17/11/2014
Koh Phangan is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in South East Thailand, and located in Surat Thani Province. It is famous for its full moon party at Haad Rin Beach. Koh Phangan has many neighbor islands, the larger Koh Samui to the south about 15 Kms, the smaller Koh Tao to the north about 35 Kms and Ang Tong Marine Park to the west about 40 Kms. The main town is Thong Sala, the highest point is Khao Ra 627m asl.
The name of Koh Pha Ngan comes from the word 'Ngan', meaning 'sand bar' in the southern dialect, for there are many sand bars offshore around the island. Koh Phangan has been a longtime favorite of past kings of Thailand. Specifically Rama V, or Chulalongkorn visited Koh Phangan 14 times during his reign. The Bronze Drum of Dongson Culture (500–100BC) that was found on Koh Samui in 1977 is evidence that there were settlements of people on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and their islets from more than two thousand years ago. Some historians and archaeologists believe that the first group who migrated to Koh Phangan were the Muslim sea Gypsies (Pygmy, Semung, and Proto-Malay) who traveled by boat from the Malay Peninsula. However, nowadays there are few Muslims who live on the island.
Over the last century the Island's population has steadily expanded; first living off the sea and the land, farming coconuts; then tin mining also became part of the economy. In the 1970s the mining industry faltered and finally petered over the next decade as tourism took hold. Now the island is primarily a tourist destination; however fishing and coconut farming are still big parts of the local economy.
Due to its topography the population remains based around the coastline whilst the mountainous interior is generally inaccessible. More than half the island designated as National Park and Koh Phangan has more than 80 Square Kms of pristine rain forest with diverse flora and fauna. It is also considered a spiritual place with numerous Buddhist temples around the Island and a thriving spa, retreat and meditation industry.Koh Phangan together with Koh Tao forms the district (amphoe) Koh Phangan (168 Square Kms, 15800 population 2013). The district is subdivided into three subdistricts (tambon), koh Phangan, Baan Tai and Koh Tao
Originally the island was administrated from Koh Samui district. The minor district (King Amphoe) Koh Phangan was established on October 1, 1970, then consisting of the two tambon Koh Phangan and Ban Tai.It was upgraded to a full district on April 12, 1977. Koh Tao was upgraded to a full district on Febuary 23, 1997.
Parts of the tambon Koh Phangan and Ban Tai form the township (thesaban tambon) Koh Phangan. There are further four Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Popular culture Koh Phangan featured prominently in Alex Garland's 1996 novel The Beach and is also mentioned in the 2006 song Magick by the new rave band Klaxons' more as a reference to the 1996 novel The Beach than the island itself.
The world renowned Full Moon Party is a monthly dance music festival set on Haad Rin Nok Beach scheduled every month at full moon. The event primarily features electronic music and attracts anywhere from 10,000 party-goers on a normal month and up to 25,000 in high season (December to March). Recently steps have been taken to make Koh Phangan into a more family-friendly tourist destination, promoting the Island's wealth of natural attractions and also stepping up the police presence; road blocks with stop and search procedures are commonplace and undercover police also patrol parties. The song "Vision in Blue" on the album The Golden Ratio by Ace of Base mentions Koh Phangan. Dj & Producer Ashley Wallbridge titled his 2012 song "Kopangan", an anglicized version of Koh Phangan. The British psychedelic rock band Ozric Tentacles featured a song called Koh Phangan on their 1989 album "The Bits Between The Bits".
The sight seeing place in Koh Phangan.
1.)Phaeng Waterfall : It is very beautiful waterfall. You can go it by the Thong Sala-Ban Chalok Lam 3 Kms. Then turn right only 1 Km. Then you will reach it.
2.)Wat Khao Noi : This temple used to be the residence of a holy monk nameed Luang Pho Phet. He was good in super natural power that all people in Koh Phangan respected and believed very mach. This holy monk stamped his fot-print on stone for the people who requested.
3.)Than Sadet Waterfall : It is the largest and the most beautiful water of Koh Phangan. Here the King Rama V, or Chulalongkorn visited that you can see the sculpture of the signatured in the stone. You con go there form Ban Tai by motorcycle or by boat. it is only 15 Kms. form Ban Tai.
4.)Going Around the Island by Boat : If you go by boat you will pass and see many thing in the side of the island by the side of sea and all these things are very mach beautifull by nature, they are Ban Tai bay, Haad Rin Bay, Haad Kontee, Haad Wynom, Haad Yuan, Haad Yang, Haad Yao, Than Praphat Waterfall Bay, Than Sadet Bay, Haad Tong Ta Pan Bay, Haad Khuat, Chalok Lam Bay, Mae Haad ect. all the said places are beautiful and good sceneries by nature and good for relax.
5.) Kho Tao : It is an island surrounded by deep sea land, it look news place for all tourist. It is in Amphoe Koh Phangan.
6.)Koh Nang Yuan : It is the North of Mae Hat. It shaped like tridentate, all there way of stones joined with sands. In the sea there also corals and many kinds of fishes. The beach is also beautiful.
7.)Ang Tong Marine Park(neighbor island) : They are of all island of Ang Tong Marine Park are altogether 156,250 Rais. In this most it is the area of Land only twenty thousand Rais. The nature of the island are mostly the Lime-stone, There high cliffs and caves. There are many kinds of animals such as, monkey, sea otter and the others are mostly birds.
