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History

Old Mansion in Phuket Town

Ratsada Mansion behind the Thavorn Museum

    Another example of a beautiful mansion abandoned in Phuket, probably beyond repair. We walked around this area a hundred times without ever noticing it, but once you do, its beauty is striking. It has no known name, so we called it Ratsada Mansion as it is located at the back of Ratsada Road, behind the weird ‘Thavorn Museum’ where the very first Phuket Shopping Center used to be.

    Thai Hua Hokkien club

    Thai Hua Club (Songtek Building)

      Songtek Building, Phuket’s first Chinese school, was established in 1911. Initially, Chinese was taught using rote methods, with teachers holding classes in homes or shrines, known as “Sue Sok,” to educate the Hokkien Chinese descendants in Phuket. In 1917, as the number of students grew, Luang Chanathon Nithet donated land on Dibuk Road to build Songtek School.

      Luang Amnart Nararak Mansion

      Luang Amnart Nararak Mansion

        Luang Amnat Nararak’s Mansion was built around 1925-1926. This grand mansion showcases an extravagant use of frescoes, a typical feature of Sino-Portuguese architecture. The Chinese believe that bats symbolize good fortune and longevity, which is why bats are a recurring motif in the mansion’s decoration. The mansion has undergone several renovations, the most recent being in 1957, but the main structure remains unchanged. This two-storey mansion features a front porch adjoining the driveway, and its polygonal side wings include small balconies.

        Kathu Museum

        Kathu Museum

          What used to be a very rundown house by the side of the road in Kathu is now transformed into a small and half-abandoned lovely museum about Phuket Food. It used to be part of the large beer storage warehouse. It’s beautiful from the outside, but there is not much to see inside, and the staircase leading to the second floor is often closed.

          Wat Khaorang - Phuket Temples

          31 Thai Temples in Phuket

            Phuket Thai temples, or Wats, are always worth a visit; from the temple hidden inside a cave to the famous Wat Chalong, a visit to Thailand would not be complete without exploring a few of these magnificent and beautifully ornamented buildings.

            Soi Romanee in Phuket Town

            Soi Romanee in Phuket Town

              Soi Romanee, in the historical centre of old Phuket town, is a short street with a long and colourful history. Today it is home to souvenir shops, fancy ice cream parlours and small but posh guesthouses.

              Panwa House at Cape Panwa

              Panwa House at Cape Panwa Hotel

                Panwa House is a white Sino Portuguese restaurant surrounded by palm trees, right on the secluded beach of the Cape Panwa Hotel on the east coast of Phuket.

                Chinese Temples and Shrines in Phuket

                13 Chinese Shrines in Phuket ⛩️

                  There are quite a few Chinese shrines in Phuket, and each has its own characteristics and unique features, which always offer excellent photo opportunities. The large ones are very popular during the Chinese New Year in February or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October. They can get extremely crowded, not to mention very loud, from firecrackers.

                  Wat Chalong Temple in Phuket

                  Wat Chalong

                    Wat Chalong, officially called Wat Chai Thararam, is the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century. Chalong Temple is one of the Must-See places in Phuket.

                    Dibuk Road in Old Phuket Town

                    Dibuk Road in Phuket Town – a Walking Guide

                      Dibuk Road is one of the famous old streets of Phuket town you should add to your list while exploring. It’s very colourful and easy to find, with plenty of casual cafes, shops and restaurants to enjoy.

                      Thalang Road in old Phuket Town

                      Thalang Road in Old Phuket Town – A Walking Guide

                        Thalang Road is the most famous street in the historic part of Old Phuket Town. The municipality and owners managed to revive most of the old Sino-Portuguese shophouses and bury the ugly cables Thailand is so famous for.

                        saphan hin shrine

                        Kio Thian Keng Saphan Hin Shrine ⛩️

                          Kio Thian Keng Shrine is a colourful Chinese shrine that is set on the seashore inside Saphan Hin public park in Phuket Town. It’s a place of worship for the local Chinese-Thai community, and it plays an important role as the site of the final farewell to the gods during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

                          Baan Ar Jor House Museum in Phuket

                          Baan Ar Jor House Museum

                            Baan Ar Jor is a hotel, a restaurant and a museum with a long history that started in 1936. This house has always been one of the most mysterious old mansions of Phuket, standing lonely near Mai Khao Beach in the north of Phuket.

                            Phang Nga Road in Old Phuket Town

                            Phang Nga Road in Old Phuket Town – A Walking Guide

                              Phang Nga Road is another historical street that runs parallel to the famous Thalang Road, in Old Phuket Town. Phang Nga Road maybe is less known, but it has a lot of charms, a few local restaurants, and several important historical landmarks and museum

                              Thai Hua Museum in Phuket Town

                              Phuket Thai Hua Museum

                                The Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road in Phuket Town is a pleasant surprise. We visited it a few years ago when it reopened, and despite being in a beautiful mansion, it was just an empty building.