Phuket City

Phuket, which is somewhat smaller than the size of Singapore, is Thailand's largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber and enjoys a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of the Portuguese, French, Dutch and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.

Phuket Town was founded in the 1st century B.C. by colonists from India. Ptolemy, a Greek geographer in the third century A.D., referred to it as ‘Jang Si Lang' – which later became ‘Junk Ceylon' and this is the name you will see on ancient maps of Thailand, or Siam.

In the 16th Century, tin came into Phuket's economical equation and the Dutch, as well as the French, came to the island because of it (Phuket even had a French-born governor at one time). The British were not far behind and they later sent Captain Francis Light to scout out the possibilities of controlling the strategically important Malacca Straits, using Phuket as a base.

Nowadays, one of Phuket's main thoroughfares is Thepkassatri Rd. It leads past a centrally located roundabout on which stand statues of Kunying Chan and Thao Sri Suntorn – Mook's royally bestowed title. ‘Heroine's Monument', as it is known, plays host to many locals who wish to pay their respects to their illustrious ancestors.