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Bangkok, capital of Thailand, is a city of contradictions, with tall skyscrapers standing on one side of the road,
and poor men's shed's on the other. The city is noisy, crowded, polluted,
but at the same time, interesting, fascinating, and full of cultural treasures.
Bangkok is known for its sex industry, but has a lot to offer with regards to its heritage and past.
The Grand Palace for instance is one of the world's most beautiful men-built structures,
a must see for any Bangkok visitor.
Bangkok has a history that goes back a longer way, but the city itself was founded in 1782,
when king Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi across the Chao Phraya River,
with the river serving as a natural line of defense against the Burmese invaders.
In the more than 200 years that followed, Bangkok has grown from a small collection of villages to
a large, multi-cultural, metropolition city, with a population of over 7 million, 10% of the country's total population.
The city has a lot of skyscrapers, but unfortunately all scattered across town,
which denies Bangkok any kind of real skyline, like for instance New York City has, or Hong Kong.
The crisis that hit Asia during the second half of the Nineties hit Bangkok hard as well
and many planned high-rise projects came to a halt, were postponed, or cancelled.




Above: Baiyoke Tower II (304m/997f, 85 stories, 1998), Thailand's tallest building.
With the spire/antenna (which was erected in 1999) on top, the building's height is 328m/1,077f)
The middle and upper levels are part of the Baiyoke Sky hotel.
The lower levels are part of the parking lot of the hotel. The first few levels are occupied by shops.
There is also an observatory, from which you have a good view over the city. That is, when there is no smog...
(See the one but last picture on this page for such a smog filled view).
In the first picture you see can Baiyoke Tower II on the right and Baiyoke Tower I on the far left.
To see what a 360 degree view from the observatory looks like, click here




Above: Bangkok's 2nd tallest building: Royal Charoen Krung Tower, or RCK Tower (247m/811f, 68 stories),
as the building was called in March of 2001, when the pictures were taken.
These days the building is named State Tower.
When the pictures were taken the building wasn't fully completed yet.
There was still work going on inside of the building. The building was opened in May 2001.
The tower is an office and residential one with retail facilities and lies very close to the Chao-Phraya River.
It also houses a hotel (lebua at State Tower), which occupies 23 floors of the building and has 198 suites.
Presently (January 2007), floors 60, 61, and 62 are being renovated.
They will be turned into six penthouses, each with a swimming pool and dining room,
and each 1,200 square metres in size. Like the hotel rooms, they can be booked;
prices per night: between 15,000 and 20,000 euro!!!!
The penthouses should be ready in 2008.


Above left: Bangkok's 3rd tallest building: Empire Tower, seen from the back (227m/744f, 62 stories, 1999).
Above middle: two pictures of Jewelry Trade Center, Bangkok's 4th tallest one (221m/724f, 59 stories, 1996).
Above right: and this is #5, The China Resource Tower,
which was still under construction when the pictures were taken.
It is part of the All Season Project, which also includes three smaller towers, a hotel, shops and more.
The building was completed in 2002, is 210m/689f tall and has 55 stories.


Above: the very unique Thai Wah Towers II, also known as the Westin Banyan Tree Hotel (194m/636f,
60 stories, 1995). A night in a room in this hotel will cost you between US$ 250,- and US$ 1200,-!
Remember that ordinary - but safe and clean - hotels in bangkok charge you about US$20,- per night.


Above left: view from Lumpini Park with Abdulrahim Place (187m/613f, 34 stories, 1996)
and the Thai Wah Towers II in the background, and a street view of Abdulrahim Place.
Above right: one of the best looking buildings of Bangkok: the Thai Farmer Bank Headquarters
(177m/581f, 42 stories, 1995), beautifully situated near a bridge and the Chao-Phraya River.


Above left and middle: three views from the observatory of the Baiyoke Tower II building.
On the left, Vanit Tower I (160m/525f, 42 stories, 1994).

In the middle, Baiyoke Tower I, or Baiyoke Suites Hotel,
(151m/495f, 42 stories, 1987).
On the right, the Grand Diamond towers I and II
(no height available, tower I (36 stories, 1998), Tower II (28 stories, 1998).
Above far right: Thai Wah Tower I (24 stories, no other information available).
The tower stands right in front of Thai Wah Tower II.


Above left: smog filled view from the Baiyoke Tower II observatory
towards the business district area of Bangkok, with some of Bangkok's tallest rising above
(Empire Tower, Jewelry Trade Center, State Tower).
Above right: view from across the Chao-Phraya River,
with Jewelry Trade Center on the left, and State Tower on the right.


A couple of buildings have been added to the skyline of Bangkok
since I visited the city in March of 2001,
and a couple more tall ones are under construction at the moment.
Here's a selection of the tallest buildings completed since 2001,
and under construction at the moment:

Central World Tower (235m/771f, 57 stories, 2007);
The Met (228m/748f, 69 stories, 2009);
Pano (203m/664f, 55 stories, 2009);
Pornpat Center (175m/574f, 46 stories, 2004);
Baan Siri Twenty Four (132m/432f, 34 stories, 2006)

Patrick Beckers, January 2007



Above: two giant statues of guards in the Grand Palace of Bangkok.
If you ever go to Bangkok for either business, holiday or skyscrapers,
be sure to visit the Grand Palace as well. It's magnificent!
To see more pictures of the Grand Palace, click the picture;
it will take you to a special Grand Palace page of the Famous Icons section.



Bangkok's 10 tallest skyscrapers:
1. BAIYOKE TOWER II 304m/997f, 85 stories, 1997
2. STATE TOWER 247m/811f, 68 stories, 2001
3. EMPIRE TOWER 227m/744f, 62 stories, 1999
4. JEWELRY TRADE CENTER 221m/724f, 59 stories, 1996
5. CHINA RESOURCES TOWER 210m/689f, 55 stories, 2002
6. SINN SATHORN TOWER 195m/640f, 43 stories, 1993
7. THAI WAH TOWER II 194m/636f, 60 stories, 1995
8. UNITED CENTER 187m/614f, 55 stories, 1995
9. ABDULRAHIM PLACE 187m/614f, 34 stories, 1996
10. TIPCO TOWER 180m/591f, 34 stories, 1997

The building data, the top 10 of tallest buildings and some of the building information are courtesy of
EMPORIS.COM, one of the world's leading architectural resources on tall buildings.

All pictures copyright (c) 2001 Patrick Beckers. All Rights Reserved.
Download of any pictures from this site without written consent is strictly prohibited, unless for personal use!
This personal use does NOT include using the pictures on other web sites.

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