Culture of Ko Tao Island. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Though Ko Tao was the place, where sailors came for holidays for centuries, it was inhabited quite recently. Until the mid of the 20th century, all those who were not to the government’s liking were sent here. Decades after their amnesty in 1947 the present settlements were created. The first inhabitants were the two brothers, Khun Uaem and Khun Oh. The beginning of the construction started in the Sairee Beach. You shouldn’t expect to find architectural monuments from the past or the artifacts from the previous civilizations here. Those, who are interested in the history of Thailand, better go to the mainland and visit the museums and the exhibitions in the capital. The main landmark of the island is its amazing nature, which doesn’t really suffer from the destructive influence of the civilization.

If you decided to visit all the important sites on the island, you should start with Jor Por Ror bay. In the South part of the beach, there is the stone of Rama V, the first King of Thailand, who visited Ko Tao. It happened in relatively recent 1899. On his initiative, the island was inhabited in future. The biggest and the only one museum on the island, which is dedicated to the fishing, is located here. Its visit is mandatory for those, who like the fishing as well as for those, who want to find out more about Ko Tao. The exposition of the museum includes a great variety of different fishing devices, some of which were created by Thai, and rare haul. The remains of the underwater world inhabitants amaze with their diversity.

Fishery Conservation Unit, which is located nearby, is also dedicated to sea animals. it is actually an eco-station, which purpose is to collect the data about the sea flora and fauna and to develop a program to preserve those species at most risk of extinction. This object is open to the public. You will get detailed information about how, where, and which of the sea inhabitants have to be saved, and will see the unusual sea animals, which live in the whole loch of the island. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Are you still not tired of the “sea” theme? Then go to the Sairee View. You will not only see the great view of the whole Ko Tao shore till the Eastern Jansom bay. Besides this magnificent view, in Sairee View, you will find gigantic fossils of a whale. The scientists still don’t know, why the whale appeared on the beach and what became the cause of death. However, today everyone can literally touch the greatness of this marine creature.

Do you want to try your luck? Do you like the underground world and everything about it? Then go to the diamond caves near Sairee View. You will not just see a beautiful object of nature, which will amaze potholers, but will get a real chance to get rich if you are lucky enough. It is not a joke: even foreigners can go to diamond caves and try to find a treasure.

The main settlements of the island are located near the biggest beaches: Haad Sairee, Ban Mae Haad, and Chalok Ban Kao. You can really feel the spirit of Thailand, while walking their streets. Those travelers, who hasn’t walked along many Asian cities, should visit any of the Buddhist museums. Just remember that women are forbidden to enter a cult building, wearing provocative clothes, and you should never ever touch the monks. In the whole, all the Buddha temples are built in the traditional Asian style. You should try to visit all of them and to find something special in each of them. Fortunately, Ko Tao is a small island and you can go from one settlement to another on foot.