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The Kingdom of Thailand is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Asia. This South East Asian country has lured the travelers from far and wide and its magnetism lies not only in its awesome locales but also in its great cultural history. In the eastern direction of Thailand, lie Laos and Cambodia and to the south is located the Malaysia and Gulf of Thailand. The western part of the country is bordered by Myanmar and the Andaman Sea. The largest city of the country is Bangkok and is the capital of the country as well. The tourist attractions in Thailand like spectacular beaches, the picturesque country sides, the amazingly built temples, the colorful festivals, the warm hearted people and the glitzy malls have attracted the tourists forever and are continuing to do so.
The official name of the country of Thailand happens to be Siam. The place "Thailand" derives its name from a Thai word "freedom". However many believe the meaning could also be "Land of the free". Thailand has a great history behind it. The region is believed to have been inhabited since the paleolithic. Before the 13th century there used to exist a number of states in Thailand and the kingdoms that mainly reigned there included the Siamese, Khmer, the Mon and Malay kingdoms.
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There are a numerous archaeological sites and many eye catching artifacts that you can find in this land. However, according to the experts the first kingdom could be of the Buddhist that is the kingdom of Sukhothai which is believed to have been founded in the year 1238 which followed after the decline of the Khmer empire.Later the kingdom of Sukhothai was overpowered by the Siamese kingdom that lived in Ayutthaya. |
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After the decline of Angkor, it was with the help of the Siamese that the Khmer kingdom was re-established as Cambodia which became a new country that existed on the Cochin China coast. The Ayutthayan culture reflected a mix of the Khmer court culture and the Hindu customs. In the 16th century European powers started over shadowing the country. Colonization took place and the Western influence also made an impact in the 19th century. With the World War II a number of things changed and in the 1980s, Thailand became a prosperous and a democratic country.
There are a total of 17 charters and constitutions in Thailand. One of the most interesting things about Thailand is its geography. The country ranks 49th in the world in terms of its size. The northern part of the country is mountainous, with the Doi Inthanon being at the highest point. Towards the north east is the Khorat Plateau and its eastern part is bordered by the Mekong river. The Chao Phraya river valley runs down to the Gulf of Thailand and comprises the major part of the country. Thailand has a tropical climate but is much influenced by the monsoons. The tourist attractions in Thailand attract travelers all round the year and tourism here is a major source of the country's income of foreign exchange.
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