Thailand Pattaya Beach

Pattaya (Thai: พัทยา , พัทยา ( help · info ) , RTGS: Phatthaya) is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung (Banglamung) in the province of Chonburi.

The city of Pattaya is a self governing municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue (Nongprue) and Na Kluea (Naklua) and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. It is located in the heavily industrial Eastern Seaboard zone, along with Si Racha (Sri Racha), Laem Chabang, and Chon Buri (Chonburi).

Pattaya is also the center of the Pattaya-Chonburi Metropolitan Area, the conurbation in Chonburi Province.

History

Pattaya's name evolved from the march of Phraya Tak (later King Taksin) and his army from Ayutthaya to Chanthaburi. This took place before the fall of the former capital to the Burmese invaders in 1767.

When his army arrived at the vicinity of what is now Pattaya, he encountered the troops of Nai Klom, who tried to intercept him. When the two leaders met face to face, Nai Klom was awed by Phraya Tak's dignified manner and his army's strict discipline. He then surrendered without a fight. The place the two armies confronted each other was called Thap Phraya, which means the Army of the Phraya. This was later changed to Phatthaya, which happens to mean the wind blowing from the southwest to the northeast at the beginning of the rainy season. Today the city is officially know as Pattaya.

For centuries, Pattaya was a small fishing village. But a change occurred on April 26, 1961, when the first group of about 100 American servicemen who were fighting in the Vietnam War arrived in Pattaya for relaxation. From this beginning, Pattaya became a popular beach resort which now attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Fishermen's huts along the beach were replaced by resort hotel and shopping malls. Fishing vessels were adapted to become tourist boats.

Demographics

The city (Mueang) had 104,318 registered inhabitants in 2007. But like Bangkok Metropolis, that figure excludes the large number of people who work in Pattaya but remain registered in their hometowns, and many long-term expatriate visitors. Including non-registered residents, the population numbers around 300,000 at any given time. Other estimates put the figure as high as 500,000.

Geography

Pattaya, located off the Gulf of Thailand, is approximately 145 km south of the city of Bangkok, surrounded by Bang Lamung District.

The city of Pattaya is a special municipal area which covers the whole tambon Nong Prue (Nongprue) and Na Kluea (Naklua) and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai. Bang Lamung township which forms the northern border of Pattaya covers parts of the tambon Bang Lamung (Banglamung), Nong Pla Lai and Takhian Tia. Bang Sali is on the southern border of Pattaya.

"Greater Pattaya" occupies most of the coastline of Banglamung (one of the eleven districts that comprise Chonburi Province). It is divided into a larger northern section which spans the areas to the east of Naklua Beach (the most northern beach) and Pattaya Beach (the main beach) plus the Buddha Hill headland (immediately south of Pattaya Beach), and a smaller southern section covering the area to the east of Jomtien Beach (which lies directly south of Buddha Hill) including Dongtan Beach.

Administration

Pattaya city has been administered under a special autonomous system since 1978. It has a status comparable to a municipality and is separately administered by the mayor of Pattaya city who is responsible for making policies, organizing public services and supervising all employees of Pattaya city administration.

Climate

Pattaya has a tropical wet and dry climate, which is divided into the following seasons: warm and dry (November to February), hot and humid (March to May), and hot and rainy (June to October).

Beaches and islands

The main sweep of the bay area is divided into two principal beachfronts. Pattaya Beach is parallel to city centre, and is the main destination for bathers and loungers with the section from Central Road (Pattaya Klang) south to the harbor forming part of the core of the town's restaurants, motorcycle hire, and night attractions.
Jomtien Beach (Thai: หาดจอมเทียน ) in the southern part of the bay area is divided from Pattaya beach by the promontry of Pratumnak Hill, just south of the city, and is mainly a residential area with luxury developments, beachside hotels, bungalow complexes, condominiums and restaurants. It offers of watersport activities such as jet skis, parasailing and small sail boat hire. A proposed 91-floor Ocean One Tower ("O1") with an overall height of 367 meters, would be the tallest building in Thailand and one of the tallest residential buildings in the world.. The Jomtien district is the location of one of the largest resorts in Asia, the 4000+ room Ambassador City Jomtien.

Offshore islands include Mu Ko Larn (หมู่เกาะล้าน) , the "Near Islands", Ko Larn (main island), Ko Sak and Ko Krok located 7.5 km from the western shores of Pattaya Ko Larn (Thai: เกาะล้าน ), or "Coral Island", Mu Ko Phai (หมู่เกาะไผ่), the "Far Islands", Ko Phai (main island), Ko Man Wichai, Ko Hu Chang and Ko Klung Badan, located offshore further west of the "Near Islands", and Ko Rin, located offshore to the southwest, south of Mu Ko Phai. Most of the islands in the group are accessible by speedboat in less than 15 minutes and by ferry taking about 45 minutes. The names "Near Islands", "Far Islands" and "Coral Island" are used for touristic purposes only and do not correspond to any naming conventions of the island groups and are not shown on maritime charts published by the Hydrographic Service of the Royal Thai Navy. Many of the islands have tourist beaches and offer scuba diving activities.

Transportation

1. By the Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway (Highway No.7) The motorway is linked with Bangkok’s Outer Ring Road., (Highway No. 9) and there is also another entrance at Si Nakharin and Rama IX Junction.
2. By Bang Na-Trat Highway (Highway No. 34) From Bang Na, Bang Phli, across the Bang Pakong River to Chonburi there is a Chonburi’s bypass that meets Sukhumvit Road., (Highway No. 3, passing Bang Saen Beach, Bang Phra to Pattaya.

• Pattaya 1 Road ("Beach Road"): this street runs parallel to the beach
• Pattaya 2 Road: this street runs approximately 400 meters parallel to Pattaya 1 Road.
• Pattaya 3 Road: this is Pattaya’s outer-ring road which connects North, South and Central Pattaya.
• Tappraya Road: this street connects Pattaya 2 to Jomtien Road.
• Thepprasit Road: this street connects Tappraya Road to Sukhumvit Road.

A daily service operates between Pattaya and Hualumphong Station in Bangkok.

Intercity transport is usually through one of two bus stations, one for Bangkok and one for other destinations. Pattaya is served by frequent bus services from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Morchit) and the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekhamai). Busses from Pattaya serve nearby provincial towns and direct long distance routes serve many provincial capitals.
City and suburban services are mainly provided by Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicle), popularly nick-named "baht-buses" or "taxis". A public bus service began in 2006.

A metered taxi service began in late 2007, and new U.S.-style air-conditioned pick-up trucks operate for private hire from many hotel car-parks. Motorcycle taxis generally operate in the town and suburbs, and are mainly used by locals for short distances.

Pattaya is about 1½ hours, or 120 km by road from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the Bangkok international hub. By road, it is accessed from Sukhumvit Road and Motorway 7 from Bangkok. Pattaya is also served through U-Tapao International Airport which is 45 minutes drive from the city.

Tourist destinations

Attractions

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