What comes into the mind of travellers when we talk about
Sea, sun and sand? Phuket must definitely be one of the answers. A number of
exciting activities can be found on this Island. In the early days of regional
maritime trade, the cape of Phuket was locally referred to as Jung Ceylon,
while locals called it Thalang, which evolved to be the name of the main town
to the north of the island. As the perfect stopover sheltering traders from monsoons,
Jung Ceylon welcomed merchants from India, Persia, Arabia, Burma, China, and
also Siam. During the 16th century, the island was a popular trading port for
tin. In 1785, Thalang town was surrounded by Burmese troops who invaded the
coastal area. It was under the leadership of Chan, the widow of the governor,
and her sister, Muk, who united the local residents and successfully fought and
drove the invaders out of Phuket. It took over 30 days for the defending troops
of Phuket, under the command of Chan and Muk, to claim their victory. As a
result of such heroic deeds, noble titles were granted to Chan and Muk as Thao
Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn, respectively. They are still highly
respected by Phuket residents even today. When the city was in a peaceful
state, the development of mining was so unprecedented. Chinese businessmen and
miners later migrated to Phuket and soon enjoy thriving wealth. The island's
long History has shaped the Phuket of the present with its diverse ethnic
groups, Culture, architectural influence, and fine cuisine. These attributes
have made Phuket a complete tourist destination that offers a lot more beyond
its natural heritage of sea, sand, forest, and world-renowned diving sites.
Sino-Portuguese architecture casts its spell delighting travellers to the city,
while Phuket style of hospitality has never failed to impress visitors from all
walks of life.
Phuket province is located in Southern Thailand. It is
the biggest island of Thailand and sits on the Andaman Sea. The nearest
province to the north is Phang-nga and the nearest provinces to the east are
Phang-nga and Krabi.
Phuket has a large Chinese influence, so you will see
many Chinese shrines and Chinese Restaurants around the city. A Chinese
Vegetarian Festival is held there every year. While the Chinese community is
quite big, there are many other ethnicities bringing all their traditions and
festivals from all over the world to Phuket.
Being a big island, Phuket is surrounded by many
magnificent Beaches such as Rawai, Patong, Karon, Kamala, Kata Yai, Kata Noi,
and Mai Khao. Laem Phromthep Viewpoint is said to feature the most beautiful
sunsets in Thailand.
It isn’t all just beaches though, there is also fantastic
classical architecture such as the Goom Restaurant. That and the very welcome
atmosphere and the famous Phuket nightlife, you can see why the island is a
hotspot for tourists in Thailand.
Visiting
Phuket is easy as there are many travel options.
