Krung Thep...

Lumpini Park

Encyclopedia Britannica cites the etymology for the word Bangkok as bang (district/village) and makok (wild plums). Before 1971, Bangkok was the municipality east of the Chao Phraya River (where we currently live!) with Thon Buri to the west of the river. By 1972, King Rama I combined the two sides to form the super city we all know as Bangkok!

However, Thais do not refer to their pollution exhausted city as such. It is more common to use the name Krung Thep (sounds more like: croong tape), which translates to "City of Angels." Sound a little similar to a city in California, right? Well, I'm sure everyone here would claim this naming as original and Thai. Whatever! Now you know where the name of this blog comes from (because I'm sure it was killing you slowly on the inside).

The tale does not end here, friends. Krung Thep is just the abbreviated name for our fair city. The official city name is as follows...

1) In Thai:
กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยามหาดิลก ภพนพรัตน์ ราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์ มหาสถาน อมรพิมาน อวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะ วิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์

2) In Thai, but written in English:
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit

3) In English, translated from Thai:
"The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn"

If you're like me and having trouble digesting the name, watch and learn from this music video by Asanee and Wasan Chotikul.

The lyrics consist solely of Krung Thep's official name.