Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BANGKOK TONGUE-TWISTER
Upon completion of the royal district in 1785, at a three-day consecration ceremony attended by tens of thousands
of Siamese, the capital of Siam was given a new name: 'Krungthep mahanakhon amonratanakosin mahintara ay-
uthaya mahadilok popnopparat ratchathani burirom udomratchaniwet mahasathan amonpiman avatansathit
sakkathattiya witsanukamprasit'. This lexical gymnastic feat translates roughly as: 'Great City of Angels, the Re-
pository of Divine Gems, the Great Land Unconquerable, the Grand and Prominent Realm, the Royal and De-
lightful Capital City full of Nine Noble Gems, the Highest Royal Dwelling and Grand Palace, the Divine Shelter
and Living Place of Reincarnated Spirits'.
Understandably, foreign traders continued to call the capital Bang Makok, which eventually truncated itself to
'Bangkok', the name most commonly known to the outside world. These days all Thais understand 'Bangkok'
but use a shortened version of the official name, Krung Thep (City of Angels). When referring to greater
Bangkok, they talk about Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Metropolis of the City of Angels). Expats living in Bangkok
have numerous nicknames for their adopted home, with the Big Mango being the most common.
