Thailand Facts: Learn More About The Land Of Smiles

Located in southeast Asia, The Kingdom of Thailand is a tropical country situated in the center of the Indochinese Peninsula.

Thailand is also a middle-level income country in today's world and is the founding member of ASEAN. With the number of tourist attractions, beautiful sights and views, gorgeous beaches and islands, and the many activities available, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the 21st century.

As you may have known, Thailand was previously known as Siam. The name was changed from Siam to Thailand in 1939 after a major internal battle and shift of power. The name was changed with the aim to introduce Thailand to the modern world while maintaining its individuality and establishing its identity.

Thailand has historically seen a lot of kingdoms being born and brought down; even today, it functions as a monarchy and faces internal conflicts and upheavals every so often. Thai is the official language of Thailand, with English also being widely spoken by people in urban centers.

The country is home to various exotic animal species that can be found living in the Thai forest region. As a matter of fact, almost 10% of all animal species in the world are found in Thailand.

As well as all of this, Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. Let's look at some important Thailand facts to understand more about the importance of the country in southeast Asia.

After reading these interesting facts about Thailand, also check out facts about the Gulf of Thailand and interesting facts about Argentina.

Fun Facts About Thailand

There are so many amazing Thailand facts to know that it might not be possible to capture them all, but we can surely try. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy and is officially named The Kingdom of Thailand. Thailand shared borders with several southeast Asian countries, particularly Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.

It also shares its borders with the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Thailand also shares a maritime border with Indonesia, India, and Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand.

Thailand receives roughly 16 million tourists every year. Despite such a huge influx of tourists, Thailand has been able to maintain and preserve its culture.

The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is the largest as well as the most populous city in the country. In the Thai language, the name of Thailand is translated to Prathet Thai, which means land of free people.

The bumble bat, which is the world’s smallest mammal, is native to Thailand. You can also find the whale shark in the several water bodies surrounding Thailand.

The Thai currency is called Baht. A large part of the Thai vocabulary originates from Pali Sanskrit, which was an ancient language of Asian cultures. It is said that the name Siam is derived from the Sanskrit word Syam, which means dark.

Siam’s capital, Ayutthaya, is said to be named after Ayodhya, the place where Lord Ram was born and where the Ramayana was set. The name of Thailand’s main international airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, is derived from Sanskrit and translated to 'the land of gold.'

The Suvarnabhumi Airport was given its name by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth emperor from the Chakri Dynasty, and titled Rama IX. Thailand was once, very much like Venice, built on stilts, which would overlook canals.

However, gradually most of these canals got filled. There are still some canals existing today, where floating markets function.

Thailand’s climate is tropical in nature, with sunshine all 12 months of the year. Thailand’s national bird is the Siamese fireback. Thailand’s national animal is the Thai elephant.

Thailand’s national aquatic animal is the Siamese fighter fish. Thailand’s national flower is the golden shower flower. Phuket is a city on the island of Phuket, which comes under Thailand's rule.

Phuket is also a very commonly visited tourist destination. A large percentage of people who visit Thailand also visit Phuket. Portuguese and Italian influences can be seen in the older parts of this city, where the architecture is heavily inspired by and reflects Portuguese construction and architecture.

Historical Facts About Thailand

Thailand has a long and complex history that needs to be explored. Here are some historical Thailand facts.

Thailand is the only known country in southeast Asia that was not colonized by the British or any other European country.

The population of Thailand is said to have migrated in the 11th century from China to the mainland of Thailand. The first known migrated populations of Thailand were called Tai. Tai peoples refer to a group of people who spoke or were descendants of speakers of one or more of the Tai languages.

Siam was named Thailand in 1939. In 1945 it was renamed Siam again, which was finally reversed in 1949 to Thailand again, and has remained unchanged since.

The national emblem of Thailand is Garuda, which, according to Indian mythology, is the Mount of Lord Vishnu. The national flag of Thailand was designed as per the instruction of Rama VI. The Sala Thai, which is a Thai pavilion, is the national architecture of Thailand.

Bangkok is also regarded as the city of royal palaces as the actual palace of the royal family of Thailand is present here. The monarchy has been assigned an important status in Thailand, and strict rules are followed by people while speaking about anything related to the royal family of Thailand.

Facts About Thai People

The essence of any place comes from the people who inhabit it. This is true with Thailand as well. This vibrant country has been through a lot over the centuries.

What shaped it into what it is today is the people who have lived here. The past and present, as is visible to us today, are a result of centuries worth of traditions, customs, and upheavals. The future of Thailand will be shaped by its current population.

Thai people are known for their friendliness. The local people of Thailand are very friendly and welcoming of their tourists.

Thai people have about 13 different types of smiles which each mean something different, hence justifying the country's title as the Land of Smiles. The Thai people are known to be very peaceful people, encouraging peaceful living and understanding between people.

The first known Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker, were born in 1811 in a province close to Bangkok. The twins married sisters and each couple had 10 children each.

In Thailand, it is against the law to criticize the monarchy. The royal family is supposed to be held in high regard.

Around 95% of the Thai population observes Buddhism as its religion. The Thai population is made up of 75% Thai people, 14% Chinese people, and 11% of the people hailing from the rest of the world.

A large number of migrants from around the world are living in Thailand and have made a very significant contribution to the social and economic aspects of life in Thailand.

Facts About Thailand's Culture

Thai culture is strongly influenced by its core Buddhist influences. The impact of Buddhist culture is visible in the daily life of Thailand. Whether it is the Thai cuisine, the people’s attitudes and outlook, or the values on which Thailand was built, the cultural impact of the years of rule and Buddhism is clearly visible.

Buddhism is the core religion in Thailand; as such, it can be witnessed throughout the city’s character. The world's largest Buddha statue made of solid gold can be found in Thailand.

Major local sights in Thailand have something or other to do with Buddhism, whether it's a monastery or a Buddha statue.

Even the arts and architecture of this region have largely Buddhist influences.

The Thai language is derived and based largely on the ancient Indian Brahmic scripts. The Thai language consists of about 44 consonants and 32 vowels, set in five different tones.

Although not a tradition, it is considered a sign of good luck to present a Thai bride with a Siamese cat. In Thailand, spending some time as a Buddhist monk is considered a sacred act, with the power of bestowing good luck to those men who dedicate a part of their life as Buddhist monks.

For a long time, all men over the age of 20 would go on to spend a part of their lives as Buddhist monks, no matter which walks of life they came from.

Every year, in the month of November, Thailand hosts a festival dedicated to monkeys. Monkeys are provided specially prepared food like rice, fruits, sausages, and much more.

Thai food is said to be one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Most famous for its curries, Thai cuisine also consists of delicious fruits, salads, and desserts. Some of the most famous Thai dishes are Thai red curry, Thai green curry, pad Thai noodles, and mango sticky rice.

Thailand is also known for having amazing nightlife. While some portion of it has fallen to disrepute, it is important to know there is much more to Thailand than is publicized.

For younger people who visit this place and want to party all night long, Thailand has a lot of nightclubs and beaches that are known for partying through the night.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Thailand facts: learn more about the Land Of Smiles, then why not take a look at northern Ireland facts or Algeria fun facts.