Nakhon Pathom Province

Nakhon Pathom
นครปฐม
Province

Seal

Map of Thailand highlighting Nakhon Pathom Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Thanon Khat
Government
 • Governor Adisak Thep-at (since October 2016)
Area
 • Total 2,168.3 km2 (837.2 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 65th
Population (2014)
 • Total 891,071
 • Rank Ranked 26th
 • Density 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
 • Density rank Ranked 8th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-73

Nakhon Pathom (Thai: นครปฐม, pronounced [náʔkʰɔ̄ːn pā.tʰǒm]) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi. The province has long been known for its fruit orchards, but now includes two leading universities and major industrial areas.[1]

Nakorn Pathom is home to the Sanamchandra Palace campus of Silpakorn University, the third oldest in Thailand.[2] It was established in 1923 as the School of Fine Arts by Corrado Ferroci (Prof. Silpa Bhirasri), who under the commission of King Rama V1, was appointed to work as a sculptor at the school. In 1943 the school achieved university status and now includes 12 faculties, a graduate school, and an international college that teaches entirely in English. There are two campuses in Bangkok, and one in Phetchaburi Province.

Mahidol University also has a campus in Nakhon Pathom.[3] Originally known as a leading medical university, it now teaches all major subjects and ranks high among universities in Southeast Asia.[4] Its Salaya campus includes an all-English language international college. Like Silpakorn, Mahidol has branch campuses in many other central Thailand locations.

Geography

Nakhon Pathom is a small province 56 km west of Bangkok. It is in the alluvial plain of central Thailand and is drained by the Tha Chin River (also called the Nakhon Chai Si), a tributary of the Chao Phraya River. The city of Bangkok has now grown so it actually extends to the provincial border of Nakhon Pathom.[1]

History

The name derives from the Pali words "Nagara Pathama", meaning "first city", and Nakhon Pathom is therefore often referred to as Thailand's oldest city. Archaeological remains have been found form the (pre-Thai) Dvaravati kingdom, dating to the 6th through 11th centuries.

Nakhon Pathom Province originally was a coastal city on the route between China and India. Because of sedimentation from the Chao Phraya River, the coast line gradually extended much farther to sea. When the Tha Chin River changed its course, the city lost its main water source and was deserted, the inhabitants moving to Nakhon Chai Si (or Sirichai). The 19th century King Mongkut (Rama IV) ordered the restoration of Phra Pathom Chedi, which by was then crumbling and abandoned in the jungle. A city grew around the chedi, bringing life back to Nakhon Pathom. A museum at the chedi displays the archaeological record of the historic area.

Major resettlement of the province included emigration started during the reign of the Thai King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai (Rama II). This included Khmer villages (e.g., Don Yai Hom), the Lanna populated (Baan Nua), and Lao Song villages (e.g., Don Kanak), as well as a major influx of southern Chinese from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Nakhon Pathom today attracts people from all over Thailand, especially from Bangkok and the northeast, as well as thousands Burmese migrant workers. The province contains industrial zones, major university towns, government offices relocated from Bangkok and agricultural and transport hubs.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the Phra Pathom Chedi, at 120.45 meters one of the tallest pagodas in the world.[5] It is in Nakhon Pathom city centre, and has been an important Buddhist center since the 6th century. The current building was created by King Mongkut in 1860. On the pagoda a royal crown is depicted, the symbol for King Mongkut's work on reconstructing the pagoda.[6]

The provincial tree is the Diospyros decandra. The provincial slogan is Sweet pomelos, delicious rice, beautiful young ladies.

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided into seven districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 105 communes (tambon) and 919 villages (muban). There is one city (thesaban nakhon) and 14 townships (thesaban tambon). There are also 102 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

  1. Mueang Nakhon Pathom
  2. Kamphaeng Saen
  3. Nakhon Chai Si
  4. Don Tum
  1. Bang Len
  2. Sam Phran
  3. Phutthamonthon

References

  1. 1 2 "Nakhon Pathom". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.old.su.ac.th/
  3. ↑ "Mahidol University". Mahidol University. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ranking Web of Universities: Southeast Asia". Mahidol University. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Phra Pathom Chedi". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Nakhon Pathom". THAILEX Travel Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
 Kanchanaburi Province Suphanburi Province Ayutthaya Province
Ratchaburi Province Nonthaburi Province
   Nakhon Pathom Province  
Samut Sakhon Province Bangkok

Coordinates: 13°55′N 100°7′E / 13.917°N 100.117°E / 13.917; 100.117

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