A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. The country is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Myanmar. The land has a total area of about 514,000 sq km. The border countries are Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.
Thailand has a tropical climate, which is rainy, warm, and cloudy. The southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Natural resources found in Thailand are tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, and arable land.
The population is estimated to be 65,444,371 and the national is Thai. The Ethnic groups include Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, and other 11%. The religions practiced in Thailand are Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1% and others 0.6%. Most of the Thai speaks Thai, English, ethnic and regional dialects. The currency used in Thailand is Baht.
The capital city of Thailand is Bangkok. There are mainly four main parts in Thailand.
(1) The North Chiang Mai , Chiang Rai , Mea Hong Son , Kamphaeng Phet , Lampang , Lamphun , Nakhon Sawan , Nan , Phayao , Phrae , Phetchabun , Phichit , Phitsanulok , Sukhothai , Tak , Uthai Thani , Uttaradit (2) North East Amnart-CHaroen , Buriram , Chaiyaphum , Kalasin , Khon Kaen , Loei , Maha Sarakham , Mukdahan , Nakhon Phanom , Nakhon Ratchasima , Nong Bua Lamphu , Nong Khai , Roi-Et , Sakhon Nakhon , Si Sa Ket , Surin , Ubon Ratchathani , Udon Thani , Yasothon (3) Central & East Ang Thong , Ayutthaya , Bangkok , Chachoengsao , Chainat , Chantaburi , Chonburi , Pattaya , Kanchanaburi , Lopburi , Nakhon Nayok , Nakhon Pathom , Nonthaburi , Pathumthani , Phetchaburi , Prachinburi , Prachuap Khiri Khan , Hua Hin, Cha Am , Ratchaburi , Rayong , Koh Samet , Sa Kaeo , Samut Prakan , Samut Sakhon , Samut Songkhram , Saraburi , Singburi , Suphanburi , Trat ,Koh Chang (4)The South Chumphon , Krabi , Koh Phi Phi , Koh Lanta , Railay , Ao Nang , Nakorn Si Thamarat , Narathiwat , Phatthalung , Phuket , Koh Samui , Koh Pha-Ngan , Koh Tao , Ranong , Phang-Nga Khao Lak , Trang , Satun , Songkhla , Surat Thani , Pattani , Yala
Thailand is well known as a tourism destination in Southeast Asia. The Big Buddha sitting 15 meters tall was built in 1972 by the local society to give visitors a place to pay respect to The Lord Buddha. It is known as Samui's most popular attraction.
Other places like Hin Ta - Hin Ya, Namuang Waterfall, Sawadee Shrine, Magic Buddha Garden, Hin Lad Water fall, Ancient House, Butterfly Garden and the Jade Buddha in the Royal Palace are the most attractive places for tourists.
Thai Boxing, monthly festivals, sight seeing tours, trekking and elephant shows are popular events of Thailand.
climate: Thailand can best be described as tropical and humid for the majority of the country during most of the year. The area of Thailand north of Bangkok has a climate determined by three seasons whilst the southern peninsular region of Thailand has only two.
In northern Thailand the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry, however this is broken up into the periods November to February and March to May. The later of these two periods has the higher relative temperatures as although the northeast monsoon does not directly effect the northern area of Thailand, it does cause cooling breezes from November to February.
The other northern season is from May to November and is dominated by the southwest monsoon, during which time rainfall in the north is at its heaviest.
The southern region of Thailand really has only two seasons -- the wet and the dry. These seasons do not run at the same time on both the east and west side of the peninsular. On the west coast the southwest monsoon brings rain and often heavy storms from April through to October, whilst on the east coast the most rain falls between September and December.
Overall the southern parts of Thailand get by far the most rain with around 2,400 millimetres every year, compared with the central and northern regions of Thailand, both of which get around 1,400 millimetres.
Generally speaking,the best time to visit Thailand is from November to February when the northeast monsoon is blowing cool, dry air which serves as a respite from the heat. During this cool season, the temperature ranges from 18 degrees centigrade to 32 degrees centigrade in Bangkok, while in northern and northeast Thailand, temperatures can get quite cool with morning temperatures as low as 8 degrees centigrade to 12 degrees centigrade with the occasional 20 degree day. Nights can be particularly chilly and at high altitudes the temperatures can and do drop below freezing.
The summer period, or hot and dry season, is from March to June. At this time temperatures in Bangkok average around 34 degrees centigrade, but can often reach 40 degrees centigrade with the humidity levels of 75%.
Try and avoid April, unless you plan to be permanently submerged in the ocean, because this is the hottest month across the country.
From July to October is the monsoonal season when most of Thailand's annual rainfall is accumulated. The humidity averages just under 90%, with temperatures averaging around 29 degrees centigrade in Bangkok.
The monsoons finish when the wind direction changes, bringing dry weather from the northeast. At best this season can be described as unpredictable and not the constant downpour of rain like you would expect. The middle months of this season may hold particularly heavy rains for the north of the country.
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. The country is located in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Myanmar. The land has a total area of about 514,000 sq km. The border countries are Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. 