History
Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Province, Thailand
The capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, once among the largest cities in the world. Brick temples and Buddha statues remain among the ruins.
Period: 1350–1767
Thailand: leaders, famous people, culture and history
6 places on the atlas covering history, language, culture and festivals. Highlights include Ayutthaya, Thai, The wai greeting and Songkran.
See Thailand on the map Etiquette guide
What is on the atlas
- History Ayutthaya
- Language Thai
- Culture The wai greeting and Thai massage
- Festivals Songkran and Yi Peng and Loy Krathong
Who leads Thailand?
| King | Vajiralongkorn |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Anutin Charnvirakul |
Office-holders as of July 2026. Governments change, so check Thailand’s official government website for the latest. Full list of heads of state and government.
Famous people from Thailand
- King Bhumibol Adulyadej long-reigning king
- King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) modernising king
- King Ramkhamhaeng Sukhothai ruler
- Sunthorn Phu poet
- Tony Jaa martial artist and actor
- Jim Thompson silk entrepreneur (American)
A short, well-known selection rather than a ranking. People pinned on the map appear in the cards below.
Etiquette tips for Thailand
- Greeting The wai, a slight bow with palms together, is the traditional greeting. Return it when offered.
- Public The head is regarded as the highest part of the body, and feet as the lowest. Do not touch a person's head or point your feet at people or Buddha images.
- Dress Cover shoulders and knees when visiting temples, and take your shoes off before entering.
All etiquette tips for Thailand
History in Thailand
Language in Thailand
Language
Thai
Bangkok, Thailand
Thai is a tonal language with a looped script traditionally credited to King Ramkhamhaeng in the 13th century.
Say hello: สวัสดี (Sawasdee) · Script: Thai
Culture in Thailand
Culture
The wai greeting
Bangkok, Thailand
Thais greet each other with the wai, and the height of the hands and depth of the bow show respect to elders and seniors.
Tradition: Palms-together bow
Culture
Thai massage
Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand
A traditional healing art that combines acupressure and assisted yoga-like stretches. Wat Pho in Bangkok is a historic school, and the practice is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Tradition: Stretching and pressure massage
Festivals in Thailand
Festivals
Songkran
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thai New Year is celebrated with respectful water-pouring over Buddha images and elders' hands, which grows into citywide water fights.
Usually: 13–15 April · Theme: Thai New Year · Months: April
Festivals
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thousands of paper lanterns are released into the sky, and people float small decorated baskets on rivers to let go of bad luck.
Usually: November · Theme: Floating lights · Months: November
How to use this page
This page brings together the people who lead Thailand today, a short selection of well-known people from Thailand, and the 6 places pinned for Thailand on the atlas. Use the buttons at the top to see Thailand on the map, where you can filter by theme, read a short summary of each pin and follow the link to Wikipedia for the full article. To browse the same themes across the whole world, see the history page, language page, culture page and festivals page.
Questions about Thailand
Who is the leader of Thailand?
As of July 2026: King: Vajiralongkorn; Prime Minister: Anutin Charnvirakul. Office-holders change, so check the official government site for the latest.
Who are some famous people from Thailand?
Well-known people connected with Thailand include King Bhumibol Adulyadej (long-reigning king), King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) (modernising king), King Ramkhamhaeng (Sukhothai ruler), Sunthorn Phu (poet) and Tony Jaa (martial artist and actor).
What festivals are celebrated in Thailand?
Festivals on the atlas for Thailand include Songkran and Yi Peng and Loy Krathong. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What are important historical places in Thailand?
Historical places in Thailand on the atlas include Ayutthaya. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What languages and scripts is Thailand known for?
Language entries for Thailand on the atlas include Thai. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What food and customs is Thailand known for?
Food and customs from Thailand on the atlas include The wai greeting and Thai massage. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
How can I explore Thailand on the map?
Choose See Thailand on the map above, or search for Thailand on the atlas. You can filter by theme, drag the Time travel slider to see who was alive and what was standing in different centuries, and open any pin for a short summary and a link to the full Wikipedia article.
What etiquette should visitors know in Thailand?
Greeting: The wai, a slight bow with palms together, is the traditional greeting. Return it when offered. Public: The head is regarded as the highest part of the body, and feet as the lowest. Do not touch a person's head or point your feet at people or Buddha images. These are general customs, not legal advice.