Thailand: The Land of Smiles, Temples, and Tropical Wonders

This is a land of cultural, adventurous, and natural beauty.

Thailand is a relatively small Central Southeast-Asian region that could be identified as one of the most popular and various travel destinations in the whole world. Thailand is considered to have beautiful beaches, big cities, a rich background, and a rich life with various cultures to be enjoyed by all kinds of travelers. Ranging to ancient temples in Chiang Mai, the white sandy beaches of Phuket or the nightlife in Bangkok,Thailand is a place that never fails to mesmerize the people.

This extensive guide will cover geography, history, culture, economy, and attractions that you cannot just afford to miss in Thailand so that you have all that you need to know about this mystical land.

Explore Thailand with the Official Tourism Guide to Thailand.
Dive into Bangkok with Bangkok Dream Trip: Magical Sunrises, Thai Culture & Street Food Adventures.

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Geographical Location

Thailand is a country in South East Asia with Myanmar to its west, Laos in the North East, Cambodia in the South East and Malaysia to the South. It also has a coast line to the south of Goof of Thang and to the west of Andaman Sea which has bestowed it some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Thailand covers a total of about 513,120 square kilometers and it is considered the 50th largest nation on earth. It has geographical diversity with the north having mountain ranges and the central area being fertile land and the south being tropical islands.

Topography and Geography

Thailand terrain is diverse and contains mountains on the northern region, the Himalayan foothills, the Chiang Mai region, and the Doi Inthanon, highest mountain in the land. The plains of Thailand in the region of the Central Plains carry much of the population of Thailand and this region is commonly known as the Rice Bowl of the region, because of its huge agricultural produce.

The southern part of Thailand has a breathtaking coast, having such sophisticated islands as Phuket, Koh Samui, and Koh Phi Phi, with their perfect beaches and transparent waters.

Thailand also boasts huge rain tropical forests, waterfalls and rivers among them being the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok holding a major route of transport and trade.

Old Kingdoms and Prehistory

The history of Thailand is older than thousands of years, and remains of the early civilization may be traced in Southeast Asia. Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1438) was the first prominent Thai kingdom as it was seen as the land of origin of Thai civilization. During Sukhothai, Theravada Buddhism emerged as the main culture and which today is an important aspect of Thai culture.

Sukhothai was succeeded by the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350-1767) and was among the most influential and successful kingdoms by the Southeast Asian rulers. The kingdom flourished as a trading, cultural and diplomatic hub becoming a close ally of the European nations. The ruins of Ayutthaya are an archaeological site destroyed by Burmese in 1767.

The Modern Era and the Rattanakosin Kingdom

Rattanakosin Kingdom was founded in 1782 by King Rama I when he built Bangkok as the capital, thus the beginning of the ruling system of the Chakri Dynasty till present. It was in the course of expanding territories, updating infrastructure and adjusting to the western influences in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, Thailand changed its politics tremendously. It is one of the few countries in the region that were never colonized by the European powers, as it supported its independence using diplomacy. In 1939, Thailand replaced the name Siam with Thailand and transformed the monarchy into a constitutional one accompanied with the creation of the parliamentary system.

The second half of the 20 th century brought Thailand troubles in the form of political unrest, coups and financial crisis. Nevertheless, the nation has now become a fast growing nation that has a booming economy and a strong influence in the region of Southeast Asia.

Diversity in Ethnicity and Religion

Most of the people in Thailand are ethnically Thai although some of the ethnic groups in Thailand include the Chinese, Malay, Khmer and Hmong. The cultural diversity in Thailand can be adorned in the Thai festivals, food and arts, that have an Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian touch in them.

Thailand is mostly inhabited by Buddhists who follow Theravada Buddhism; more than 90 percent of the population. Monks contribute greatly to Thai culture and society and most male Thais have spent a period of their lives as monks. Thailand is also historically and culturally located in Hinduism and animism mainly in regards to religious practices and rituals.

Traditions and Cultural practices

Thailand is famous because it has very warm hospitality and a concept of sanuk (enjoyment), that helps people to find joy and pleasure in everyday life. Among the most recognizable aspects of Thai culture would have to be the greeting called the wai, where one presses the hands together in prayer-like fashion to offer respect.

Thailand boasts of a great arts and crafts heritage and traditional Thai dances, as well as literature and music, are all part of the culture. Thai culture is also best described by the Muay Thai boxing tradition which is characterized by strong blows and a rich martial art history.

Thailand is characterized by lots of festivals, the most popular ones being Songkran (Thai New Year) and the Loy Krathong Festival. The Songkran festival occurs during the month of April, and is renowned because of water fights as well as street parties whereas Loy Krathong is celebrated in November and known because of the floating decorative lanterns in rivers and lakes.

