Phuket is 862 km south of Bangkok.
Phuket is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. The town was important port on the west of the Malay Peninsula where Chinese immigrants first landed.
The old buildings in Phuket town indicate its former prosperity. They were constructed when tin mining was an important on the island. The architectural style, called "Sino-Portuguese", is European mixed with Chinese modern. Characteristic is a single or two-storey building with a narrow front compensated for by considerable depth. The tiles, doors, perforated windows and other details are all influenced by Chinese and European styles mixed together.
On 13 February 2004 the town was elevated to city status (thesaban nakhon, Thai: เทศบาลนคร).
The major religion is Buddhism. The Buddhist temples in the city are attractive destinations for national and international tourists. Along the streets some Hindu temples depicting the statues of Lord Ganesha and Lord Brahma can also be seen.
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