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General Information
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Office hours
Banks: 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
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