Phuket Attractions
Whatever the weather, there are numerous Phuket Attractions for you and the whole family to indulge and enjoy, so go on and grab yourself a cuppa, sit back and relax as I guide you through some of the best of them. You will notice that I am going to separate the kids and family entertainment and attractions from the adult stuff, most of which you will find on is on my Thailand Nightlife page. The Phuket Aquarium may not be nearly as big as the one in Bangkok but it is nevertheless a fun place to be. The many tourists who fly in and out from this majestic island paradise do not necessary go to the big cities anyway so a trip here would be a special treat. You will find the aquarium at the southern end of the island on Cape Panwa which is approximately an hour by car from Patong.
Phuket Aquarium
Phuket AttractionsPhuket Aquarium and Monkey SchoolThe Phuket Aquarium has lots of fresh water marine life as well as sea water creatures. Look out for the spotted sting ray and the sea turtles, the latter being bred here and later released back into the sea. Open daily from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm. with an admission fee of 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for kids.The Monkey School is at the same venue and another great place to take kids. There is no extra cost. Kids will just love the shows and they can participate in some of the action too. You will see the monkeys all dressed up riding tricycles while performing various tricks and you will even get to see monkeys swimming. This 30 minute show will have you and the kids laughing with delight and don't forget to let the kids feed them bananas afterward while you take some photo's.
Butterfly Garden and Insect World
Phuket AttractionsButterfly Garden and Insect WorldPhuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World, located near Sarm Kong in Phuket Town is one of the absolute must-see Phuket attractions. Not only will you find amazing butterflies here but also all sorts of creepy crawling insects as well. A great place to unwind in an atmosphere filled with thousands of butterflies flying around all the while the air is filled with the soothing sounds of music, a waterfall and lots of local birds singing. This wonderful butterfly garden is rated one of the very best in the world and everyone of all ages will enjoy, especially the kids.
Crocodile Show
Phuket AttractionsPhuket ZooThe Phuket Zoo is situated a mere 15 minute drive from Phuket Town near the north end of Chalong Bay. Entrance fee is 500 baht for adults and 300 baht for children. A little steep considering locals pay only around 100 baht. Unfortunately you will find this special payment plan for foreigners everywhere in Thailand.It matters not that you could be living here permanently either. There is a price for locals and another for tourists. Consider the entrance fees as an extension of your heart-felt generosity and kind nature. It would be worthwhile knowing that the extra tip is going to a worthy cause and not into a corrupt back pocket. The highlight of this outing are the three shows displayed during the course of the day. There is a monkey show, a elephant show and a crocodile show. It's a bit like going to the circus. You will of course, see this all over Thailand, but if you are only going to Phuket, then do take the kids here and enjoy yourselves.
Crocodile Show
Phuket AttractionsTemples and MonasteriesWat Chalong Temple is the biggest and the most visited of all the 29 Buddhist temples or monasteries found in Phuket. The vast grounds consists of several buildings and important Buddhist statues. As you stroll around you will notice many paintings depicting the life of Buddha. While westerners may be curious for knowledge about Buddhism, the locals come here to pray, light incense and candles and sometimes even help with applying gold leaf to some of the statues.In the westerly hall of the temple is one of the most important Buddhist statues called Poh Than Jao Wat. There is a legend stating that two of the statues of an elderly gentleman by the name Ta Khee-lek, seen nearby, was a famous local who had won several lotteries after consulting the Poh Than Jao Wat statue. Although this temple is well worth a visit, the best time to go is the early morning or perhaps the late afternoon in order to avoid the heat and crowds. This would allow you lots of free time to go to the
beaches
and other neighboring
islands.
Wat Chalong Temple
Phuket AttractionsTemples and MonasteriesWat Phra Nang Sang is the oldest temple in Phuket dating back as far as the 18th century. The site was once the setting of a famous battle fought between the locals living here and the Burmese armies who had invaded the island in 1785.The Burmese army were desperately trying to locate an ancient manuscript showing the location of some royal hidden treasure. Perhaps Hollywood used a similar concept when making the movie, National Treasure staring Nicholas Cage. There is also the legend concerning a princess who had played a significant part in the construction of Wat Phra Nang Sang. At some stage, she was found to be guilty of a felony and as she was being executed for her crime, she shed white blood. Some say she had been framed and was innocent of any wrong-doing. The shedding of white blood indicated her purity so as an act of remembrance, an ordination hall in the temple is dedicated to her. Famed for it's immense history, this attraction is well worth a visit. You will ind the temple near the center of Thalang Town which I believe was once the principal town in Phuket.
Island Attractions
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