Phuket Island

Geography

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand (534 sq km), located in the Andaman Sea , southern part of Thailand . The island is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south.

70% of the island is covered by forest. The western coast has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast are more muddy beaches. Nearly the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma's Cape ), which is a popular sunset viewpoint.

One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps due to the easy access to its wide and long beach . Most of Phuket's nightlife and its cheap shopping are located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest fulled of Banana leaves" in Thai.

Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counter-clockwise direction these include Kata Noi Beach, and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Bang Tao Beach . These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong.

History

Phuket town was founded in the 1st cent. B.C. by colonists from India. European merchants began trading there in the 16th cent. The island, contested by the Siamese and the Burmese during their 18th-century wars, was finally incorporated into Thailand in the 19th cent. Phuket was known to the Malays as Ujong Salang (Cape Salang) and to early European voyagers as Junkceylon.

The most significant event in the history of Phuket was the attack by the Burmese in Francis Light , a British East India Company captain passing by the island, sent word to the local administration that he had observed Burmese forces preparing to attack. Kunying Jan, the wife of the recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook then assembled what forces they could. After a month long siege, the Burmese were forced to retreat March 13 , 1785. The two women became local heroines, receiving the honorary titles Thao Thep Kasatri and Thao Sri Sunthon from King Rama I.

During the reign of King tin-producing southern provinces. In Monthon Phuket was dissolved and Phuket became a province by itself.

In the 1980s and 1990s it experienced rapid development as tourism expanded. Parts of the island's coast were devastated by the Dec., 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami.

Economy

Tin mining has been a major source of income for the island since the 16th century. Chinese Businessmen and Chinese workers were employed in the mines- mostly are Hakka Chinese, and their influence on Phuket culture and cuisine can still be felt today. With falling tin prices, the mining has now all but ceased. Nowadays, Phuket's economy rests on two pillars: rubber tree plantations (making Thailand the biggest producer of rubber in the world) and tourism.

Since the 1980s Phuket has become one of the major tourist attractions of Thailand , and most of the sandy beaches on the western coast of the island have been heavily developed into tourist centers, with Patong, Karon and Kata being the most popular ones. Along with its stunning beach, and picture-perfect landscape, the increase in tourists has been amazing. Since the 2004 Tsunami, all damaged buildings and attractions have been restored.

Tsunami

On December 26, 2004, Phuket and other nearby areas on Thailand's western coast suffered extensive damage when they were struck by a tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The waves destroyed several highly populated areas in the region, killing as many as 5,300 people nationwide and tens of thousands more throughout the wider Asian region. As many as 250 people were reported dead in Phuket, including foreign tourists. Almost all the major beaches on the west coast, especially Patong, Karon and Kata, sustained major damage, with some damage also being caused to resorts and villages on the island's southern beaches.

However, by February 2005 most undamaged resorts were back in business, and throughout 2005 life slowly returned to normal for the people of Phuket. As of November 200, following strenuous recovery programmes, there is little obvious tsunami damage remaining other than at more remote beaches, and the tourist industry which drives the Phuket economy appears to have almost fully recovered.

Traveling to Phuket.

Staying on the island is easy, as there are only two seasons in a year - the rainy season (May to October) and the hot season (November to April). Visitors are not recommended to travel to Phuket between September and October as they are the wettest months. The best period for a visit, is from November to April, when it is possible to see the clear blue sky, feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at the crystal clear water while lying on powdery, palm-fringed beaches. Average temperatures ranges between 23 C and 33 C.

Phuket has a lot more to offer its visitors other than its natural heritage sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture casts its spell delighting travelers to the city, while Phuket-style hospitality has never failed to impress visitors from all walks of life. In addition, accommodations ranging from world-class resorts to tropical-style bungalows have warmly catered to the different needs of travelers. For seafood lovers, there is a lot more to sample than just Phuket's famous lobster. Altogether, these characteristics have made Phuket a truly unique destination.