G E N E R A L   I N F O R M A T I O N

Phuket Island has a long recorded history, and remains dating back to AD 1025 indicate the island's present day name derives in meaning from the Thamil manikram, or crystal mountain. For most of history, however,it was known as Junk Ceylon,which,with variations,is the name found on old maps. The name is thought to have its roots in Ptolemy's Geographic, written by the Alexandrian geographer in the third Century AD He mentioned that in making a trip from suwannapum to Malay Peninsula it was necessary to pass the cape of Jong Si Lang.
    Phuket was a way station on the route between India and China where seafarers stopped to shelter. The island appears to have been part of Shivite empire (call in Thai the Tam Porn Ling) that established itself on the Malay Peninsula during the first millennium AD Later, as Muang Takua-Talang, it was part of Srivichai and Siri Tahm empire. Governed as the eleventh in a constellation of twelve cities, Phuket's emblem,by which it was known to others in those largely preliterate times, was the dog.
            During the sukothai Period Phuket was associated with Takua Pah in what is now Phang-nga Province, another area with vast tin reserves. The Dutch established a trading post during the Ayuthaya Period in the 16th Cent. The island's northern and western parts were given over to the tin trade, a concession in the hands of foreigners.
            After Ayuthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767 there was a short interregnum in Thailand, ended by King Taksin, who drive out the Burmese and reunified the country. The Burmese, however, were anxious to return to the offensive. They outfitted a fleet to raid the southern provinces, and carry off the populations to slavery in Burma. This led to Phuket's most memorable historic event. A passing sea captain, Francis Light, sent word that the Burmese were en route to attack. Forces in Phuket were assembled led by the two heroines, Kunying Jan, wife of Phuket's recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook. After a month's siege the Burmese were forced to depart on 13 March, 1785.Kunying Jan and her sister were credited with the successful defense.
    In recognition King Rama I bestowed upon Kunying Jan the honorific Thao Thep Kasarti, a title of nobility usually reserved for royalty, by which she is known today. Her sister become Thao Sri Suntorn.
    During the Nineteenth Century Chinese immigrants arrived in such numbers to work the tin mines that ethnic character of the island's interior became predominantly Chinese, while the coastal settlements remained populated chiefly by Muslim fishermen.
    In Rama V's reign, Phuket became the administrative center of a grape of tin mining provinces called Monton Phuket, and in 1993, with the change in government from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary system, the island was established as a province by itself.

Location and Boundaries
   Phuket is an island connected by bridges to southern Thailand's Andaman Sea coast, in the Indian Ocean, lying between 7'45" and 8'15" north latitude, Thailand's largest island, Phuket is surrounded by 32 smaller islands that form part of the same administration, with a total area of 570 square kilometers. Measured at its widest point, Phuket is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.7 kilometers. It is bounded thus:

• On the North: Lies the pak Prah Strait, spanned by two bridges running side-by-side, the older Sarasin Brides ,and the newer Thao Thep Kraratri Bridge.
• On the South: Is the Andaman Sea.
• On the East:Is Ao Phang-nga Bay(In the jurisdiction mainly of Phang-nga Province).
• On the West: Is the Andaman Sea.

Economy
        Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been Phuket's chief source of income. Hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and souvenir shops are mach in evidence on the west coast. However, while once all-important tin mining has ceased, tourism is by no means the is land's only activity. Agriculture remains important to a large number of people, and covers by far the most part of the island. Principal crops are rubber, coconuts,cashews,and pineapples. Prawn farming has largely taken over the east and south coasts. Pearl farming is also important. Phuket's fishing port is at all times filled. and processing of marine products,mainly fish,makes a significant contribution to the economy.
    With so many healthy industries supplying income, construction has become a major factor in
employment.  This ranges from massive public works projects, large office buildings and hotels, and housing estates with hundreds of units, down to single family homes, apartments and additions.

Population
    Official population as of December 31, 1998, was 231,206. This figure numbers those who are registered as living in Phuket. Phuket's attraction as a center of economic activity has resulted in many living on the island whose registration is elsewhere. The total population of Phuket varies considerably depending on the time of year, though it is never less than the figure given above.

Government
    The island is divided into three districts, Talang in the north, Kathu in the west, and Muang in the south. Thailand's system of government relies upon a strong central appointed by the Interior Ministry in Bangkok, as are the Nai Amper, or District Chief. The cities of Phuket and Patong have their own city governments, with elected city councils, the leading members of which serve as mayor. There are also elected provincial, district, and sub district, or Tambon councils. The local constabulary is part of the Interior Ministry.

