Destination : PHUKET, Thailand

August 8, 2013 fly cebu pacific Destination, International, Landmark, 0

Thailand’s largest island Phuket is located at the southern most part of the country, has no land boundaries, and is connected to the mainland Thailand only by two bridges. But it is a favorite tourist destination of the country and has the most beautiful beaches in the world. It derives its name from the Malay word bukit which means ‘hill’, the islands topography has lots of it.

The island is formerly called Thalang which means ‘cape’ in Malay, was a major trading routes of India and China. In ancient times, Thalang’s industry was mainly tin and rubber. The now Phuket’s main industry is tourism.

The early history of Phuket saw Dutch, English and French traders set their sails to the island where rich sources of tin can be found. Upon learning of European becoming rich from the natural resources they get from Thalang or Phuket, the king of Siam King Narai ordered to lessen the influence from the Europeans by instilling a governor and tried to operate the tin business in favor of the Siamese.

Slowly, the Europeans cut off their ties with Thalang, and saw the downfall of the island. In recent years, tourism became the island’s main industry and tourism boom hit Phuket and the island is back on the business field.

Phuket also saw and became a victim of the deadly tsunami that hit most of the South East Asian nation in 2004. It was reported that 250 tourists were killed by the nature’s wrath in Phuket mostly foreign tourists. Most of the major beaches especially Patong, Karon, Kamala and Kata were the most affected areas in Phuket.

But life and business returned slowly in Phuket until they became normal again a year after the deadly tsunami destroyed the island and tourist came back and enjoy the beaches once more.

Here are some tourist attractions you can find in the beautiful island of Phuket.

The monument of the Two Heroines – It is a life sized monument in honor of heroic
The Two Heroines Monument

sisters in the 1700s Thao Theo Kasattri and Thao Sri Suntorn who helped the islanders defend Phuket from the invasion of the Burmese. The sisters assembled the locals and dressed the women as military men, paraded through the streets which the Burmese thought the increase in Phuket’s military force that eventually saw the withdrawal of the Burmese army from the island. When you’re in Phuket, you will pass the monument and is the center of the most important cross roads of Phuket.
The Big Buddha of Phuket – The 45 meters high Big Buddha sits on the peak of the Nakkerd Hills, is the island’s most revered landmark. Known as the Phra Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha to most Thais, the humongous statue is made of white Burmese marble that symbolizes peace and hope to the locals. It’s location is very serene that the only noises you will hear are the tinkling of the small bells and flapping
View of the island atop the Big Buddha Hill

of the yellow Buddhist flags around the statue. Most of the roads going up to the Nakkerd Hills were developed for tourist to visit the Big Buddha even with the steep and sharp curved roads. Most of the young tourists trek up to the hill for added adventure. Atop the hill, you can view the whole island with its breathtaking scenery that seemed to be a live painting.
Thalang National Museum – The museum is located on Pa Khlok Road near the Two
Thalang National Museum

Heroines Museum, it was built in 1985 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Thalang War. The museum contains important ancient artifacts, exhibition of the old life in Phuket, materials and weapons used during the island’s war with Burma, and an exhibit retelling the famous battle of the two heroic sisters Thao Thep Kasatri and Thao Sri Suntorn known to many islanders as the Two Heroines. It also contains exhibit depicting the early history of Phuket’s tin mining and the island’s Chinese heritage. The museum is open daily except holidays for tourist to enjoy and know more of Phuket’s history.
Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Centre – Located in Amphoe Thalang, the conservation is the center of environmental studies on the
Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Centre

island that conserves a variety of wild animals and areas with virgin forest which in time will become extinct. You can find here a rare species of the Governor’s Palm or White Back Palm that only you will in Phuket. The center is also known as Khap Phra Thaeo. It was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and home to wild and unique animals like the barking deer, langurs and macaques. It is also the home for more animals like the mouse deer, gibbons, porcupines, different varieties of reptiles, lizards and several species of birds. In its forest, you can find the Bang Pae Waterfall which is small waterfall noted for its curved cliff. The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Center is not only a popular tourist attraction but the government makes it sure that every school on the island visit it to educate students more of nature and the site’s intention to protect and preserve animals and plants from extinction.