Phuket was known in times to be highly rich in minerals. The island's northern and central regions then were governed by the Thais, and the southern and western parts were given over to the tin trade, a concession in the hands of foreigners. This can be established by the fact that the Dutch had already established a trading post during the Ayuthaya Period in the 16th Century.

After Ayuthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767 there was a short interregnum in Thailand, ended by King Taksin, who drove out the Burmese and re-unified the country. Phuket's most memorable event came after this.

The army in Phuket were put together by two heroines Kunying Jan, wife of Phuket's deceased governor and her sister Mook, as a passing captain Francis Light had sent words that the Burmese were on their were to attack. It took a month and a fierce battle which forced the Burmese to depart on the 13th of March 1785. As an honor King Rama I gave Kunying Jan an award of royalty for which she is known till date. During the period of nineteenth Century Chinese immigrants arrived in huge numbers to work the tin mines and resulted to the island's interior becoming predominantly Chinese in nature, while the coastal settlements remained populated chiefly by Muslim fishermen.

In 1876 two sects of Chinese workers, unhappy with their wages and working conditions, began a bloody rampage of theft and murder across the island. The locals rallied to Wat Chalong, where the head monks gave shelter to the people.

The monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, were reputed to be great healers in possession of supernatural powers. They convinced the miners to end their rampage and brought the uprising to a peaceful end. Statues of the two monks still stand in Wat Chalong and many locals come to the temple to pray to the two heroes for guidance and good luck.

On this day Phuket continues its long history of welcoming foreigners as Thailand’s most popular tourist destination.Three million tourists come to Phuket every year, drawn by its white sand beaches, world-class diving, snorkeling and its vibrant nightlife. The property market is both buoyant and lucrative and the standard of hospitality is world class. <<back>>