Bangkok

Tourism

Thailand is one of Southeast Asia's major tourist destinations, and almost all visitors to Thailand pass through Bangkok. In the 1990s, an estimated six to seven million tourists visited Bangkok each year. While Bangkok is famous for its food and wild nightlife, it is probably best known for its history.

Historic buildings and temples are scattered throughout the city. The Grand Palace is considered one of Thailand's most important tourist sites. The Grand Palace dates back to 1782, established when King Rama I moved the capital to Bangkok. Bangkok's famous temples include the Wat Pho and the Wat Traimitr. The Wat Pho temple is home to the 35-meter-long (151-foot-long) Reclining Buddha, and the Wat Traimitr temple houses the world's largest solid-gold Buddha, weighing five metric tons (five-and-a-half tons) and standing three meters (ten feet) high. The Royal Ceremonial Barges are another popular attraction. These elaborately decorated, intricately carved longboats take the form of mythical creatures and are only used by the king on special occasions.