Simply Thailand
15 May 2007Thailand is a place of great interest with its fine mix of the old and the new set in an exotic, tropical environment. Ancient historical places, alluring cosmopolitan cities and a host of scenic natural wonders make this country a prime tourist destination in Asia.
Post card images of Thailand often depict its rich cultural history. Thailand, which has never been colonized, has an amazing cultural heritage. Temples, palaces, and ruins dot the country, making it a perfect destination for the history buffs, the shutterbugs, and religious devotees, in particular.
One of the major destinations in Thailand is the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Before Bangkok became Thailand’s capital, Ayutthaya was the seat of governance for 417 years. Ayutthaya houses ancient ruins and places of historical interest. Another ancient city is Sukhothai, which was established in the 13th century. Sukhothai has ancient temples and monuments that have been included as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, two historic cities in Northern Thailand, have a wealth of cultural attractions. Visitors can feast their eyes on amazing architecture, ancient settlements, and ethnic villages.
Thailand, which is primarily a Buddhist country, has countless magnificent temples. If you are looking for the most beautiful image of Buddha, go see Phra Buddha Chinarat, which is located in the historic city of Phitsanulok. The Wat Pho Temple, the oldest and the largest in the country, has a 46-metre long statue of a reclining Buddha. It is also said to have the largest collection of Buddhas in Thailand. Another worth-seeing temple is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha located near Wat Pho. The Emerald Buddha, as the name suggests, is completely made of jade and jasper quartz.
Archaeological sites can also be found in Thailand. Udon Thani has Baan Chiang, which is believed to be the place where the Bronze Age civilization flourished more than 5,000 years ago. In Phitsanulok, there is also an ancient community site that dates back 2,000-4,000 years ago. Different artifacts can be found such as old stone axes.
Thailand is also known for its scenic wonders. Pop culture, in the form of Alex Gardner’s book the Beach and its movie adaptation of the same name, has made Thailand the ultimate place for people who are looking for sun, sand, and waves.
Thailand has countless sun-kissed islands with powdery beaches. Phuket, probably the most visited and most popular beach destination, also has must-see tropical inland forests, limestone cliffs, and rock formations. Another scenic wonder is the province of Trat, which has 52 islands with spectacular coral reefs and beaches. If you want to see amazing geological formations, visit Ao Phang Nga National Park in Phang Nga. Nature lovers can also get a fill out of Kanchanaburi, which is one of Thailand’s most beautiful provinces.
More than ten million tourists visit Thailand each year, making tourism the highest earner of the country’s economy. Because of this, the Royal Thai Government continuously supports the development of tourist destinations.
Aside from cultural attractions and scenic wonders, not to mention culinary delights, shopping destinations and all sorts of commercial activities, Thailand also boats friendly people. This is the reason why Thailand is dubbed as ‘The Land of Smiles”.
on June 26th, 2007 at 9:31 am
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