Phuket,
867 km from Bangkok, is Thailand's largest island, and the country's only island province. It is also a regional government headquarters, and with a population of 1.6 million, Phuket ranks as the sixth largest province in Thailand.
Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, Phuket derived much of its former glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which dates back over 500 year.
Today, Phuket is the country's major tourist attraction. The surrounding waters contain much varied marine life and the island itself is blessed with lovely seashores and forested hillsides. Approximately 1.75 million Rai of the island is forest. Phuket Town also has some wonderful examples of Sino-Portuguese architecture.
The dream of escaping to an idyllic tropical island becomes a reality on Phuket; Thailand's southern paradise.
Shaped like an irregular pearl and measuring approximately 21 km wide by 48 km long, the island is sparsely populated outside Phuket Town. The landscape is one of lush green hills, coconut groves, rubber plantations and a coastline dotted with a dozen spectacular beaches. (Browse Beaches of Phuket).
Unspoilt stretches of fine white sand are found along the entire west coast of the island. Each sun-drenched beach has a character and charm of its own, and is separated from its neighbors by picturesque headlands and backdrops of wooded hills. Lapping the shore are the sparkling warm blue waters of the Andaman Sea.
Location and Boundaries
Phuket is and island connected by bridges to southern Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast, in the Indian Ocean, lying between 7’45” and 8’15” north latitude, and from 98’15” to 98’40” west longitude on the map. Phuket, Thailand’s largest islands, 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 widest point, Phuket is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.7 kilometers. It is bounded thus:
North
Lies The Pak Prah strait, spanned by two bridges running side-by side, the older Sarasin Bridge, and the newer Thao Thep Krasatri Bridge.
South
Is the Andaman Sea.
East
Is Phang Nga Bay (In the jurisdiction mainly of Phang Nga Province).
West
Is The Andaman Sea.
Geography
Phuket is located in the tropical zone between 7 deg. 45 min. and 8 deg. 15 min. Phuket Island lies on the West coast of the Kra Isthmus in the warm Andaman Sea and is connected to the mainland by the 660m-long Sarasin causeway and 700m-long Tao Tepkrasatree causeway. The name of Phuket is derived from the Malay “Bukit” means hill and it's Thailand 's only island to have provincial status know as “The Pearl of Thailand” because of its shape. It's covered a total area of 570 sq. kms including the 32 neighbor islands. The width of the island is about 20 kms and 45 kms length.
According to the 2000 estimate the population of Phuket is 250,000 populations for registers and 100,000 populations for non-registers. About 72% are Thai Buddhists, 25.5% are Thai Muslim and 2.5% other faith. There are only 2 seasons in the year;
Hot season from November to April
Rainy season from May to October
The temperature throughout the year varies between 24-36 C. It rains about 170 days in the year with average annual rainfall of 2,300 mm. It's humidity 70%. About 70% mountainous area mostly located in the South. There is no important river but a total of a brooks and creeks. Yet there are two waterfalls named Tonsai and Krathu waterfall.
Economy
The per capita income is 2,000 USD which is the second highest in the country where as the nation income is 1,285 USD per year.
Its economy is based on the related tourism business, agriculture such as rubber plantation, coconut, rice and so on. Up to last decade the tin was Phuket's major income.
Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been Phuket's chief source of income. Hotels, restaurant, tour companies, and souvenir shops are much in evidence on the west coast. However, while once all-importance tin mining has ceased, tourism is by no means the island'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 time 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 range 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.
Climate
Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always warm and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average temperatures, at 33.4 degree Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degree Celsius.
Government
The island is divided into three districts, Thalang in the north, Kathu in the west, and Muang in the south. Thailand 's system of government relies upon a strong central authority, thus the Provincial Governor is a civil servant appointed by the Interior Ministry in Bangkok , as are the Nai Amphoe, 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.
Population
Official population as of December, 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, through it is never less than the figure given above.
Office hours
Bank
Banking hours-Monday to Friday 8.30 am To 3.30 pm. , some banks are open until 5.00 p.m. on Monday – Friday, Currency exchange booths are usually open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most bands handle traveler 's cheques and foreign currency exchange. Passport are required when cashing travellers' cheque. A nominal commission may be charged.
General business Hours: Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm , weekdays. And 9am to 12am on Saturday, for except Public Holidays when hours may vary. Tour desks in the major beach, shops and local stores open from 10 or 11 am to 10 pm.
Government office Hours: Monday – Friday 8.30 Am to 4.30 pm weekdays, Saturday, Sunday and Public holidays are close.
Health:
World-Class hospitals are available in Phuket town and Patong area. Ambulance service at the minmum cost form Bangkok Phuket Hospital.
Church, Mosques & Chinese Shirnes:
There are Buddhist temples , Chinese Shrines and Mosques available throughout Phuket Island.
Phuket Postal Services
Post Office locations
Phuket Town , main Post Office on Montri Road , near the Pearl traffic.
Patong – Rat - U – Thit Road , next to the Patong Palace Hotel at the northern end of Patong. – Smaller branches also along the main roads in Karon, Chalong and Kamala.
Opening hours:
8 am. to 4.30 pm. Monday – Weekday, 8 am to noon on Saturday, Sunday and Public holiday are close.
You can send postcards and regular size letters Services. This is faster and safer but the cost is Higher. Private couriers are also available in Phuket.
Phuket Zoo
Lies off East Chao Fah Rd , on Soi Pa Laiy, about 3 km. south of Phuket Town in Muang District. This private zoo conserves many Southeast Asian animals on the Endangered Species list. There are more than 600 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 45 species of mammals: Each of the five continents is represented: vultures from the Himalayas, wallabies from Australia, African Victoria Crown cranes , hornbills, camels, Tigers, etc.
A' nocturnal house' featuring hard- to- find creatures of the night, an aquarium focusing on freshwater fish, a night, an aquarium focusing on round out the attractions. The zoo is especially famous for its daily animal shows: elephants, crocodiles, trained birds and monkeys.
Hours: 8.00 AM . -6.00 PM. Admissions: Adults 400 baht; children 200 baht.
A wide range of magnificent butterflies, Colorful Aquatic Life, Unusual Strange insects Phuket Butterfly Garden & Insectariums: A trip to the Phuket Butterfly Garden & Insectariums will give you an experience with nature that you'll never forget. An educational journey through the rainforest & a trip into paradise. Great for all ages.
You will first go through the aquarium….you'll be Taken into an amazing new world of marine life. Observe many colorful & beautiful species of reef fish, intriguing sharks, and other unusual species of lobsters, lion fish, eels scorpion fish, butterfly fish angel fish etc. you can take your time to relax in such a tranquil atmosphere.
After you tour through the aquarium you will enter a door to the most beautiful picturesque garden in Phuket. A tranquil paradise where butterflies flutter by freely throughout the garden. You will find more than 40 various species of butterflies in their natural surrounding, well preserved. Enjoy the many kinds of trees & plants & their rare & native birds of Thailand . You can even walk through the birds enclosure.
You will be surprised to not only find many butterflies, but also insects, of the most unusual species, including Moving Leaf insects, Walking Stick insects, scorpions, a collection of beetles, an Iguana and even tarantulas and more.
