Location
Thailand is located in central Southeast Asia and is bordered on the Indian Ocean and Myanmar (Burma) in the west, Cambodia and Laos in the east, Laos and Myanmar in the north, Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand in the south.


Size
Thailand’s total area is approximately 513,000 square kilometers, with a population estimated to be over sixty six million people.


Capital
Known in the West as Bangkok, its official name, Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, is always abbreviated as Krung Thep, meaning The City of Angels. Bangkok in the past was often called the “Venice of the East” because of its intricate system of natural and man-made canals or klong.

Climate

The climate is tropical, savannah from Bangkok to the north, and monsoon from Bangkok to the south. There are three seasons: hot (March to June), rainy (July to October) and cool (November to February). Since the climate is tropical, cotton dresses and light-weight suits are comfortable attire. Average temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit.


Religious Freedom
Although Theravada Buddhism is the state religion and the great majority of the Thai people are Buddhists, there has never been any restrictions upon religious freedom. Other faiths and doctrines prevailing in Thailand are Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism and Animism.


History
The people of Thailand are believed by some experts to have originated in the vast regions of Southeast China near the Yang-tze Valley where they founded the independent Kingdom of Nanchao in 650. Other authorities, however, now believe that the Thais have always lived in this part of Southeast Asia.

According to the earlier theory, in 1253 Kublai Khan’s hordes conquered Nanchao and mass migration took place southward into the area later called Siam, now known as Thailand.

The migrants settled in the fertile Chao Phraya River Valley where they founded Sukhothai, capital of the first integrated Thai Kingdom. The most important ruler during the period was King Ramkamhaeng who introduced the Thai alphabet.

In 1350, King Rama Thibodi founded a new dynasty and established his capital at Ayutthaya where 33 kings ruled for the next 417 years. In 1767, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese and was almost completely destroyed. However, a general named Phraya Taksin escaped with 500 followers. Soon he raised a force strong enough to drive the invaders out of the country.

Now crowned king, Taksin established his capital at Thon Buri (twin city of today’s Bangkok). He was succeeded by one of his generals, Chao Phraya Chakri, the founder of the present Chakri Dynasty, who as King Phra Buddha-Yod-Fah-Chulaloke (Rama I), established Bangkok as his capital in 1782.

The present monarch, H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty.

Thailand has always been independent and it is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized.


Arts and Culture
The Thais have a remarkable artistic temperament. The traditional painting of Thailand is an art of great interest and sometimes of remarkable beauty. With all forms of dance drama in Thailand, music forms an important role which is greatly bound by tradition.

The majority of Thailand’s festivals and ceremonies are of a religious nature associated with the life of the Lord Buddha but despite their solemnity the celebrations are also a time of great merriment.


Government
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy. His Majesty The King exercises his legislative power through the National Assembly, executive power through the Council of Ministers and judicial power through the Courts of Law.

Thailand is divided into 77 provinces each with minister representation through the Ministry of the Interior. A province is divided into districts, sub-districts and villages.


Thai Currency
Thai currency comes in paper denominations of 1,000 (grey), 500 (purple), 100 (red), 50 (blue) and 20 (green) Baht (THB) notes. There is a 10-Baht coin of white metal with a bronze centre, white metal 5-Baht, 2-baht and 1-Baht coins. And 50-satang and 25-satang bronze coins for fractions of a Baht.