Things You Didn't Know About Thailand

According to Time Magazine, Thailand's capital city of Bangkok welcomes the highest volume of visitors in the world, with Suvarnabhumi airport being the most geotagged location on Instagram. However, despite being one of Asia's top tourist destinations, there is much to discover about Thailand.

Here we share some interesting facts about Thailand that you may or may not have known.

 Bangkok is a version of the capital city's full ceremonial name which has a staggering 169 characters: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit. This mouthful translates as "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Visvakarman at Indra's behest", and is learned by Thai schoolchildren in the form of a nursery rhyme. Despite it being officially the world's longest place name, it is not difficult to see why most Thais call it simply Krung Thep!  The world's smallest mammal can be found in Thailand; the Kitti's hog-nosed bat weighs just two grams.  Thailand's most unusual festivals is the annual Monkey Buffet which is held in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple in Lopburi province. More than 600 monkeys are invited to feast on over two tonnes of grilled sausages, fresh fruit, ice cream and other treats. The locals see it as a thank you to the monkeys which inhabit the village and bring thousands of tourists there each year.  Another equally unusual event is the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival where firewalking, body-piercing and other acts of sometimes gruesome self-mutilation are used to invoke the gods.  Buddhism is practiced by 95% of Thailand's population.  Muay Thai boxing is the national sport. Known as the "art of eight limbs", the martial art uses punches, kicks, elbows and knees making it a particularly lethal form of self-defence.  Elephant polo is another popular pastime in Thailand. A key event in the sport's calendar is the King's Cup, hosted at the beach resort of Hua Hin.  Thailand has 1,430 islands, among the most famous of which is Koh Phi Phi Lee, featured in Danny Boyle's film The Beach.  The town of Kanchanburi is home to the famous 'Bridge over the River Kwai' that forms part of the Burma-Siam railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 lives were sacrificed in its construction.  Koh Phangan is Thailand's party island and is famous for its Full Moon parties, also hosting Half Moon and Black Moon versions.  Thais are immense royalists and it is an offence to insult the monarchy which includes a man being shirtless in public. On-the-spot fines are issued to those baring their chests publicly and although police won't arrest locals or tourists on the beaches, some have been stopped by city police while driving without a shirt on for "being topless upon the King's highway"!