Phuket is the better island in Thailand, amid in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. The island is mostly aerial with a abundance ambit in the west of the island from the arctic to the south. The mountains of Phuket anatomy the southern end of the Phuket abundance range, which ranges for 440 km from the Kra Isthmus. The accomplished acclivity of the island is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes), at 529 m aloft sea level. It is estimated that Phuket has a absolute breadth of about 570 aboveboard kilometers (including the ambit added islands). The capital island’s absolute length, from arctic to south, is about at 50 kilometers and about 20 kilometers wide.
Forest, elastic and approach oil plantations awning 60% of the island.[citation needed] The western bank has several albino beaches, while on the east bank beaches are added about muddy. Near the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma's Cape), which is a accepted dusk examination point. In the aerial arctic of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area, attention added than 20 km² of rainforest. The three accomplished peaks of this assets are the Khao Prathiu (384 m), Khao Bang Pae (388 m) and Khao Phara (422 m). The Sirinat National Park on the northwestern bank was accustomed in 1981 and protects an breadth of 90 km² (68 km² abyssal area), including the Nai Yang bank breadth sea turtles lay their eggs.
One of the best accepted day-tripper areas on Phuket is Patong Bank on the axial western coast, conceivably attributable to the accessible admission to its advanced and continued beach. Best of Phuket's nightlife and its bargain arcade is amid in Patong, and the breadth has become added developed. Patong agency "the backwoods abounding with assistant leaves" in Thai. Added accepted beaches are amid south of Patong. In a counterclockwise administration these accommodate Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and about the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Bank and Rawai. To the arctic of Patong are Kamala Beach, Surin Bank and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are about abundant beneath developed than Patong, and approved out by individuals, families and added groups with a alternative for added airy and beneath awash bound than Patong. There are abounding islands to the southeast, including Bon Island, aloof a abbreviate baiter cruise away. There are several apricot islands to the south of Phuket, the Similan Islands lie to the arctic west, and Phi Phi Islands to the south east. Islanders appoint in a active day-tripper trade, accouterment to snorkellers and scuba divers.

On December 26, 2004, Phuket and added adjacent areas on Thailand's western bank suffered all-encompassing accident aback they were addled by the Boxing Day tsunami acquired by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The after-effects destroyed several awful busy areas in the region, killing as abounding as 5,300 bodies nationwide, and tens of bags added throughout the added Asian region. As abounding as 250 bodies were appear asleep in Phuket including adopted tourists and as abounding as a thousand unreported deaths of actionable Burmese workers architecture fresh bank resorts in the Khao Lak area. About all the above beaches on the west coast, abnormally Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata, abiding above damage, with some accident additionally actuality acquired to resorts and villages on the island's southern beaches.
By February 2005 abounding damaged and best absolute resorts were aback in business, and throughout 2005 activity boring alternate to accustomed for the bodies of Phuket. As of November 2005, afterward arduous accretion programs, there is little accessible actual tsunami accident added than at the best alien beaches, and the day-tripper industry, which drives the Phuket economy, has now about absolutely recovered.
In the alpha of December 2006, Thailand launched the aboriginal of 22 U.S.-made tsunami-detection buoys to be positioned about the Indian Ocean as allotment of a bounded admonishing arrangement adjoin behemothic after-effects acquired by earthquakes beneath the sea. The satellite-linked abyssal beacon will float 1,000 km (620 miles) offshore, almost amid amid Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Phuket, known as the pearl of Andaman Sea, is the biggest island of Thailand. It is a province located in the southern part of the country and has many fascinating attractions that lure people around the world to visit. Because of beautiful beaches and sea, wonderful nightlife and nice weather, Phuket becomes one of the top places in Thailand that travelers choose to go, and of course, when they once visit there, they cannot wait to be there again and again.
It is not hard to get to Phuket. If you choose to go there by car, there are almost 900 kilometers from Bangkok to Phuket to drive and may take 8-9 hours totally. However, most people choose to fly there which takes no more than 1 hour and a half from Bangkok and the air fare is not expensive. Thai Airways and other low-cost airlines can serve you with several flights a day from many destinations.
The Phuket airport is a bit far from the popular beaches and well-known hotels. After you reach the island by plane, you can find a lot of services which can take you to your hotel cheap and easily. These services include taxi cars, airport limousines, and service vans waiting you outside the airport. Hotels and other accommodations are not hard to find and mostly their prices are really cheap. You can find luxurious hotels along the popular beaches or some easy home-stays near the communities or department stores. As I mentioned, Phuket is one of the top tourist attractions in Thailand. Even though there are a very large number of hotels and lodgings in Phuket, I recommend you to book a hotel earlier if you go there in the festival time or public holiday period and you will not regret doing that definitely.
