Phuket Island

Phuket

Region: South Thailand

Province: Phuket

Altitude: 2 m (7 ft). Population: 174,745 (island), 55,000 (town)

Coconut palms and rubber trees grow on the hilly island of Phuket, located in the extreme south-west of Thailand and famed for its long, white, sandy beaches lining the azure blue sea. Measuring 48.7 km (30 mi.) long and 21.3 km (13 mi.) wide, Phuket is Thailand's largest island. The Chinese and Portuguese-style houses of Phuket, the province's main town, continue to radiate charm.

By car: from Bangkok Highway 4 to Ban Koke Loi, via 402 and Sarasin bridge to the island (860 km (534 mi.)). From Surat Thani highways 401/4 (290 km (180 mi.)). From Nakhon Si Thammarat 401/403/4 (340 km (211 mi.)). By bus: from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (journey time approximately 13 hours).

By air: both internal and charter flights fly to Phuket.

Phuket has an exceptional climate. The monsoon arrives here earlier than, for example, on the other side of the gulf. It does not rain constantly during the monsoon period but once or twice a day in sometimes heavy downpours: experts think that the subtropical character of the island is shown to its most beautiful advantage at this time. The months of December to March have the fewest rainy days (on average five a month). Throughout the year daily temperatures lie between 28°C (82°F) and 32°C (90°F).

Strong underwater currents occur along the beaches particularly during the monsoon period (May-Oct.). Under certain circumstances these can be very dangerous. Take advice from local people.

Mons (Khmers) are thought to have been Phuket's first inhabitants: they came via the Bay of Bengal from Pagan in present-day Myanmar (Burma), named the island Iunsalen and founded three settlements: Thalang, Kathu and Phuket. The Mons were later joined by Indonesian nomads, "Chao Ley" or "Chao Nam" ("land/water people"); descendants of these people still live on Phuket ("sea gypsies"). King Ekatotsarot (1605-10) was the first to allow trade between Europeans and the native population. Soon after, French, Portuguese and Dutch established trading settlements: the English discovered the extensive tin deposits on Phuket.

The Burmese laid siege to Phuket for the first time in 1785; by the third siege, around 1800, the town had been destroyed. The sisters Chan and Muk led a resistance movement, which protected their home town of Thalang from capture by the Burmese: they pretended to the occupying forces that Thalang was full of soldiers because all the women had dressed up as military men. A bronze memorial situated between the airport and the town commemorates the two national heroines ("Two Sisters" or "Heroines' Monument", Highway 402).

At the beginning of the 19th c. countless Chinese immigrants streamed into Phuket, attracted by the rich mineral resources. They mixed with the native population and their presence is still evident today; about 50,000 of Phuket's inhabitants are "true" Chinese.

After King Rama V had annexed Phuket into his kingdom, the island officially joined the Kingdom of Siam, with Phuket declared the main town of the new province. About 170,000 people now live in the province. The town and the island's upswing are thanks to the systematic extraction of tin deposits. Most of the tin mines are now idle following the drastic fall in the price of tin during the 1980s. The appearance of many damage the otherwise unspoilt rural scenery and are supposed to be recultivated. In addition to tin, tungsten was also discovered on Phuket: raw rubber and copra (the cut and dried flesh of coconuts - the raw material used in the production of coconut oil) are important agricultural products.