Phuket
Information
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When arriving
in Thailand ask for free copies of Thaiways magazine and Thaiways
maps from the information counter at airports or hotels.
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| Northern
Route (Route 402) |
Drive out of town to the North by Route 402 (Thep Krasattri Road) Notice
the signs of the attractions on the right and left of the route. (See Route
Map of Phuket Island for the locations of the following attractions.)
| Monument
of the Two Heroines |
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(Thep Krasattri Road or Route 402)
This is the most famous landmark of Phuket located about 12 km. off
Phuket town. The monument comprises two statues of women standing
side by side which were the two heroine sisters of Phuket -- Thao
Thep Krasattri, the widow of the governor and her sister Thao Si Sunthon.
The sisters courageously rallied islanders to repel Burmese invaders
in 1785 when the town was without a governor. |
| Thalang National Museum |
(Route 4027)
Established in 1985, the museum is located in Thalang District, 200
metres from the Heroines Monument. Built in a southern architectural
style, the museum exhibits the Battle of Thalang, the way of life,
culture and history of Phuket and the South.
There is also an exhibition of antiques, ancient artefacts and remains
discovered on the Andaman Coast. It is an ideal place for history-oriented
tourists.
More
details
| Open |
daily, 09.00 - 16.00 hrs., except
national holidays |
| Admission fee |
30 B |
| Information |
Tel. 0 7631 1426 |
| For taxi |
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| Wat Phra
Nang Sang |
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(Thep Krasattri Road)
This old temple, about 20 km. from town, is also an important
temple of the province. Inside there are 3 historically valued bronze
heads of Buddha images recently discovered, estimated to be over a
thousand years old.
For taxi : 
Top |
| Wat Phra
Thong |
(Thep Krasattri Road)
For people in Thalang District, Wat Phra Thong is the most important
Buddhist temple, enshrining a most revered Buddha image called "Phra
Thong", meaning the Gold Buddha. The image is also called "Phra Phut"
which means a Buddha image emerging from the ground. |
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According to local legend, about 200 years
ago the villagers found the image buried in the ground and tried to
excavate it for enshrinement, but only the upper part could be uncovered.
Later they built a temple over it and covered it with gilded stucco,
and it has remained so ever since. Inside the temple area is a museum,
whose collection of historical objects includes a raincoat worn by
miners at the time when tin mining on the island was flourishing.
For taxi : 
Top |
| Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife
Park (Route 4027) |
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Located in Thalang District about 20 km. north of the provincial town,
Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Park is the only perfectly preserved rain
forest abundant in flora and fauna in Phuket. Here, visitors can encamp
and experience outdoor life all year round.
The most interesting plant in Khao Phra Thaeo is Palm Lang Khao or
white-backed palm (Kerriodoxa), a unique species of palm which is
found nowhere else in the world and considered the world’s most
endangered palm species.
The elegant green foliage of this rare deciduous palm can spread out
to 2 metres and the tree can grow up to three to five metres. Wild
animals living in the area are wild boars, porcupines, pangolins,
civets, leopard cats, gibbons, and birds like fairy blue birds, blue-winged
pitta and oriental white-eye. The park also boasts the Phuket Gibbon
Rehabilitation Centre, which enables gibbons to return to their
home in the forest. Moreover, in the area, there are two scenic
waterfalls that are best seen in the rainy season.
Ton Sai Waterfall is located near the park headquarters and can
easily be accessed by a four-kilometre trail. The scenic fall is
well maintained and surrounded by a large variety of plant lives.
Bang Pae, a small size waterfall with a height of 12 metres, is
also enveloped in uncontaminated natural beauty but is a little
out of the way.
How to get there
From Phuket International Airport, follow the road signs to the
Heroines Monument and turn left onto Route 4027. Follow the road
until you reach the sign for Bang Pae Waterfall, then turn left
and continue for 1 km to the park’s entrance.
The Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre opens daily from 9 am. to 4 pm.
(no entrance fee).
For more information, please contact Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Park
on tel. +66 (0) 7621 1067 to 3
For taxi : 
Top |
| Naithon Beach |
| This pristine beach backed by casuarina trees has a large open cove
which serves as an excellent shelter from the wind and is suitable
for swimming. |
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For taxi : 
Top |
| Naiyang Beach |
| Here is where the office of Sirinat National Park
(comprising Naiyang, Naithon and Mai Khao beaches) is located. Blessed
with shady pine trees and offshore coral reefs, this is an ideal place
for swimming and snorkelling. |
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| It is also a good place to see turtles laying eggs
in winter from November to February and to watch the release of
young turtles at the Songkran Festival in April.
For taxi : 
Top |
| Mai Khao Beach or Airport
Beach |
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This is the longest beach of Phuket, extending 9 km. from the northern
end of the island to Nai Yang Beach on the west coast. It is here
that until recently giant sea turtles had lumbered ashore to lay eggs
from October to February.
For taxi : 
Top |
| For your personal safety and protection
by law, please use the services of travel agencies holding a TAT license
only. |
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