Krabi at a glance

Located approximately 814 kilometers from Bangkok is Krabi Province, one of most attractive destinations in southern Thailand. Encompassing an area of 4,708 square kilometers, the western border of Krabi is the Andaman Sea, the northern borders are Surat Thani and Phang-nga Provinces, the southern borders are Trang Province and the Andaman Sea and the eastern borders are Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang Provinces. Krabi is an ideal getaway destination teeming with natural attractions including white sandy beaches, fascinating coral reefs, numerous large and small islands and verdant forests with caves and waterfalls.

Krabi's topography is mostly mountains and highlands separated by plains in some parts. Flowing through Krabi City to the Andaman Sea at Pak Nam Sub-district is Maenam Krabi which is 5 kilometers in length. In addition, there are several canals originating from the province's highest mountain range, Khao Phanom Bencha including Khlong Pakasai, Khlong Krabi Yai and Khlong Krabi Noi. Lush mangrove forests line the canals and the banks of Maenam Krabi particularly before it empties into the Andaman Sea. The provinces sandy soil conditions are suitable for growing various agricultural products, particularly rubber trees, palms, coconuts, cashew nuts and coffee.

Due to the influence of the tropical monsoon, there are only two seasons in Krabi; the hot season from January to April and the rainy season from May to December. Temperatures range between 17 °C and 37 °C.

Krabi is administratively divided into 8 Amphoes (Districts): Amphoe Mueang, Khao Phanom, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, Ko Lanta, Ao Luek, Lam Thap, and Nuea Khlong. The provinces jurisdiction covers not only in-land districts and sub-districts, but also extends to more than 130 large and small islands including the world famous Phi Phi Islands.

In addition, Krabi is the location of two world class beaches Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le which offer numerous diving trips, restaurants, shops etc. Additional attractions in the province are stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations which make it a heaven for rock climbers and a National Park located approximately 40 kilometers outside of town with lakes, caves and spectacular natural scenery.


History of Krabi

Some archeologists claim that Krabi City is one of the older settlements in the country as there is archaeological evidence indicating that this area had been home to homosapiens during the prehistoric times or between 25,000 - 35,000 B. C. The assumption has been strongly supported by the discovery of stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains in the provinces cliffs and caves.

In 1200 A.D., the area was known as Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal cities that had a monkey as the town symbol. During this period of time, Krabi was under the rule of the Kingdom of Ligor, a city better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.

During the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910), the community was known as Pakasai Sub-county and remained under the direct jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Around 1872, King Rama V elevated Pakasai Sub-county to Krabi Province with the provincial administration office situated at Krabi-yai Sub-county (currently, the office is located near the estuary at Pak Nam Sub-district) and in 1875, ordered the separation of Krabi Province from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, merchants, and the people of Krabi and nearby provinces have collectively organized the construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape which is thirty kilometers west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast to be presented to His Majesty the King.





Origin of the name Krabi

There are two legends concerning the origin of the name "Krabi". The first is that villagers presented a large ancient sword (or krabi) that was discovered by chance to the governor. Later when a smaller, on discovering a smaller one, it was also presented to the governor. Regarded as sacred and auspicious, the governor decided to keep them in the province. As the process for the establishment of the province was still in progress, the swords were placed crossing each other in Khao Khanap Nam cave. Since then, the crossed swords have remained a part of the provincial seal.

The second legend is that "Krabi" was derived from the name of a local tree known as "Lumphi". The Malay and Chinese merchants mispronunciation of the name to "Ka-lu-bi" or "Kho-lo-bi" finally resulted in "Krabi" (or sword).

Hotel club in Bangkok

Hotels on Sukhumvit Road
Sukhumvit Road area is the most popular district of the Thai capital where most of the major shopping, entertainment, and commercial centres are located.
- Bangkok Boutique Hotel
- Emporium Suites Bangkok
- The Euro Grande Hotel
- Majestic Grande Hotel
- OMNI Tower
- Pinnacle Sukhumvit Inn Bangkok
- Regency Park Hotel
- Royal Benja Hotel
- St. James Hotel
- Swiss Park Hotel
- The Ambassador Hotel
- The Davis Hotel
- The Imperial Queen's Park Hotel
- The Landmark Bangkok
- The Manhattan Bangkok
- Zenith Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel
- Windsor Suites Hotel
Hotels in Silom Area
Silom Road area is the major commercial district having main commercial banks, International corporate offices, famous shopping centres, variety of entertainment venues including world's famous Patpong Entertainment Street, and popular restaurants where most travellers want to hang around in this area.
- Narai Hotel
- Oakwood City Residence
- Silom City Inn Bangkok
- Silom Serene, a boutique hotel
- Silom Village Inn Bangkok
- The Swiss Lodge
- Unico Grande Silom Hotel
- Trinity Silom
- Triple Two Silom Hotel

