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Koh Lanta Island Articles:
100 Years Festivities

The Island of Koh Lanta was known long ago as "Pulau Satak", a name of Malayan origin meaning Long Beach Island.

Today's name is most probably a corrupted form of the Javanese word "lantas", that means a fish grill, which is built of wood with a square grill on top where the fishes are set in a circle. This finally gave the island the name "Koh Lantas". In 1917, the name was changed to today's "Koh Lanta" and the two main islands together with 51 smaller isles became a district of Krabi Province.

At this time Koh Lanta Island was of some importance, as the trade ships between Kantang and Phuket passed the island regularly. With the construction of road No 4 from Krabi southwards to Trang and Hatyai, goods transportation changed to the road.

In the late Eighties, the first bungalows opened up the island to tourists. Resorts like Kaw Kwang, Lanta Villa, Lanta Sea House, Relax Bay Tropicana, Dream Team and Waterfall Bay Resort date back to this time.

Since 1996 the island is connected to the electric power supply of the mainland and can be reached by car ferry. The number of cars, that was around 15 pick-up trucks before the car ferries started their operation, increased rapidly through the easier access to Koh Lanta Island. Until 1998, the district office was located in Si Raya Village (Lanta Pier), but was then moved to a new building on Koh Lanta Noi Island, opposite Saladan Village.

The main street from Saladan to Lanta Pier and Sang Ga-U village on the east coast was paved in late 1998, other roads followed in the years after.

In January 2001 Koh Lanta Island received the first telephone lines from the mainland, the antenna for the mobile phones followed immediately. Cell phones are now working at most beaches along the west coast and in Si Raya on the east coast of Koh Lanta Island.

In December 2001, the district of Koh Lanta turned 100 years, an event, that was celebrated with a street procession of decorated cars and trucks from Saladan Village to Si Raya, releasing of prawns into the Andaman Sea, a sumptuous gala dinner attended by many high-ranking officials, with different performances on the stage and nightly fireworks.

Demonstrations of local customs, like mat weaving and shadow play were shown, while sport competions were running during the following days with participants coming from neighbouring provinces to Koh Lanta Island.