhipok signed Thailand first constitution and thus ended 700 years of Thailand absolute monarchy. Despite the number of successive constitutions that followed in the span of just over half a century, the basic concepts of constitutional government and monarchy laid down in the 1932 constitution have remained unaltered.Many long time residents claim that this unique blend of urban city dwellers provide the metropolitan area with a unique character that is like no other.
Critics however, claim that Bangkok’s tremendous growth has created a whole host of urban problems that could have been managed otherwise. Traffic and pollution are now a daily nemesis.
Thailand Car Hire Tip: Be aware though that when driving in the city, it’s not unusual for motorcyclists to drive up streets the wrong way, they usually hug the footpaths but it can be off putting if you aren’t expecting it.Heading north again you should eventually get to Chiang Mai. Founded in 1296, this is the oldest city in the country and also one of the largest. Some of the original walls of the city still remain though they are mostly in ruins. Inside these walls you’ll find over 30 temples that range is styles and some even date back to the founding of the city! The most famous temple is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. This temple was built in 1383 and overlooks the entire city.Thailand Car Hire Tip: Even though the roads are good, you won’t find much better driving. This is due in part to the past when driving licenses could be bought without any sort of test having to be taken. So expect some speeding and reckless overtaking – but at least they do it in a polite way as it’s rare to find honking of horns or other such aggressive behaviour.
Today Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international visitors and Thailand properties investors. With the incredible number of visitors who simply fall in love with this mesmeric paradise of a ayutthaya thai history
country who find themselves returning year after year, its hardly surprising to hear of the high rental opportunities offered to any investor with a Thailand property and real estate.
Learn more about Ayutthaya The Home Of Thai History.