History (History Krabi Thailand)
Krabi is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps the country's oldest history of continued settlement. After dating stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves, it is thought that Krabi has been home to homo sapiens since the period 25,000 - 35,000 B.C.

In recorded times it was called the 'Ban Thai Samor', and was one of twelve towns that used, before people were widely literate, the monkey for their standard. At that time, c. 1200 A.D., Krabi was tributary to the Kingdom of Ligor, a city on the Kra Peninsula's east coast better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.

At the start of the Rattanakosin period, about 200 years ago, when the capital was finally settled at Bangkok, an elephant kraal was established in Krabi by order of Chao Phraya Nakorn (Noi), the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which was by then a part of the Thai Kingdom. He sent his vizier, the Phra Palad, to oversee this task, which was to ensure a regular supply of elephants for the larger town. So followers many emigrated in the steps of the Phra Palad that soon Krabi had a large community in three different boroughs : Pakasai, Khlong Pon, and Pak Lao.


In 1872, King Chulalongkorn graciously elevated these to town status, called Krabi, a word that preserves in its meaning the monkey symbolism of the old standard. The town's first governor was Luang Thep Sena, though it continued a while as a dependency of Nakhon Si Thammarat. This was changed in 1875, when Krabi was raised to a fourth-level town in the old system of Thai government. Administrators then reported directly to the central government in Bangkok, and Krabi's history as a unique entity separated from the other provinces, had begun.

During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, the merchants, and the population generally of Krabi and nearby provinces have together organized construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape for presentation to His Majesty the King. This lies thirty kilometers to the west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast.

Krabi Thailand locations.

Krabi is located on the inner Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand, is an idyllic southern coastal province of outstanding beauty.

Krabi covers some 4,707 square kilometres, edges the Andaman Sea, and numbers among its major attractions picturesque tropical islands, palm fringed beaches, forest waterfalls and caves, and topographical rarities such as a 75,000,000- year -old shell cemetery.
The provincial capital lies some 814 kilometres by road south of the Thai capital, Bangkok. Krabi is most conveniently reached from Bangkok by flying Thai Airways to neighbouring provincial capitals such as Surat Thani ( 211 kilometres from Krabi ), or Phuket ( 176 kilometres ) and completing the journey by road.

BEACHES & ISLANDS IN THE SUN

Krabi's major attractions lie beyond but, in every instance, within three hours of the somnolent provincial capital, which is little more than a dormitory town, and entertainment and dining centre.

Nearest in physical proximity, and of major importance, is the Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park due west and south of the provincial capital. The park contains extensive mainland beaches, over 80 lesser islands, and two islands of outstanding physical yet contrasting beauty which epitomise everyone's ideal of the perfect tropical island.

Hat Noppharat Thara, some 18 kilometres west of the provincial capital, is an extensively scenic beach lined with casurina trees, and offering a commanding view of offshore island. The beach is popular with those who prefer swimming and sunbathing in tranquil surroundings.

A few kilometres to the south, the palm- fringed Ao Phra Nang Beach is fronted by resort accommodation, guest houses and bungalow complexes, dive shops, restaurants offering Swiss, Italian, Thai and Chinese food, windsurfing clubs and souvenir shops. The beach is popular with snorkellrs and windsurfers, and is ideal for sunbathing and swimming.

Due south, and accessible only by boat, is the secluded Ao Phra Nang Bay.The southern extremity is marked by a mountain cave contining a shrine dedicated to the spirit of a resident goddess ( Phra Nang ). The beach is a popular venue for swimming and sunbathing, and for rock climbers who scale the sheer limestone mountain for exhilarating views of the immediate environs and offshore islands.

Two noteworthy islands, Ko Poda and Ko Gai, can be reached within half an hour by longtail boat from Ao Phra Nang Bay. Ko Poda is fringed by clear waters, and offers chalet accommodation nestling amid palm trees, with beachside bar and restaurant facilities. Ko Gai, twenty minutes to the west, has excellent waters for snorkelling and diving.

Susan Hoi ( literally' Shell Cemetery ), some 17 kilometres west of the provincial capital, comprises granite-like slabs of grey fossilised shells, estimated to be 75 million years old. The cemetery is the only one of its kind in Asia. The environs are a popular shopping place for shell souvenirs, comprising largely decorative figurines, mobiles, jewellery and household items such as ashtrays and picture frams.

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