Ban Bangtao (GPS: 7.98006, 98.29246) is a Muslim village in central western Phuket along the road from
Surin Beach to
Bangtao Beach. The Muslim inhabitants here are believed to be descendants of early Arab traders who intermarried with the local ethnic Malays.
According to historians, although Arab traders have been sailing past the coast as early as the 7th century, the Muslims only settled in Phuket following the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, which created a sort of Malay diaspora across the region.
The settlement at Ban Bangtao is believed to have been established by an Acheenese trader. Today the village is still in existence and in fact the local Bangtao Mosque is the biggest mosque in Phuket, traditionally eking a living as fishermen but increasingly finding employment in the tourism industry.
Map of Roads in Penang
Looking for information on Penang? Use this
Map of Roads in Penang to zoom in on information about Penang, brought to you road by road.
Disclaimer
Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.
Copyright ©
2003-2025 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.