Bangkok is the Thai capital city and known in Thai as "Krung Thep Maha Nakhon" meaning "city of angels".Bangkok originally was a small village on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river. After the fall of Ayutthaya in the late 18th century, King Taksin the Great turned that village into Siam's new capital and renamed it Thonburi. In 1782, King Rama I moved the capital to the eastern bank of the river at Rattanakosin; originally the site of a Chinese community, who were moved outside of the new city walls to Yaowarat.
The full ceremonial name of Bangkok city given by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, and later edited by King Mongkut, is:" Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit "
Bangkok is one of two special administrative areas in Thailand, the other being Pattaya.
