Thailand , whose ancient Indian name is Shyamadesh (or Siam) , is a country in Southeast Asia . It has Laos and Cambodia on its eastern border , Malaysia on its southern border and Myanmar on its western border . ‘Siam’ was the official name of Thailand until May 11 , 1949 . The word Thai means ‘free’ in Thai language . The term is also used to refer to Thai citizens . For this reason, some people, especially the Chinese people living here, still prefer to call Thailand by the name Siam . The capital of Thailand is Bangkok.
Buddhism has had a strong influence on Thailand’s royal family for centuries. It is believed that the kings of Thailand are known by the name of Lord Vishnu (Buddha). Respecting this sentiment, the national symbol of Thailand is Garuda.
In Thailand the king is called Rama Bodhisattva (Dasaratha Jataka story). This place will be about 50-60 kilo-meters away from Bangkok. There are also many Buddhist temples here in which statues of Lord Buddha are installed in different postures. Is it less surprising that despite being Buddhist, the people of Thailand consider their king to be an incarnation of Vishnu because he is a descendant of Ram. Therefore, in a way there is Ram Rajya in Thailand. The king there is considered a descendant of Lord Rama. 94 percent of the population in Thailand is Buddhist. Still the national symbol here is Garuda. In Hindu mythology, Garuda is considered the vehicle of Vishnu. Garuda is said to be half bird and half man. His body is like that of a human being, but his face resembles that of a bird. He has wings. Now the question arises that why is there a symbol of Hindu religion in a country where the official religion is Buddhism? The answer is that since Thailand was originally Hindu, it sees no contradiction in there being a national symbol symbolizing Hinduism. An ordinary Thai proudly says that his ancestors were Hindus and Hinduism is also respectful to him. Thailand gives you one surprise after another. The national scripture there is Ramayana. Although followers of Theravada Buddhism are in majority in Thailand, the national scripture there is Ramayana. Which is called ‘Ram-Kien’ in Thai language, which means Ram-Kirti, which is based on Valmiki Ramayana. The name of the largest and grandest hall in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is ‘Ramayana Hall’. Here, dance dramas and puppets based on Ram Kiyan are performed daily. The main characters of Ram Kiyan are Ram (Ram), Lak (Lakshman), Pali (Bali), Sukrip (Sugriv), Onkot (Angad), Khompoon (Jambavant), Bipek (Vibhishan), Ravana, Jatayu etc.
On Navratri, the Sri Narayana Temple located on Silom Road in Bangkok becomes the centre of Hindus in Thailand. All the Hindus here come here at least once, for worship or to participate in cultural activities. During this period, bhajans, kirtans and other religious rituals continue. There is provision of prasad and food day and night. During this time, one day the procession of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati also leaves from the main roads. In this, idols of Lord Ganapati, Krishna, Subramaniam and other gods and goddesses are also decorated and kept in some vehicle. Thousands of Buddhists also participate in this event. This ride completes its three kilo-meter route in seven hours. Music and dance groups also live in it.
In this country of South East Asia, you see Hindu deities and symbols everywhere. Although Thailand is a Buddhist country. But Ram is also worshipable. Ayodhya city is adjacent to the capital Bangkok. It is believed that this was the capital of Lord Shri Ram. In the Buddhist temples of Thailand you will find statues and images of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. There are separate temples for all these gods and goddesses. A large number of Hindus and Buddhists come here every day for worship. That means Thailand offers a beautiful blend of Buddhism and Hinduism. There is no bitterness or feeling of animosity anywhere.
| Raj Anachakra Thai
kingdom of india
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| National Anthem: Phlen Chat Thai (version) Total Song : Phlen Sensoin Phra Barami (version) |
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 Southeast Asia in brown and Thailand in green
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| capital and largest city |
Bangkok 13°45′N 100°29′E / 13.750°N 100.483°E |
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| Official language(s) | Thai | |||||
| Resident | Thai | |||||
| Government | Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy | |||||
| , | King | Ram Dasham | ||||
| , | Prime Minister | Prayut Chan Ocha | ||||
| Build | ||||||
| , | sukhothai monarchy | 1238 | ||||
| , | constitutional monarchy | 24 June 1932 | ||||
| , | later constitution | 24 August 2007 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| , | Total | 513,115 km 2 ( 50th ) | ||||
| , | Water (%) | 0.4 (2,230 km 2 ) | ||||
| population | ||||||
| , | December 2007 census | 63,038,247 ( 21st ) | ||||
| , | 2000 census | 60,606,947 | ||||
| , | density | 122/km 2 ( 85th ) | ||||
| Gross Domestic Product ( PPP ) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| , | Total | $546.095 billion ( – ) | ||||
| , | per person | $8,225 ( – ) | ||||
| Human Development Index (2013) | 0.722 high · 89th |
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| currency | Thai Baht (฿) (THB) | |||||
| time zone | ( UTC +7) | |||||
| telephone code | 66 | |||||
| internet tld | .th | |||||
| 1. | ^ Thai name:Krung Thep Maha NakhonorKrung ThepThe full name is “Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Yuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Avatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.” | |||||
| 2. | ^ According to the Department of Provincial Administration’sofficial register,not taking into account unregistered citizens and immigrants. | |||||
Shiva temple, Durga temple, Vishnu temple etc. located in Bangkok have been built by the Hindus as well as the Buddhists here. This is really amazing. As far as Hindu temples are concerned, they have been built by the Indian people who have settled here for decades. Some temples were also built by private efforts. There are Tamils and Indians of North India in Thailand. Therefore the temple is built like the temples of South and North India. The statues of Lakshmi-Ganesha in the Brahma Ji temple at Bangkok’s main Ratchaprayong intersection are worth seeing. Along with Hindus, Buddhists are also coming among them. There is no discrimination anywhere. It is noteworthy that many Buddhist temples have pictures and statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. Looking at all this it seems that Hindus and Buddhists believe in coexistence. This is tolerant. Despite having different religions, the feeling of respect for each other is clear.
