Thailand is an exceedingly popular destination for far-flung travel, particularly amongst backpacking holidaymakers and gap-year culture vultures. From the outside, it’s easy to see why; Thailand is a compelling combination of incredible cultural experiences, luxuriant climates and, of course, cuisine to die for.
But beyond the beachside moon parties and authentic pad thai, there’s a great deal more that makes Thailand a bucket-list destination that should be the top of your priority list. Here, we’ll explore Thailand’s rich history and culture, to give you an insight into what makes this south-east Asian country the multidimensional powerhouse it truly is.
1. From Ancient Kingdoms To Modern Thailand: A Historical Tapestry
Every country has a wellspring of historical intrigue to offer the traveller with the eyes to see them, and Thailand is no different. Thailand’s history is less well-known – overshadowed by the loudness of Greece and Egypt’s near-mythic past – but no less majestic.
Thailand’s civilised history stretches back thousands of years, its furthest reaches being the discovery of artefacts and remains in Krabi. This isn’t just the oldest archaeological site in Thailand, but also in all of Asia! Thailand’s more recognisable history begins with the various micro-states formed along the Chao Praya river. By 1238, these city states become the Sukhothai Kingdom – and which would be challenged by the Ayutthaya kingdom further south. As you travel, you find loud evidence of these shifting political sands in the temples, parks and statues that still loom large over modern Thailand.
2. Buddhism, Beliefs And Everyday Reverence
Buddhism permeates Thailand, both historically and culturally. The early Dvaravati city-states adopted Theravada Buddhism from Sri Lanka, an adoption which formed a bedrock of religious thinking and practice for the ensuing conglomeration of modern Thailand.
Whatever the thrust of a given trip, all Thailand holidays will be suffuse with the hallmarks and practices of Theravada Buddhism – as well as animist beliefs which predate even the Dvaravati, and which explain the spirit houses that stipple Thailand’s streets as small shrines for offerings to the spirit world. These strongly-held beliefs inform Thailand’s culture in more ways than one…
3. Art, Festivals And The Spirit Of Sanuk
For instance, Theravada Buddhism is unique for its assertion of presentism – which, somewhat, feeds into the concept of sanuk – a Thai word that roughly translates to ‘fun’, and which describes a wider cultural commitment to celebration in the face of impermanence. Sanuk is practiced through ritual and art, from jocular day-to-day interactions to the Songkran new year festival, colloquially understood to be the ‘world’s biggest water fight’.
4. Culture In Motion
Taking a trip to Thailand means experiencing everything its culture has to offer at once – not paragraph by paragraph. In wandering down a street lined with street food stalls, you find a community of people practicing sanuk in the simple act of selling you noodles; go to the beach, and you’ll see daily rituals that speak to the Theravada teachings of Thai society. The culture is here to be seen; will you seek it?
