Phuket

There is a common misconception that the island of Phuket is a recent find...that backpackers stumbled across a tropical haven in the 1960s and it was only then that its history began. Nothing could be further from the truth, although records are scarce and much of the island’s background relies upon the documentation of foreign visitors and archaeological finds of the past three decades.

The geographical location of Phuket ensured that it would be stumbled upon by traders from the West, traveling from India to the Far East and looking for an easier passage than sailing south through the then uncharted waters of Malaysia and Indonesia. Historical records tell of sailors visiting the island as far back as the 9th Century and antique charts show the island’s position as far back as the 2nd Century (Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria produced a map featuring what looks like Phuket).

Although the island’s coves and bays were frequently used as safe harbors from the storms so frequent in the Andaman Sea, it was not until the 13th Century that the Thais discovered the island and began trading here. For the travelers from the West, they also provided food and shelter from the pirates so prevalent between India and Peninsular Malaysia at the time. Known as "Junk Ceylon," the island was predominately populated by Mon-Khmers from Burma and the Chao Talay, now commonly known as Sea Gypsies and famed for their talents in fishing, diving and sailing.

The arrival of the Thais led to tin mining, a very lucrative trade as the tin veins were close to the surface and easy to exploit. As trade routes grew, the island blossomed and became famous as a pearl-fishing center (the Phuket Sea Shell Museum not far from Rawai Beach has many fine examples from this period). As news of these riches traveled to Europe in the 16th Century, Dutch pearl traders arrived by the hundreds. In addition to tin and pearls, the Europeans sought precious rhino horn, colorful corals, ambergris and valuable bird’s nests to trade with the Chinese. Phang Nga Bay to the northeast of Phuket is still an area famed for the quality (and cost) of its bird’s nests.

The centuries-long threat of Burmese aggression came to a bloody conclusion in 1785, when a marauding force swept across the island in an attempt to take it for their own. Following the death of the governor of (then capital) Thalang, his grieving widow, Chan, and her sister, Muk, led a group of Thai forces and repelled the invaders. Disguised as men, their courage terrified the Burmese, who fled north after a seven-week insurgence. In recognition of their bravery, the sisters were honored by King Rama I and given the noble titles of Lady Thepsatri and Tao Srisuntorn. A bronze statue of the two, swords drawn, was erected in the center of Thalang in 1966. The Heroines Monument is regularly visited by locals, who rub gold leaf on the base as both a mark of respect and as a way to seek merit. Just off the Two Heroines Monument is the Thalang National Museum, which has a wide array of local history displays and artifacts.