Hotels on Ratchada Pisek Road
Ratchada Pisek Road is located in the main entertainment district of Bangkok having Entertainment Restaurants, famous Massage Palours, Karaoke Lounges, and so on for both local and International visitors.
- Chaophya Park Hotel
- Maxx Hotel
- Swissotel Le Concorde Bangkok
- The Emerald Hotel
- The Grand Hotel

Hotels Near Suvarnabhumi Airport Area
Bangna area is situated near New Bangkok International Airport, also called Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The area has Thailand's famous convention and exhibition centre (BITEC) and easy access to the major highway linking to Pattaya Beach.
- Novotel Bangna Bangkok
- Royal Princess Srinakarin Hotel
Hotels near IMPACT Convention Centre Bangkok

IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center is the ideal venue for Conventions, Meeting, Exhibitions and Special Events which was the first facility to open in 1998 in time to be a venue for the ASIAN Games. However, there is easy access to the express ways leading to Downtown Area and all commercial, shopping, and entertainment districts.
- Quality Suites Bangkok

Hotels near Don Muang Bangkok
Book your room away from Bangkok's busy commercial districts but near to all major express ways to Downtown Area and all commercial, shopping, and entertainment districts.
- Asia Don Muang Hotel
- Comfort Suites Bangkok
- Ebina House Hotel
- Gold Orchid Hotel
- Miracle Grand Convention Hotel
- Rama Gardens Hotel
Hotels in Khao San Road Area
This world's famous Khao San Road is packed with travellers of all ages mainly young travellers and is a heaven for the young travellers who are on a limited budget.
- Trang Hotel Bangkok
- Viengtai Hotel

Hotels in Pratunam Area
This place has Pratunam Market which is the largest clothing market in Thailand where many famous seafood restaurants are located too. Apart from these, Thailand's famous IT Mall called Pantip Plaza is situated.
- Baiyoke Suite Hotel
- Bangkok Palace Hotel
- Classic Place Hotel
- First Hotel
- First House Bangkok
- Indra Regent Hotel

Hotels in The Riveside area
One of the most fascinating areas of Bangkok where world's famous Chao Phya River is running aside, the riverside reflects a constantly changing scene with dinner cruises, passenger ferries, taxi boats gently transporting passengers, rice barges towing goods and local trading boats, against a backdrop of glittering temples and modern warehouses.
- Bossotel Inn Bangkok
- Prince Palace hotel

Hotels in Ploenchit area
Bangkok's famous Central Chidlom department store for clothes, cosmetics, electronics, jewelry, sports equipment, stationery and books is strategically located in this area. BTS sky train route is also passing in this area so that commuters can move around easily.
- Holiday Mansion Hotel

Tourism Key Component in 120th Anniversary of Japanese-Thai Diplomatic Relations

Japan and Thailand marked 120 years of diplomatic relations by the official visit of Gen. Surayud Chulanont, the Thai Prime Minister, to Japan during April 1-5, 2007. The visit underscored the intrinsic relationship between both countries that has weathered adversity for some four centuries. Starting in the 17th century, Japan and Thailand have consistently maintained contact through domestic upheavals, world wars and the changing global economic and political environment. This has been partly due to the unbroken chain of a strong monarchy that the two nations enjoy, with monarchs and royal family members exchanging visits to this day. However, travel between commoners of Japan and Thailand through the years has played a much more significant role in terms of generating income and creating bilateral understanding.
Dr Suvit Yodmani, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, was among senior Thai government officials to be in Tokyo and Osaka to foster relations with his Japanese counterparts. He attended several high-level meetings to advance the Japan-Thailand Tourism Exchange Year 2007 project, which is a collaborative effort of the tourism bodies of Japan and Thailand to enhance a closer tourism relationship through activities spread throughout the year in both countries.
During the Thailand-Japan Business Investment & Tourism Forum in Tokyo on April 4, Dr Suvit cited the close ties of the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Thailand and the vast investment in Thailand by a number of Japanese multinational companies, as well as Japanese funding for huge infrastructure projects like Suvarnabhumi Airport.
He highlighted the healthy number of Japanese visitors to Thailand, which totaled 1.3 million in 2006, an increase of 7% over 2006. Many Japanese visitors came via the 134 direct weekly flights linking the two countries. During the course of his visit in Japan, he mentioned time and again that Thailand considers Japanese tourists to be quality tourists, meaning that they come to the country to find cultural and spiritual enrichment and appreciate the local hospitality. It goes without saying that happy tourists generally spend more and stay longer than those that are not, and Japanese visitors to Thailand are a good example of this, contributing nearly US$10 billion to the Thai economy in 2005.
Dr Suvit said he thought there is substantial room to grow for student exchange programs between Thailand and Japan and that Thailand can still attract an increase in the number of Japanese people coming to Thailand to play golf, to participate in long stay programs, to partake in chic and trendy pastimes, and to engage in MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) activities.
Accompanying Dr Suvit on the Japanese trip was Mrs Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and some members of TAT’s marketing team, who had meetings with top Japanese travel agents and the media. All of them expressed a keen interest in the tourism developments of Thailand and upcoming events and projects, many of which are part of the 120th anniversary celebrations. Of note are Thailand’s participation in Japanese cultural activities in Fukuoka and Osaka in May and October 2007, respectively, and Japanese participation in local festivals in the Thai provinces of Yasothon and Ubon Ratchathani, and in Bangkok.