Some well-known beaches that you cannot miss are Patong beach, Karon beach and Kata beach. You cannot imagine how beautiful they are. Also, there are a lot of activities along the beaches, you may sunbathe or swim in the sea. If you like exciting activities, you can play parachute or rent a surfboard. You may book a boat tour to the near islands such as Khai islands, Phi Phi islands and Racha islands, and go diving. Tons of beautiful coral reefs and fish are waiting for you.
One of other activities that you can’t definitely miss is watching sunset at Laem Prom Thep. This spot is named for the most beautiful sunset place in Thailand and you will believe it. If you like old buildings and nice architectures, you can also travel to the Phuket city which is located inside the island, a lot of good and tasty food is there. It is another good way for traveling in Phuket if you don’t like crowded tourists.
Nightlife in Thailand is very famous especially in Phuket. You can find clubs, bars and restaurants everywhere. These are just parts of what Phuket is and you need to experience them by yourselves. You may not want to go back to your country forever.

Phuket is Thailand's largest island, and is approximately the size of Singapore. Phuket nestles in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand's Indian Ocean coast-line 867 kilometers south of Bangkok.
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, and from 98' 15" to 98' 40" west longitude on the map. 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:
About 70 percent of Phuket is mountainous; a western range runs from north to south from which smaller branches derive. The highest peak is Mai Tao Sip Song, or Twelve Canes, at 529 meters, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon Patong, Kathu District (no roads go there yet). The remaining 30 percent of the island, mainly in the center and south, is formed by low plains. Streams include the Klong Bang Yai, Klong Ta Jin, Klong Ta Rua, and Klong Bang Rohng, none of which is large.
History of Phuket
Phuket Island has a long recorded history, and remanins dating back to A.D.1025 indicate that the island's present day name derives in meaning from the Tamil 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 Geographia, written by the Alexadrian geographer in the Third Century A.D. He mentioned that in making a trip from Suwannapum to the Malay Peninsula it was necessary to pass the cape of Jang 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 the Shivite empire (called in Thai the Tam Porn Ling) that established itself on the Malay Peninsula during the first Millenium A.D. Later, as Muang Takua-Talang, it was part of the Srivichai and Siri Tahm empires. Governed as the eleventh in a constellation of twelve cities, Phuket's emblem, by which it was known to others in those largely pre-literate 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 central regions then were governed by the Thais, and the southern 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 drove out the Burmese and re-unified 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 Kasatri, a title of nobility usually reserved for royalty, by which she is known today. Her sister became Thao Sri Suntorn.
During the Nineteenth Century Chinese immigrants arrived in such numbers to work the tin mines that the 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 administration center of a group of tin mining provinces called Monton Phuket, and in 1933 with the change in government from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary system, the island was established as a province by itself.
Boundaries
On the North Is the Pak Prah Strait, spanned by two bridges running side-by-side, the older Sarasin Bridge, and the newer Thao Thep Krasatri 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.
Climate
Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always 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 degrees Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degrees Celsius.
Transportation
By Car
Take Route 4 from Bangkok south. Along the way pass the provinces of Nakorn Pathom, Ratchburi, Petchburi, Prajuab-Kirikan, and at Chumporn go right to Ranong, From Ranong, go south through Kraburi and Kah-Perr districts to Phang-nga Province. In Phang-nga the road passes through Kuraburi, Takua Pa, and Takua Tung districts before reaching the town of Kok Kloy, just beyond which is the Tao Thep Krasatri Bridge and Phuket. Distance is 867 kilometers.
Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok daily. For details call the individual bus companies: Borisat Kohn Sohng Jumkat Phuket Transport Co, Ltd., in Bangkok tel. (02) 4351200, or in Phuket (076) 211480
By Air
Details about flights to and from Phuket International Airport can be obtained from Thai Airway, in Bangkok Tel. (02) 2800070,2800080, or in Phuket (076) 211195, 212499, 212946 or from travel agents around the world. There are also many regular and chartered flights from other airlines.
By Sea
The Deep Sea Port (Port of Phuket) at Phuket is visited by both cargo and cruise ship from Thailand and from abroad. Contact your travel agent for information about the may different ships that stop at Phuket. Article Directory : isnare.com