About Thailand

Explore this Thailand map to learn everything you want to know about this country. Learn about Thailand location on the world map, official symbol, flag, geography, climate, postal/area/zip codes, time zones, etc. Check out Thailand history, significant states, provinces/districts, & cities, most popular travel destinations and attractions, the capital city’s location, facts and trivia, and many more.

Sporting the name of Siam until the 11 th of May 1949, Thailand is the only country in the southeastern region of the continent of Asia to escape European colonization. The prevalent constitutional monarchy in the country was established in the year 1932.
In Thai, the word “Thai”translates as ‘free’; so, Thailand means ‘a free land’. The country is a bustling tourist and business destination, ranking as one of the world’s best. The chief cities in Thailand are Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, and Songkhla.

Physical Map of Thailand

The terrain of the country of Thailand is fragmentized into different landscapes. There are mountains and plains; plateaus and coasts and an isthmus in between. The mountains in Thailand are restricted to the north of the country and house the highest point in Thailand – the Doi Inthanon. The east and the northeast of Thailand are dominated by the Khorat Plateau. The middle of Thailand comprises of flatlands that originate due to the charting of valleys by the Chao Phraya River. An isthmus is the only feature to south of the country, while the west is plain land.

Location of Thailand

Thailand is located in the south eastern region of the continent of Asia, missing the Equator by a little. Its immediate political neighbors are the countries of Myanmar to the north and the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The water bodies that skirt Thailand are the Mekong River in the west that forms Thailand’s natural boundary with Laos, Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and the Indian Ocean and the Andaman Sea to the southwest.

Climate of Thailand

The climate of Thailand is very coastal and very Equatorial: hot and humid with little or no temperature and seasonal demarcations. Though there are land elevations in the interior northern regions of the country, one cannot expect the temperature to be more that 10°s less that the other regions of the country. The cooler season, which is mild and pleasant, occurs between October and February. Summers are from March to May; July till September lasts the monsoons.

Flora and Fauna of Thailand

Thailand has as much diversity in its flora and fauna as it has in its landscape and people. The plants in Thailand belong to species which are mostly considered typical of the varieties found in the south east of the Asian continent. So, the chief types of fauna to be found are the hardwood types, like teak; then there are pines, mangroves, bamboos, rattan/canes, betel, plantains/bananas and coconut palms. Exotic flowers too are to be found in the Thailand. In the fauna category, the animals that form the list are the wild cattle, rhinoceroses with one horn, otter, deer, civet cat, tapirs, gibbon, bear, wild hogs, and different types of monkeys. The domesticated variety of animals is sheep, goats and oxen. The reptile fauna of Thailand includes species of snakes, crocodiles, lizards and turtles. Aside of these there are also some 600 species of birds, excluding migratory varieties, in the country; multitudes of fish and diverse types of butterflies.

People of Thailand

The Thais are one mingled race. Though the dominant people are the Thais, the other ethnic influences that comes a close second are that of Indian and Chinese. Most of Thailand’s culture, tradition, practices and also its people are imbued with these two prime external influences. The other ethnic races that make a significant difference to the populace of Thailand are the Malays, the Mon, the Khmer, the Laotians, the Lawa, the Hmong, the Akha, the Mien, the Lisu, the Karen, the Lahu and the Tai. As a result of this, there is not even a special physical trait that is uniquely Thai.

Arts, Culture and Music of Thailand

Art : The types of art to be found in Thailand can be branded under the heads of performing arts, literary arts and visual arts. The two most important external influences to Thai art come from China and India. Either way, Buddhist images dominate expressions and representations. In the sphere of literature, the “Ramakein”or the Ramayana, were written by the King Rama-I and King Rama-II. The rest of the traditional; poetry comprises of the works by the poet Sunthorn Phu. The performing arts in Thailand comprise of dance-drama and dance. Drama is non-existent in the Thai tradition. Some of the names of the types of Thai dances are “Khon”, “Lakhon”, “Likay”and “Nang drama”.

Culture : The Thais have a detailed social and cultural code, whether be it for conduct or for actions. They strictly follow a very traditional form of greeting called the “Wai”, which is prayer-like bow. Also, since they believe that the head is the highest part of the body and the feet the lowest, touching a person’s head is forbidden as is gesturing with the feet. Another renowned feature of the Thai culture is the traditional form of boxing and martial art called the “Muay Thai”.

Music : Thai music is chiefly influenced by Chinese and Indian styles, with extra additions from its neighbors like Laos. The classical music of Thailand is called the “Piphat”. Woodwind and drums were used as an accompaniment to the Piphat. The other classical music is called the “Khruang Sai”which was sung to the music of stringed instruments. Traditional and folk music in Thailand includes the “Luk Thung”and “Mor Lam”. ‘Khaen’ is a musical instrument that accompanies the Mor Lam’. “Kantrum”is a special type of music performed by the people of Isan in Cambodia.

Flag of Thailand

Thailand has a simple rectangular flag comprised of the colors blue, red and white. The flag also has a name; it is called the “Thong Trairong”meaning ‘tricolor flag’. There are five horizontal stripes running from end to end of the flag. The red and the white stripes are equal in width while the central blue stripe is double in width to the red or the white. On the top and the bottom of the broad blue stripe is one white stripe each, and next to the white stripes are the red ones. The colors in the flag are representative of the unspoken motto of Thailand – namely ‘Nation-Religion-King’.

Economy of Thailand

There are several factors contributing to the economy of Thailand. Of theses, tourism plays a major role. However, it is not the sole revenue bringing source. Thailand has several bankable natural resources. Some of them are timber, rubber, natural gas, lignite, tungsten, lead, tantalum, gypsum and Fluorite. The thriving marine life around the country is beneficial for the fishing industry. Also, Thailand is blessed with an arable land. So, the things that you will find growing in Thailand are coconuts, rice, corn, tapioca, sugarcane, rubber and soybeans. Among the things that are manufactured, most of the products are exported. Exports, apart from the mineral resources, include garments, beverages, food processing, cement, tobacco, integrated circuits, jewelry, electric appliances, furniture, computers and parts, plastics, automobile parts.