History of Bangkok

Wat Mahathat in Phetchburi, about 200 kms west of Bangkok, was built around 800 years ago. It is one of the places in the province  where visitors can see ancient stucco art. Some of the decorative stucco here was created by contemporary stucco artists including Thongruang Em-oat.

Thon Buri, according to Julapassorn Phanomwan na Ayudhya, was founded during the Ayutthaya period, and residents were mostly aristocrats working for Ayutthaya's royal court.

"Thon Buri was a model of Ayutthaya," said Julapassorn, president of Siam Tasana, a group of Thai history and culture enthusiasts. "Everything was kept in original condition."

These include numerous temples, ancient neighbourhoods and the old way of life.

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal said that the cabinet at a special meeting here Friday gave the green light to the ministry to conduct the study on installing the double tracks linking major cities, namely from Bangkok to the upper southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima and the northern province of Nakhon Sawan, as goods and passenger transport along these routes were found to be especially heavy.

Tunnels will be contructed in conservation areas where the rail tracks will have to pass, for example, Khao Yai National Park, in order to preserve the environment.