Phuket (city)

This article is about the city. For the province it is located in, see Phuket province.

Phuket
ภูเก็ต
City Municipality
City of Phuket
เทศบาลนครภูเก็ต
Other transcription(s)
 • Thaiภูเก็ต
 • Jawiبوکيت‎ (Jawi)
 • Hokkien普吉市
Phóo-kiat-tshī (Tâi-lô)
Phuket
Phuket
Official seal of Phuket
Seal
Phuket is located in Thailand
Phuket
Phuket
Location in Thailand
Coordinates: 7°53′17″N 98°23′51″E / 7.88806°N 98.39750°E / 7.88806; 98.39750
Country Thailand
ProvincePhuket province
DistrictMueang Phuket
Government
 • TypeCity Municipality
 • MayorSaroj Ankanapilas
Area
 • City Municipality12 km2 (5 sq mi)
 • Metro
224 km2 (86 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • City Municipality79,308
 • Density6,600/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
250,474
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Area code(+66) 76
Geocode8399
Websitephuketcity.go.th

Phuket (/puːˈkɛt/ poo-KET; Thai: เทศบาลนครภูเก็ต[pronunciation?] or ภูเก็ต, pronounced [pʰūː.kèt]) is a city in the southeast of Phuket Island, Thailand, and the capital of Phuket province. As of 2020 the city had a population of 79,308. It covers the subdistricts (tambons) Talat Yai (Thai: ตลาดใหญ่) and Talat Nuea (Thai: ตลาดเหนือ) of Mueang Phuket district.

Phuket is 862 km (535.6 mi) south of Bangkok.[1]

History

Phuket is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. It was an important port on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula where Chinese immigrants first landed.

Phuket Old Town is a quarter studded with heritage buildings in ten streets: Klang, Phang Nga, Rassada, Dee Buk, Krabi, Thep Kasattri, Phuket, Yaowarat, Satun, and Soi Rammanee. These older buildings show Phuket town's former prosperity. They were constructed when tin mining was an important industry on the island. Their architectural style is called "Sino-Portuguese", characteristic of which is a single or two-storey building with a narrow front compensated for by considerable depth. The tiles, doors, perforated windows, and other details are all influenced by Chinese and European styles combined.[2] "Phuket Old Town" is a 2.7 km2 area covering a total of 210 rai.

As of 2019, the Fine Arts Department and the Phuket provincial authorities are preparing a proposal to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Phuket Old Town to be listed as a World Heritage Site.[3]

In 2004, the town was elevated to city status (thesaban nakhon, Thai: เทศบาลนคร).

Culture

The major religion is Buddhism. The Buddhist temples in the city are attractive destinations for national and international tourists. Along the streets some Hindu temples depicting the statues of Ganesha and Brahma can also be seen.

Climate

Climate data for Phuket (1991–2020, extremes 1951-present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.0
(98.6) 		38.5
(101.3) 		39.3
(102.7) 		39.4
(102.9) 		38.0
(100.4) 		36.0
(96.8) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.5
(95.9) 		35.0
(95.0) 		35.3
(95.5) 		35.9
(96.6) 		34.2
(93.6) 		39.4
(102.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4) 		34.0
(93.2) 		34.4
(93.9) 		34.2
(93.6) 		33.2
(91.8) 		32.6
(90.7) 		32.3
(90.1) 		32.2
(90.0) 		31.8
(89.2) 		31.8
(89.2) 		32.1
(89.8) 		32.1
(89.8) 		32.8
(91.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 28.3
(82.9) 		29.0
(84.2) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.6
(85.3) 		29.1
(84.4) 		28.7
(83.7) 		28.4
(83.1) 		28.3
(82.9) 		27.8
(82.0) 		27.6
(81.7) 		28.0
(82.4) 		27.9
(82.2) 		28.5
(83.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 25.0
(77.0) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.3
(79.3) 		26.1
(79.0) 		25.8
(78.4) 		25.6
(78.1) 		25.6
(78.1) 		25.1
(77.2) 		24.9
(76.8) 		25.2
(77.4) 		25.0
(77.0) 		25.5
(77.9)
Record low °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3) 		18.6
(65.5) 		20.0
(68.0) 		20.5
(68.9) 		21.2
(70.2) 		21.9
(71.4) 		20.5
(68.9) 		21.1
(70.0) 		21.1
(70.0) 		20.5
(68.9) 		19.3
(66.7) 		18.4
(65.1) 		17.4
(63.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 49.9
(1.96) 		24.0
(0.94) 		80.7
(3.18) 		135.1
(5.32) 		236.9
(9.33) 		249.4
(9.82) 		240.2
(9.46) 		308.7
(12.15) 		350.4
(13.80) 		336.0
(13.23) 		178.2
(7.02) 		82.0
(3.23) 		2,271.5
(89.43)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 4.3 2.2 6.0 9.6 15.7 15.9 16.3 16.9 18.9 19.4 12.9 7.8 145.9
Average relative humidity (%) 75.7 73.9 76.3 79.2 81.4 81.7 81.5 81.6 83.6 85.0 82.8 78.9 80.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 279.0 245.8 275.9 240.0 158.1 117.0 120.9 117.8 108.0 179.8 219.0 260.4 2,321.7
Mean daily sunshine hours 9.0 8.7 8.9 8.0 5.1 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.6 5.8 7.3 8.4 6.4
Source 1: World Meteorological Organization[4] Feb–May record highs, 1951–2022;[5] Nov–Feb record lows, 1951–2021;[6]
Source 2: Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010)[7](extremes)[8]

Demographics

Since 2005, the population of Phuket has been increasing.[9]

Estimation date 31 Dec 2005 31 Dec 2010 31 Dec 2015 31 Dec 2019
Population 74,208 75,720 78,421 79,308

Transportation

Locals and tourists alike mainly use the songthaews to travel around. Pink songthaews call at stops around Phuket Old Town, while blue songthaews connect Phuket Old Town with the various beach resorts around the island.[10]

Phuket International Airport is 36 kilometres (22 mi) northwest of Phuket Old Town. There is currently an hourly scheduled bus service between the airport and Phuket Old Town.[11]

Sister cities

Photos

  • Buddha statue on Khao Rang hill
    Buddha statue on Khao Rang hill
  • View of Phuket city from Khao Rang hill
    View of Phuket city from Khao Rang hill

References

  1. ^ "Phuket". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Chino-Portugal Architecture Building". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  3. ^ Chuenniran, Achadtaya (21 September 2019). "Old Town Phuket earns praise". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  4. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  5. ^ Thai Meteorological Department. "สถิติอุณหภูมิสูงที่สุดในช่วงฤดูร้อนของประเทศไทยระหว่าง พ.ศ. 2494 - 2565" [Extreme maximum temperature during summer season in Thailand (1951 - 2022)] (PDF). TMD website. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  6. ^ Thai Meteorological Department. "Extreme minimum temperature during winter season in Thailand 71 year period (1951 - 2021);" (PDF). TMD website. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  7. ^ "ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith)" (PDF) (in Thai). Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department. p. 67. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010". Thai Meteorological Department. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  9. ^ "THAILAND: Major Cities, Towns & Communes".
  10. ^ "Phuket Local Blue Bus and Pink Bus - PHUKET 101". 14 January 2021.
  11. ^ http://www.airportbusphuket.com [bare URL]
  12. ^ "Phuket and Penang become twin cities". Phuket Gazette. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
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