Phuket town is located in the Andaman sea
and is situated on the southern Thailand’s west coast. The bustling,
administrative centre of Phuket is also the owner of great beaches, but
there's a lot to see and do in Phuket City other than enjoying the beautiful
beaches. People can go for adventure activities like snorkeling, scuba
diving and fishing. Having been recently upgraded to city status, Phuket
City features an exciting mix of old and new, simple and sophisticated,
peaceful and pulsating. Lakhs of tourists visit the enchanting town of
Phuket every year to get away from their mundane routine and experience the
solitude and fun in true sense.
Fact File
Country : Thailand
Population : 46510 (2000 est.)
Area : 513,115sqkm (198,404sqmi),
Languages: Thai, English
Climate : Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate. There are two
distinct seasons. Rainy season (May – October) and the summers
(November -) April. Average temperatures in Phuket are between the 25 to 30
degrees all year round though slightly cooler during the rainy season.
Official
Currency : Baht (THB); 1 THB = 1.0541 Indian Rupee = 0.02420 US $ =
0.02011 Euro (subject to change).
Location : Phuket lying in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand’s
west coast, Phuket, Thailand, is commonly referred to as the ‘Pearl of
South’. It is the largest island in Thailand and runs 48 km north to
south and 21 km east to west.
Getting There
By Air : Phuket International Airport, is 35km (22 miles) northwest
of Phuket. Mini-Bus Service: The mini-bus service is available at the same
counter mentioned above and is 80- 120 Baht and takes you directly to your
hotel.
Getting Around
By Road : Cars, taxis, motorbikes are the various ways to see the
small town of Phuket.
Bus service is available as well.
Accommodation
The city has very good hotels to ensure a comfortable stay for the
tourists. Mentioned below is a list of some of the hotels in the city:
5 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Amanpuri
Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa
Dusit Laguna Resort
The Boathouse
4 star hotels in the city:
Hotel Banyan Tree
Amari Coral Beach Resort
The Maiton Resort
3 star hotels in the city:
Club Med
Sheraton Grande laguna
Major Tourist attractions
Patong
Beach : This beach is known internationally and is considered a paradise
for shoppers and night clubers. Other popular beaches are Karon, Kata,
Rawai, Kamala, Nai Thon, Nai Yang, Bang Tao and Mai Khao. In Mai Khao, the
period from October to February is the season for giant sea turtles laying
eggs on the island.
Adventure activities : Along the East Coast are small islets
excellent for snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. Pearl farming also takes
place here. Laem Phromthep is famous as a spot for enjoying spectacular
sunset.
Khao Lak National Park : The beach here is lined with wild palms,
casuarinas and mangroves and in November, leather back turtles swim to shore
to lay their eggs in the evening.
Kao Pra Taew Wildlife Park : This forest reserve of 5,570 acres of
virgin forest with many different and rare species of trees and palms, such
as the “ White Backed Palm is a famous spot for blending with the
serenity of nature.
Bang Pae waterfalls : This is a beautiful place for spending a
memorable day and besides this, it is the headquarters for the Gibbon
Rehabilitation Project.
