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Which country is known as the 'Land of White Elephants'?
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Answer: Option A — Thailand
Detailed Solution
Thailand is known as the "Land of White Elephants".
About the nickname:
- White (albino or pale-coloured) elephants are considered sacred and auspicious in Thailand.
- According to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya, the mother of the Buddha, dreamt of a white elephant before his birth.
The possession of white elephants was a symbol of a king's power, righteousness and good fortune. All white elephants found in the kingdom traditionally belong to the King.
A white elephant appeared on the flag of Siam (as Thailand was called) from 1855 to 1917.
The "Order of the White Elephant" is one of Thailand's highest honours.
The English phrase "a white elephant", meaning a costly possession that is difficult to maintain, comes from a story that the King of Siam would give a white elephant to a courtier he disliked: the animal could not be put to work and was very expensive to keep.
The elephant is the national animal of Thailand, and "Thai Elephant Day" (Chang Thai Day) is observed on 13 March.
About Thailand:
It was called "Siam" until 1939. The name "Thailand" means "Land of the Free"; it is the only country in Southeast Asia never colonised by a European power.
Its capital is Bangkok, called "Krung Thep" ("City of Angels") in Thai.
Its currency is the Baht.
It is a constitutional monarchy. King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) has reigned since 2016.
Its official religion in practice is Theravada Buddhism (about 93 per cent of people).
It is the world's largest exporter of rubber.
It is famous for "Songkran" (the Thai New Year water festival in April) and "Loy Krathong" (festival of lights on water).
India and Thailand:
- They share a maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea.
- The "India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway" is being built.
- The Ramayana is adapted in Thailand as the "Ramakien".
Other nicknames:
- Myanmar: "Land of Golden Pagodas".
- Laos: "Land of a Million Elephants" (its old name "Lan Xang").
- Sri Lanka: "Pearl of the Indian Ocean".
Why not the other options?
- ✗Myanmar is called the "Land of Golden Pagodas".
- ✗Sri Lanka is called the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean".
- ✗Laos was the "Land of a Million Elephants".
Quick tip
Remember: "Land of White Elephants" = Thailand (old name Siam until 1939; never colonised; capital Bangkok; currency Baht; "Ramakien"); Laos = "Land of a Million Elephants"; Myanmar = "Land of Golden Pagodas".
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World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.