Phuket Province is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. Located 863 kilometres (536 miles) southwest of Bangkok, it is the largest island in the country. To the north of the island lies the province of Phang-nga while the province of Krabi is found on the east. Andaman Sea occupies the south and west part of the island.

Phuket Province is the second smallest province after Samut Songkhram. With an area of 576 km2, it is even smaller than Singapore. In 2015, the population was estimated at more than 380,000. There are several smaller islands which are part of the province. Notable among them are Koh Sire, Koh Lon, Koh Maphrao, and Coconut Island.

The province is subdivided into three districts. They are:
1. Mueang Phuket
2. Kathu
3. Thalang

History of Phuket Province
In the 17th century, European colonists competed for trading opportunities in “Jung Ceylon”, then the name of Phuket. At that time, Phuket was a major source of tin. In 1682, King Narai the Great of the Ayutthaya Kingdom appointed René Charbonneau, a French national, as governor of Phuket in order to balance the influence of the Dutch and English. The Burmese attacked the island in 1785 but they were repulsed by the locals led by two fierce women, Than Phu Ying Chan and her sister Mook, who later were hailed as heroes. The island has been an administrative center for the southern provinces and it was elevated as a province only in 1933.

Schools and Other Institutions in Phuket:
1. Phuket Rajabhat University
2. Prince of Songkla University – Phuket Community College
3. Kajonkiet International School
4. QSI International School of Phuket

What to see and do in Phuket Province:
1. Hat Karon, Kamala, and Patong beaches
2. Wat Chalong
3. Thalang National Museum
4. Two Heroines Monument
5. Thalang National Museum
6. Phuket Pearl Farm
7. Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Centre
8. Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World
9. Phuket Aquarium
10. Old buildings in Phuket town

See also: Other Provinces in Thailand

External Link: World Guides