PETALING JAYA: When a traveller goes from one place to another, he hopes that the name of the place will be short and easy to remember. If it’s too long or has several words in it, that will be a hard task
Is the city with the longest name in the world located in Southeast Asia?
Yes, it’s Bangkok in Thailand. And no, it is not this seven-letter word that the general public is accustomed to.
The name of the country’s capital, given in the 1800s by King Mongkut (Rama IV) reads as follows: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.
The phrase translates into, “Great city of devas (winged beings), the residence of the holy Emerald Buddha, full of prosperity and everlasting beauty, adorned with nine precious gems, rich in immense royal palaces, heavenly abode built on Earth by Thao Sakka Thewarat Witsanukam for the reborn deities.”
The name, bearing 168 characters, also made it into the Guinness Book of Records for longest place name.
Aside from the name Bangkok, the locals would refer to the city by its shortened version, Krung Thep, which means “City of Angels”.
In 2022, there were rumours of Bangkok’s name being changed to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. However, Thai’s Royal Society clarified their new guidance was simply a stylistic change.
“Writing the capital city’s official name with the Roman alphabet can be done both as Krung Thep Maha Nakon and Bangkok,” the agency was reported saying.
The next time you plan to visit this city in our neighbouring country, this is a little trivia that you can tell your family and friends.
-TheStar