Buddhist followers reach Thailand in millions. 80 lakh tourists are arriving in Thailand every year. Most of them go there to visit the temples associated with Lord Buddha.
History
Humans have lived in present-day Thailand for about 10,000 years. Before the fall of the Khmer Empire, there were many kingdoms here – Tai, Malay, Khmer etc. In 1238, the Sukhothai state was established, which is considered the first Buddhist Thai (Siamese) state. About a century later, the kingdom of Ayudhya established its supremacy over Sukhathai. After the fall of Ayudhya (by Burma ) in 1767, Thomburi became the capital. In 1782, the Chakri Dynasty was established in Bangkok, which is considered the beginning of modern Thailand.
In the war with European powers, Siam had to return some territories which are today parts of Burma and Malaysia . It was an ally of Japan during World War II and of America after World War II. In a 1992 coup, Thailand was declared a new constitutional monarchy .
Culture
Religion and monarchy are two pillars of Thai culture and part of daily life here. Buddhism is the main religion here. Followers of Islam and Christianity are also found in significant numbers in Thailand. Buddhist monks wearing saffron robes and Buddhas made of gold, marble and stone can be commonly seen here. Before going to the temple here, take special care of your clothes. It is prohibited to come to these places wearing short clothes.
The classical music of Thailand seems to be very close to the music of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Indonesian. There are many dance styles which are related to the drama. Ramayana has an important place among these . Heavy costumes and masks are used in these programs .
Religion
In ancient times this was a country full of Hindu civilization. Even today a glimpse of Hindu culture can be seen here. Ramayana is very popular here. Later, Indian Buddhist kings propagated Buddhism here and this country became famous as a Buddhist country.
religiosity of thai Religion
Percent Buddhist
95%Muslim
4%Christian
0.8%Other
0.2%
Main attractions
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand. There are many things here which attract tourists. The most famous of these are the Marine Park and Safari. Trained dolphins perform their tricks in the Marine Park. This program attracts children as well as adults. Safari World is the world’s largest open zoo. Almost all the wild animals of Asia and Africa can be seen here. The journey here is tiring but exciting. There are also arrangements for food on the way.
Pattaya
After Bangkok, Pattaya is the most important tourist destination in Thailand. There are many beautiful places worth visiting here too. Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum comes first in this . The visit to the Infinity Maze and 4D Motion Theatre here is very exciting. The haunted tunnel here gives people the feeling of ghosts, yet tourists come here in large numbers.
Parasailing and water spots can be enjoyed on the coral island here. Glass bottom boats are also available here through which aquatic animals and corals can be seen. There is also a gem gallery in Coral Island where information about precious gems can be obtained. But before coming to this island, know that there is a dress code here which is necessary to follow.
“It is impossible for any tourist to come to Pattaya and not visit Alcazar-Cabarat”. Dance, music and other programs can be enjoyed here. The special thing about the programs held here is that the beautiful actresses working in them are actually men.
Phuket
It is Thailand’s largest, most populous island. Most tourists come here. This colourful place has developed mainly due to tourism. Some interesting markets, temples and a unique confluence of Chinese-Portuguese civilization can be seen in this island. The largest population here is of Thai and Nepalese.
Ayutthaya Historical Park
Ayutthaya Gardens situated along the river is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are temples everywhere here. Once upon a time there was a city situated here. Many relics can still be seen here, such as Wat Phra Si Saenpute, Wat Mogkhon Bophit, Wat Na Phra Meru, Wat Thamikarat, Wat Rataburana and Wat Phra Mahathat. Car cannot go to these places so come here on foot.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, about 700 kilo-meters away from Bangkok. There are more than 300 temples in this city which gives the feel of the old world. From here you can also see the mountains. This city is also modern where you will find colours from the whole world. Chiang Mai is the perfect place for food and shopping lovers and people looking for accommodation. Apart from many temples, there are also comfortable gardens, night markets, beautiful museums where one can spend time comfortably.
Nakhon Pathom
Nakhon Pathom, located west of Bangkok, is considered the oldest city in Thailand. The Phra Pathom Chedi here is considered to be the tallest Buddhist monument in the world. The original monument, built by Theravada Buddhists in the 6th century, now rests under a massive dome.
Shopping
There are many places for shopping in Bangkok. Indra Market is famous for hand made goods. MBK Plaza is the perfect place to shop for branded goods. Clothing and Thai knives can be purchased from The Supreme Tokyo. Apart from this, silk, precious gems and paintings can also be purchased from Thailand.
Bangkok
Pattaya
Phuket
Ayutthaya Historical Park
Chiang Mai
Nakhon Pathom