Comment

Can i have some tourist information please! I need information to go on a tourist leaflet! Thanku! Kim 16 October 2007 23:09

Very useful info! bankingcheck@yahoo.com 18 November 2006 06:25

i like very very much .we will come back soon kenny ,nang 27 August 2006 03:27

what would the area be called that i would stay at on the west side of phuket? im trying to figure out what hotels are my 2 day options befor i take a boat from phuket to koh similan, and what hotels would be good in koh similan to stay at, any type of direction and help would be greatly appreciated. thank you David simpley_pimpin@hotmail.com 02 May 2006 01:36

www.andamanonline.com/phuket/ sandrazocher@tiscali.co.uk 24 April 2006 23:15

Nice site. marvinkmooney42@hotmail.com 26 October 2005 21:10

Pathong beach very nice hotel are good too we stay here for 1 week Summer breeze hotel soi sean sabai oonly 650 baht Nancy 20 October 2005 15:27

How can I check that FARAWAY - Sail and Dive Expeditions - Tax No 3861031695 - is OK ? I have to send a lot of money for charter. Am coming from France. costamed@tiscali.fr 07 October 2005 15:19

want links to my friend mugu in germeny MUGU@MAGA.COM 03 August 2005 19:40

Christina from Sweden!! How can i contact you?? peetee17@hotmail.com peetee17@hotmail.com 14 January 2005 23:49

Dear sir/madam, my name is c.muthupandi. i want to get message from my uncle. i do not know where he is in andaman. my family can not get any message from my uncle. he works in c.p.w.d department in andaman,portblair. his name is v.chinnaiya. his native place is tamil nadu. his address is chinnaiya, kampoor, karungalakudi ,melur tk,madurai dt, tamil nadu, south india. please find out where he is in andaman. cmuthupandian@yahoo.com 02 January 2005 21:17

I still miss my Brother Norbert Doswald (Swiss) 47 Years old, 75 kg, 1.80 m, less hair His injured wife lost him on the beach in Khao Lak. If anybody knows anything please let me know. Picture: http://www.doswald.ch/norbert.htm E-mail: h-m.doswald@bluewin.ch Mobile: +41 79 373 56 21 h-m.doswald@bluewin.ch 02 January 2005 20:39

I would like to do volunteer work. I can do basic first aid and can speak English, Spanish, French, Norwegain, Swedish and Hindi, but not Thai. Please contact me at rezrezrez@fastmail.fm thank you and good luck--chuck dee, to all! -rrez rezrezrez@fastmail.fm 02 January 2005 15:19

does anyone knowwhat happened to my friend MICHEL SARLAND french leaving in phuket please call me or email 01 36 35 343 bkk ben_yok@hotmail.com thank you in advance ben ben_yok@hotmail.com 01 January 2005 19:02

Vermisst werden Werner Moser und Evi Schwenkel aus Deutschland Still missed are Werner Moser and Evi Schwenkel from Germany Werner : 51 Jahre - 1,75m - 73 kg - grau-schwarzes schulterlanges krauses Haar Werner : 51 years old - 1,75m - 73 kg - gray-black shoulder-lenght frizzy hair Evi : 39 Jahre - 1,70m - 55 kg zierlich schlank - blondes schulterlanges glattes Haar Evi : 39 years old - 1,70m - 55 kg lithe and lissom - blond shoulder-lenght straight hair Letzter Kontakt aus Khao Lak: Last contact was from Khao Lak: Paradise Bungalow and Restaurant Bangniang Beach Khao Lak Takua-Pa Phang-NGA Salisar Tanthloha (Nuth) 0066 (0) 9/8738997 P.O. Box 34 A. Tahuapa, Phang Nga Thailand 82110 Tel. 00619700425 + 006676420254 Informationen bitte an mailto:werner_evi_missing@arcor.de For Informations please send a mailto:werner_evi_missing@arcor.de Danke schon mal im Vorraus. Thanks for helping me on my search. Patric Meyer werner_evi_missing@arcor.de 31 December 2004 08:36

WHAT DO YOU THINK JASON AND LAURE?, DO YOU WANT TO SEE DEAD PEOPLE UNDER WATER. BAS 31 December 2004 05:28

Please :Is any Portuguese People in any of hospital?? J.bento1@msn.com 30 December 2004 23:17

Does anyone know what happened to my Nephew Norbert Ziegler who is from Munich, Germany. Please call me at 321 242-7639. Melbourne, FL. gillthomas@earthlink.net 30 December 2004 22:28

I wonder how someone could only think to go diving after what happened in the areas. Diving? Thailand will need as many tourists as possible in the future, I think that now just need to make sure that whoever survived is kept safe from colera risk. chiara 30 December 2004 07:12

Thailand will need all the tourists it can get, so if they say they are running, then go. 30 December 2004 01:40

I plan to learn SCUBA in Phuket this weekend. The operator told me that they still run their diving program in some island such as racha island. Can anyone tell me that, is that safe and suitable for diving at this time in Phuket ? islander9992005@hotmail.com 29 December 2004 10:21

Hi there!!!!!we are planning a diving trip to the similan islands in 2 weeks, but due to the recent tsunami we would like to know if the islands are still suitable for diving and if operators are running from the mainland?. any information you can give would be a great help.... thanks Jason + Laure jasonwootton@hotmail.com 28 December 2004 10:13

www.smilepets.com Dog inn ,pet shop,grooming.pupies for sale smilepets_phuket@hotmail.com 05 April 2004 23:07

send me anything written in english about real estate, becoming an expat looking to retire soon thanks bob gwteal6@aol.com 20 March 2004 08:11

Add a comment

Comments Name/E-mail