Thailand,
officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country located in Southeast Asia.
The country is bordered by Laos and Cambodia to the east, the Gulf of
Thailand and Malaysia to the south and Andaman Sea and Myanmar to the west.
Thailand was known as Siam, which was also the official name of the country
until May 11, 1949. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand while important
cities are Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Surat
Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai. Thailand spreads over an area of 514,000 sq. km
and the country has a population of 64,233,000. The population of Thailand
is dominated by ethnic Thai and Lao, there is also a large population of
Thai Chinese. Other ethnic groups inhabited in Thailand are Malayas in the
south, Mon, Khmer and several other indigenous hill tribes.
Climate & Clothing
The climate of Thailand is tropical and characterized by monsoons.
Basically Thailand has three seasons - a dry and hot season (November -
February), a very hot season (March- April), and a wet and hot season (May -
October). The months of November to April are best to visit Thailand. Your
dress should match the tropical climate, cotton or silk clothes are most
comfortable.
Accommodation in Thailand
Some of famous hotels in Bangkok are Four Seasons Hotel (5 Star/ Ploenchit
- Rachaprasong), Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok (5 Star/ Ploenchit -
Rachaprasong), Intercontinental Bangkok (5 Star/ Ploenchit - Rachaprasong),
JW Marriott Bangkok (5 Star/ Ploenchit - Rachaprasong), Millennium Hilton
Bangkok (5 Star/ Riverside are), Allamanda Laguna Hotel Phuket Thailand (4
Star/ 29 Moo 4 Srisoonthorn Road), Central Waterfront Suites Phuket Thailand
(4 Star/ 35/37 Moo 1, Patak Road) etc.
Tourist Attractions of Thailand
»
Ayutthaya : Situated 86 kms north of Bangkok, Ayutthaya was serving as
Thailand's capital since 1350. Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767,
visitors come here to explore Thai history. Designated as UNESCO World
Heritage Site, the place houses magnificent ruins all around the city.
» Chiang Saen : One of the most anceint cities of
Thailand, Chiang Saen is located 230 kms away from Chiang Mai. Since its
inception around 1,450 years ago, Chiang Saen has witnessed a series of wars
and natural disasters. Remnants of its original splendour can be seen in the
ruins of this fortified city.
» Golden Triangle : Located at a distance of 255 kms
from Chiang Mai, Golden Triangle is the meeting point of three nations-
Laos, Burma and Thailand. The place draws a large numebr of tourists each
day from far and wide.
» Grand Palace : The spectacular palace was the
residence of the royal family of Bangkok. The Grand Palace is an
architectural marvel and one of the most impressive palaces here. Although
the royal family does not reside here, the palace is still used for
ceremonial purposes.
» Jim Thompson's House and Museum : This small
museum was the home of the man who saved the Thai silk industry from
collapsing. The museum houses Jim Thompson's beautiful collections of art
and artifacts from Thailand and Southeast Asia.
» Lumpini Park : Named after the Buddha's birthplace
the park is a famous oasis. The green expanse of the park provides a
relaxing and peaceful retreat from the noise of the city.
» Mae Sa Elephant Training Center : Located
along the Mae Sa Valley, this is one of the best elephant camps in Thailand.
You can see elephants playing football and also get the opportunities to
ride an elephant.
Airport
Bangkok International Airport is located at a distance of 25 kms from the
city centre. The airport is well connected to important cities of the world.
Thailand has extensive domestic flight routes, which link major cities
directly. Taxis are available from the airport to reach the city. Airport
Bus service is also available that links the airport with many downtown
hotels.
Local Modes of Transport
For
local transport, buses, trains, taxis, tuk tuks, songthaews, bicycles and
motorcyles are available.
Entertainment Options
Muay Thai (Thai kick-boxing), is a unique entertainment option in Thailand.
This style of boxing involves combatants using knees, elbows, bare feet and
gloved fists. Nightlife of Bangkok is famous all over world as evening
entertainment is both plentiful and inexpensive. By night Bangkok glitters
with the lights of pubs and bars. Apart from pubs and bars there is much
more to serve the night as cultural shows are staged by various Thai
restaurants. Thailand also has a number of amusement and theme parks,
offering plenty of entertainment options.
Adventure Activities
One of the favourite tourist destinations in the world, Thailand offers a
little bit of everything. From rafting in spectacular rivers to hiking
through dense forests. A visit to remote bush villages is no less adventure.
World-class golfing and polo is also offered by the clubs of Thailand.
Shopping
With the unprecedented economic growth, Thailand has become one of the most
popular shopping destinations in Southeast Asia. In Bangkok there are many
shopping centres, most popular among them are Robinson's Department Store,
Central Department Stores, the Charn Issara Shopping Centre, dozens of silk
shops, antique and decorative reproduction shops, boutiques of ready-to-wear
women's clothes, men's tailors, and shops selling leatherwear and other
goods. In addition Chiang Mai is the good shopping area to buy traditional
Thai handicrafts. In Chiang Mai, some of the factories offer demonstrations
of how the goods like lacquer, silk, silver, and paper umbrellas are
actually made. The markets of Thailand are well-known for their unique
handicraft collections and also for a huge choice of luxury buys. The Night
Bazaar is known for a range of local products such as cotton, lacquerware,
silver, hilltribe clothing, Burmese tapestries, painted umbrellas and wood
carvings.
Tourist Office
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Le Concorde Building
202 Ratchadaphisek Road,
Huai Khwang, Bangkok 10310,
Thailand
Tel. +66 2 694 1222
Fax. +66 2 694 1220 to 1
