Phuket’s Most Important Landmark
The Heroines Monument is one of Phuket’s most recognisable landmarks, standing at a major roundabout on Thepkasattri Road in Thalang district. Everyone driving between the airport and Phuket Town passes it. The monument honours two sisters, Lady Chan and Lady Mook, who led the defence of Phuket against a Burmese invasion in 1785. For many Thais, their story carries the same weight as Joan of Arc does in France.
The Story of Lady Chan and Lady Mook
Lady Chan (Khun Ying Chan) was born around 1735 in Thalang, which was the main town on Phuket at the time. Her younger sister Mook was born around 1737. Their father was Chom Rang, the local leader of Thalang Baan Khien. Their mother, Masia, was a Malay woman from Kedah.
Chan married twice. Her second husband, Phra Phimol, became the governor of Thalang. When he died from a long illness in late 1785, Thalang was left without a governor. This happened just as the Burmese were attacking Thailand’s Andaman coast during a major war that involved nine separate armies. A Burmese force of around 3,000 men had already taken the nearby towns of Takua Pa and Pak Phra.
Rather than retreat, Chan and Mook organised the defence of Thalang. They gathered the local population, many of whom were women, and set up positions at Phra Nang Sang Temple. They disguised women as soldiers using wooden weapons carved to look like guns, staged fake reinforcement marches to make their numbers appear larger, and burned coconut husks to simulate musket fire. Francis Light, a British merchant based in Thalang (who later founded Penang), supported the defenders with real firearms and intelligence about the Burmese movements.
After about a month of fighting, the Burmese finally retreated on 13 March 1786. King Rama I later honoured the sisters with the royal titles Thao Thep Krasattri (for Chan) and Thao Sri Soonthorn (for Mook). It was the only time such high titles had ever been given to people outside the royal family.
The Monument
The idea of building a monument to the two heroines was first suggested by King Rama VI in the early 1900s, but it took decades to become reality. The monument was finally completed in 1966 and unveiled by King Rama IX (King Bhumibol Adulyadej) in 1967.
The two bronze statues, created by the sculptor Sanan Silakorn, stand at one and a half times life size on top of a three-metre base. Lady Chan is on the right and Lady Mook on the left. Both figures face north, wearing traditional dress with their hair in the Dok Krathum style. Each holds a round-tipped sword in her right hand. The faces were designed based on the features of the sisters’ descendants.
At the base of the monument, a smaller version of the statues forms part of an active shrine. Local people regularly visit to pay respects, apply gold leaf, and leave offerings. Thai visitors to Phuket often stop at the monument upon arrival, and locals who leave the island for a trip will pay their respects before departing.
The monument sits at a busy roundabout, so getting up close on foot requires some care with traffic. The best times to visit are early morning or after 6 pm when traffic is lighter. The nearby Thalang National Museum, which opened in 1985 to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle, has detailed exhibits about the heroines and the history of Phuket. Wat Thep Kasattri and Wat Sri Sunthon, both named after the sisters, are also in the Thalang area.
The main road from the airport to Phuket Town is called Thepkasattri Road in honour of Lady Chan. The legacy of the two sisters is everywhere on the island.
The Heroines Monument Festival
Every year from 13 to 15 March, the Heroines Monument Festival takes place at Victory Field in Thalang district, near the monument. The festival commemorates the anniversary of the Burmese retreat and is one of the most important cultural events on the island.
The centrepiece is a light and sound historical drama performed nightly from 8 pm, with over 300 local performers recreating the month-long siege on an open-air stage. Victory Field transforms into an 18th-century battlefield with elaborate staging, sound effects, and fireworks. This community-driven production has been running since 1980, and the cast includes amateur actors from all backgrounds, from students to government officials.
The week around the festival includes Buddhist ceremonies and group ordinations at Wat Thep Wanaram, traditional kalamae candy-making demonstrations, and wreath-laying ceremonies at both the Heroines Monument and Victory Field. Flag-raising ceremonies at 9 am on 13 March mark the official opening.
Hundreds of stalls offer authentic Phuket cuisine, handicrafts, and local products throughout the festival grounds. Cultural performances include shadow puppetry, Nora dances, and traditional folk games. The festival is free to attend and draws both locals and visitors.
Heroines Monument Location Map
Phuket Events and Festivals
