13 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Bangkok
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In the Bangkok Travel Guide article, I wrote in detail about what you need to know Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. However, there are also things you didn’t know about it and you can find them on the post of Interesting Facts About Bangkok. Actually, the best way to remember a city is to experience it firsthand, try local flavors, and listen to stories about it from the locals. The more interesting and real the information is, the more it is etched in our memories.
With this in mind, I tried to compile the most interesting facts you need to know about Bangkok.
But before that, let’s leave our articles where you can find the most essential information:
Interesting Facts About Bangkok
I’ve gathered some fresh, untapped facts you need to know about Bangkok. Let’s see which ones you’re already familiar with.
The World’s Longest City Name
The city is commonly referred to as “Krung Thep,” which means “City of Angels” in Thai. Bangkok’s official name in Thai is a 166-character-long string, making it the longest place name in the world: ‘Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.’
The Venice of the East
Situated around the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok boasts numerous canals, earning it the nickname “Venice of the East.” In the past, transportation was largely reliant on these canals.
The Hottest Capital of the World
Bangkok is recognized by the World Meteorological Organization as the world’s hottest major city. Temperatures rarely drop below 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year, with an average temperature consistently above 30°C.
Respect for the King
In Bangkok, there is great respect for the king and the royal family. Photos and posters of the royal family can be found in many places throughout the city, and the royal anthem is played in cinemas before movies start.
Transgender Toilets
Bangkok is one of the first cities in the world to embrace transgender toilets. In many places throughout the city, in addition to male and female toilets, there are also transgender toilets.
Home of Red Bull
The world-famous energy drink Red Bull was invented in Bangkok in 1976 by Chaleo Yoovidhya. This drink became internationally recognized with the help of Austrian businessman Dietrich Mateschitz.
Water Wars
Bangkok hosts the world’s largest water fights every year during the Thai New Year (Songkran). The city is soaked for three days.
The Largest Golden Buddha
The world’s largest golden Buddha statue is located in the Wat Traimit temple in Bangkok. This statue weighs 5.5 tons and is valued at $250 million.
Color-Coded Taxis
Taxis roaming the streets of Bangkok come in various colors like bright pink, blue, green, and yellow. These colors represent different taxi companies.
The World’s Largest Weekend Market
Chatuchak Market is the world’s largest weekend market with over 15,000 stalls and more than 200,000 visitors. You can find almost anything here.
The World’s Largest Chinatown
Bangkok’s Chinatown, known as Yaowarat, is the largest of its kind in the world. Don’t forget to visit this neighborhood, which is home to over 1 million Chinese residents.
Temple Pictures on Coins
Thai coins feature images of temples. After learning this, while touring Bangkok, the most popular tourist city, you won’t forget to look at the backs of coins. Maybe you’ll even add them to your collection.
Interesting Laws
In Bangkok, there are old laws that haven’t kept up with the times and are still valid. Here are some things that are prohibited or considered crimes in Bangkok:
- Using durian fruit as a weapon
- Leaving home without wearing underwear
- Operating a motor vehicle while naked
- Printing currency that contains the king’s image, which should not be disrespected
General Information About Bangkok
After the interesting facts about Bangkok, I wanted to summarize the general information about Bangkok:
- The city is commonly referred to as “Krung Thep,” meaning “City of Angels.”
- 90% of Bangkok’s population is Buddhist.
- There are 400 Buddhist temples, 55 mosques, 10 churches, 2 Hindu temples, 2 synagogues, and 1 Sikh gurudwara in Bangkok.
- Bangkok is divided into 50 districts, with 35 districts located east of the Chao Phraya River and 15 districts in the Thonburi area of the city.
- The currency used in Bangkok is the Thai Baht (THB).