Wat Po

Just behind the opulent extravagance of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha stands Wat Phra Chetuphon, which is more commonly known by its old name of Wat Po. Most western tourists don't get past the temple's huge reclining Buddha, but there is actually much more to see than the one colossal statue.


The many chedi of the temple, with the wiharn of the reclining Buddha in the background.The temple is actually much older than the city of Bangkok itself. It was founded in the 17th century, making it the oldest temple in Bangkok. The name Wat Po comes from its original name of Wat Potaram. King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok, enlarged the temple, installed many statues and other artefacts recovered from Ayuthaya, and renamed the temple Wat Phra Chetuphon in 1801.

Rama III enlarged the temple in 1832 and turned the temple into a center of learning, making it in essence Thailand's first university. Rama III is also responsible for the construction of the reclining Buddha. The Wiharn housing the reclining Buddha is just barely big enough to hold the statue, which is why you never seen any wide shots of the whole thing.

In addition to the fine features of the Buddha's face, also of note are the soles of the Buddha's feet, 45 meters (150 feet) away from the head, which have been inlaid with mother-of-pearl to display the 108 auspicious signs which distinguish a true Buddha.

Next to the Reclining Buddha wiharn is an enclosure holding the four largest of the temple's 95 chedis. All of the chedi at Wat Po are square, rather than the round bell shape generally preferred at the time. They are decorated with ceramic tiles and three dimensional ceramic pieces which form intricate floral patterns. The center of the three chedi in a line is the oldest, having been built by Rama I to hold the Phra Si Sanphet Buddha image bought from Ayuthaya. Later, Rama III built the chedi north of this to hold the ashes of Rama II, and the one to the south to hold his own remains. The fourth chedi was built by Rama IV for unknown purposes.

Behind the courtyard containing the chedis of the four kings is a mondop holding sacred Buddhist scriptures. You may be surprised to see that the mondop and surrounding small buildings are air-conditioned but not open to the public. The reason is that the scriptures housed here are very old and inscribed on palm leaves. The buildings are climate controlled to preserve the delicate documents.

Just outside the courtyard holding the royal chedis are a couple of pavilions displaying plaques and instruments involved in traditional medicine. These face the main ubosot which sits in a cloister with large pavilions on each of the four sides. Each of the pavilions contains a Buddha image set up in a different style. The pavilion facing the royal chedis is a bit larger than the others, and behind the Buddha image is a small museum. Note, however, that you can't get through any of these pavilions into the cloister.

To get to the ubosot, you need to walk round to the south side of the cloister and enter through one of the doors on either side of the pavilion on that side. The cloister is a double-ringed affair housing nearly 400 Buddha images, with the ubosot in the middle. Before entering the ubosot, note the gray stone plaques around the base. These illustrate the Ramakien, the Thai version of the hindu epic, the Ramayama, in 152 plaques. The stones were recovered from a temple in Ayuthaya and installed here by Rama I. Rubbings on these plaques used to be hawked relentlessly just outside the temple walls, but seem to have gone out of fashion.

Inside the ubosot is a magnificent alter with a large Buddha, all finished in gold and crystal. Outside the ubosot, but within the cloister, you can sometimes find classical mask-makers demonstrating their art.

Bangkok's Old Don Mueang Airport Re-Opens for Domestic Flights

The old airport in North Bangkok, now re-named Don Mueang Airport, re-opened for domestic flights on March 25, 2007.

Don Mueang Airport will handle domestic flights operated by the following airlines.

* One-Two-Go: All flights
* Nok Air: All flights
* Thai Airways International (THAI): non-connecting domestic flights only

The designated airport code for Don Mueang Airport is DMK.

Please check with the airlines before you leave for the airport.
Contact information:

* Thai Airways International (THAI)
Important:
Domestic flights that connect with flights to international destinations will operate out of the new international Bangkok airport – Suvarnabhumi Airport only.

The designated airport code for Suvarnabhumi Airport, is BKK.
To identify THAI flights operating out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, please note the “BKK” airport code and the three-digit flight number printed on air tickets.

For non-connecting domestic THAI flights operating out of Don Mueang Airport (“DMK” airport code), the flight number is four-digits.

THAI Operations at Don Mueang and Suvaranbhumi Airport
Effective as of 25 March – 27 October 2007
Please click to view

For more information regarding THAI flights and reservations, please contact
24-hour reservations centre: 0 2356 1111

* NOK AIR – New service from Don Mueang Airport
All Scheduled Flights Now Operate out of Don Mueang
On 1 March 2007, Nok Air – promoted as the truly Thai low fare airline – announced its relocation from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Don Mueang Airport. All its scheduled flights have been operating in and out of Don Mueang airport since 25 March 2007.

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