Originally Posted by
Ben Ell
Only learnt this today talking to a Thai co-worker. From what she was saying, Bangkok is one side of the river and Krung Tep is the other, non-Thais call the whole city Bangkok, Thais call the whole city Krung Thep (the shortened official name)
Roughly. Back in the days when the capital was still in Ayutthaya, there was a hamlet called
Bang Makok ("Village of the Olives") on the west bank of the river, and this is probably the source of the Western name. After King Taksin got his rear kicked by the Burmese in 1767 and had to flee south, he founded his new capital Thonburi on the same spot, and that's what the west bank is called today... and Krung Thep was founded in 1782 when the next king after Taksin decided to rebuild on the east bank, where the bulk of the city is today.