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History :

 

The region known as Thailand has been inhabited by humans at least since the Paleolithic period, about 40,000 years ago. Similar to other regions in Southeast Asia, it was heavily influenced by the culture and religions of India, starting with the kingdom of Funan around the 1st century CE.

After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 13th century, various states thrived there, such as the various Tai, Mon, Khmer and Malay kingdoms, as seen through the numerous archaeological sites and artifacts that are scattered throughout the Siamese landscape. Prior to the 12th century however, the first Thai or Siamese state is traditionally considered to be the Buddhist kingdom of Sukhothai, which was founded in 1238.
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) with Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in Saint Petersburg 1897.
Buddhist images at Wat Mahathat built during the Sukhothai period.

Following the decline and fall of the Khmer empire in the 13th–14th century, the Buddhist Tai kingdoms of Sukhothai, Lanna and Lan Xang (now Laos) were on the ascension. However, a century later, the power of Sukhothai was overshadowed by the new kingdom of Ayutthaya, established in the mid-14th century in the lower Chao Phraya River or Menam area.

Ayutthaya's expansion centered along the Menam while in the northern valley the Lanna Kingdom and other small Tai city-states ruled the area. In 1431, the Khmer abandoned Angkor after the Ayutthaya forces invaded the city. Thailand retained a tradition of trade with its neighbouring states, from China to India, Persia and Arab lands. Ayutthaya became one of the most vibrant trading centres in Asia. European traders arrived in the 16th century, beginning with the Portuguese, followed by the French, Dutch and English.

After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 to the Burmese, King Taksin the Great moved the capital of Thailand to Thonburi for approximately 15 years. The current Rattanakosin era of Thai history began in 1782, following the establishment of Bangkok as capital of the Chakri dynasty under King Rama I the Great. A quarter to a third of the population of some areas of Thailand were slaves.

Despite European pressure, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian nation that has never been colonized. Two main reasons for this were that Thailand had a long succession of very able rulers in the 19th century and that it was able to exploit the rivalry and tension between French Indochina and the British Empire. As a result, the country remained a buffer state between parts of Southeast Asia that were colonized by the two powers, Great Britain and France.
The ruins of Wat Chaiwatthanaram at Ayutthaya, the city was burned and sacked in 1767 by a Burmese army under the Alaungpaya Dynasty.

Western influence nevertheless led to many reforms in the 19th century and major concessions, most notably being the loss of a large territory on the east side of the Mekong to the French and the step-by-step absorption by Britain of the Malay Peninsula.

    

     Earliest History

Fossilized remains of plants and animals have been discovered in many areas of Thailand, particularly in the Korat Plateau in northeastern Thailand. Most of the animal fossils found are of dinosaurs, which date primarily to the Jurassic era though some are from the late-Triassic, the oldest such evidence of dinosaurs in Southeast Asia.

      Pre-Thai Kingdoms

Over the centuries leading up to the era of recorded history, Thailand was first peopled by Mon and Khmer groups and later by the Tai, an ethnic group that migrated from southern China to Vietnam and gradually into Laos and northern Thailand.

      Sukhothai

Thais began to emerge as a dominant force in the region in the13th century, gradually asserting independence from neighboring kingdoms. Founded by Khun Pha Muang and Khun Bang Klang Thao in 1238, the Kingdom of Sukhothai was named "the dawn of happiness" by its rulers.

       Ayutthaya

No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that the kings of Sukhothai had been, Ayutthaya's sovereigns were absolute monarchs and assumed the title devaraja (god-king), adopting Khmer cultural influences from the very beginning, but also having influences from Mon, Tai, and Chinese inhabitants.

      Thonburi

King Taksin assumed the vacant throne amidst a state of disorder and established a new capital nearer to the sea, a move that would facilitate foreign trade, ensure the procurement of arms, and make defense and withdrawal easier in case of a renewed Burmese attack.

       Rattanakosin

Born of noble blood, Tong Duang, a powerful general of Taksin’s army, became Rama I, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty and ruled from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king was to transfer the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri to Bangkok and build the Grand Palace and other royal structures with the bricks of ruined Ayutthaya

 

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Pattaya Guide
Pattaya is 147 kilometres southeast of Bangkok facing the Gulf of Thailand. It is Asia’s prime tourist destination drawing family, couple and single visitors to experience its enticing nature as well as vibrant ambience it has to offer. Different parts of Pattaya offer distinguished atmospheres to suit a wide range of preferences. Family travellers may prefer a quiet atmosphere of Jomtien. Worldly known as entertainment city, Pattaya offers a variety of vibrant nightlife for fun-loving visitors with a number of nightclubs, bars, pubs and shows in South Pattaya and something in between will also find the likes easily here. Accommodation ranges widely from 5-star hotels to easy-going guesthouses located throughout the town. Myriads of sports and activities on land, in water or even in the sky are available including golf, fishing, jet ski, kite surfing, and paragliding. Sightseeing opportunities are plentiful such as museum, theatre, gardens, zoos, amusement parks and many more.