Cuisine

Thai food is famous for its big flavor and the harmony of sweet, sour, salty and spicy tastes. The staple food is rice and Thai menus contain noodles, curries, stir-fry dishes and soups. The most well-known Thai dishes are:

Pad Thai: Rice noodles, fried with tofu or shrimp, peanuts and lime.

Tom Yum: This is a soup based on shrimp, lemongrass and chili.

Green curry: A spicy thick coconut milk based curry with green chili and vegetables or meat.

Som Tum: It is a spicy papaya salad consisting of chilies, lime, peanuts and shrimp.

Traditional Clothing

Thailand is also the country that has very beautiful traditional clothes and in particular, the Thai silk with the help of which the color gifted beautiful clothes are manufactured. Chut thai, which consists of traditional women’s and men’s clothes, are used in cultural functions and festivals.

Manufacturing and Industry

Thailand is a multi-faceted economy; its industries are quite developed, including the automobile industry, the electronics industry, the textile industry and the agricultural industry. The nation is amongst the biggest manufacturers of automobiles, motorbikes and electronic devices in the Southeast of Asia. They are also products that Thailand exports in large quantities including rubber, rice and seafood.

Thailand is an example of a major tourist destination that has been a major economic promoter in the country with millions of people thronging in the country to visit their cultural tourist attraction sites, historical sites and clean beaches. The vast investment made by the government in terms of infrastructure has favoured the increasing number of tourists every year.

Agriculture

In Thailand, agriculture has a great influence on the economy as the country is one of the main producers of rice, fruits, vegetables and coffee. Notably, the rice sector is important in particular since Thailand is also a leading exporter of rice in the world.

There is also a wide range of tropical based fruits that are produced in Thailand like mangoes, pineapples, bananas which are not only sold locally but also internationally.

Tourism

Tourism is the mainstay of the Thailand economy and the beautiful sceneries, incredible culture and excellent urban centres receive millions of tourists annually. Some of the leading tourist spots in Thailand include Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ayutthaya.

With fantastic nightlife, top-rank resorts, and food experiences, the country has become a favorite among travellers, who prefer the local street food markets as much as they turn towards fine dining.

Historical and Cultural Monuments

Bangkok- is the capital city which is well-known with its temples, markets and the famous street life, including Grand palace and Wat Arun.

Chiang Mai –An enchanting town in the north with its ancient bazaars, night market as well as mountain sceneries.

Ayutthaya- is the old capital of Thailand that has magnificent ruins of temples and historical attractions.

Sukhothai-The place of the kingdom of the first Thais and the place of amazing ruins of Sukhothai Historical Park.

Natural Attractions

Phuket- the largest island in Thailand that is famous due to its beautiful beaches, clear water and nice nightlife.

Haad Rin Beach- This is a beach which is known to hold Full Moon Party and has great beaches.

Phi Phi Islands – A chain of islands located at the Andaman Sea, famous as an exotic landscape and perfect underwater condition with magnificent diving experiences.

Healthcare System

Thailand has a highly well developed healthcare system which offers cheap medical practices to both the locals as well as tourists. It is also a leading destination country for medical tourism and most hospitals are located in Bangkok and Chiang Mai which provide highly sophisticated medical operations and treatments.

Education System

The Thai education system has primary, high school and higher school education. The government has invested considerably in better access to higher education and such universities as Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University are acknowledged globally.

Ideal Seasons

Thailand should be visited in the cool dry season that runs between November and February because the weather during this time is comfortably warm and the weather is conducive during these times and is ideal during such times to go sightseeing and other activities outdoors. May to October is the rainy season, when showers are heavy, but nevertheless this season can be a good choice to visit, when you need fewer tourists and green scenery.

Festivals and Events

You can visit the country during the celebrations of the Thai New Year (Songkran Festival) in April and enjoy the vivid festivities embracing the water games and cultural customs.

Conclusion: 

Thailand is that country which has the unique combination of old traditions, modern infrastructure and stunning beautiful nature. Visiting the temples in Chiang Mai, lazing on the beaches in Phuket, trying the street comics in Bangkok, Thailand is the land where you can get adventurous, culturally enriched and relaxed. It charms with its warm hospitality, rich culture, and a variety of landscapes, and so is among the most attractive travel destinations in the world.

The most common questions

When is the best period to go to Thailand?

Visiting during the cool dry season (November to February) is the most convenient time to visit Thailand since everything is good at this period of the year.

Which are the major attractions in Thailand?

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and the Phi Phi Islands are the main attractions.

Which are the languages in Thailand?

It has an official language, which is Thai and English is also popular in major tourist destinations.

Is Bangkok safe for tourists?

Thailand is a safe destination as far as tourists are concerned but just as any travel destination, visitors need to take precaution and observe local regulations.

Which are the cultural festivals in Thailand that I should attend?

Make sure you attend Songkran (Thai New Year) and Loy Krathong in order to have a very genuine taste of cultural experience in Thailand.