Kamphaeng Phet province

History

Kamphaeng Phet was already a royal city in the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 14th century, then known under its old name Chakangrao. It formed an important part of the defence system of the kingdom, as well as of the later Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Toponymy

In Thai or Lao kamphaeng means 'wall' and phet (from Sanskrit vájra) means 'diamond'. The name means 'wall as hard as diamond'. This wall served as a defensive line to protect the Ayutthaya Kingdom from what is now modern-day Burma. The old name was Khao Kampeng, referring to a 'mountain wall' between the two countries.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the city walls surmounted by diamonds, since the city name means 'diamond wall' (from the shape of the ramparts of the old city wall). The provincial tree is the areca nut palm (Acacia catechu), and the provincial flower the bullet wood (Mimusops elengi). Golden belly barb (Hypsibarbus wetmorei) is provincial fish, since it is a fish found in the Ping river especially in the area of Kamphaeng Phet.

Geography

It borders the provinces of Sukhothai to the north; Phitsanulok to the northeast; Phichit to the east; Nakhon Sawan to the south; and Tak to the west and northwest, covering over 8,512 sqkm and is the fourth-largest provinces in central Thailand. Kamphaeng Phet has the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River flow through is main river of the province, making river flats make up much of the east of the province, while the west is mountainous which is part of Dawna Range and it covered with plentifully forest. The total forest area is 1,997 km2 or 23.5 percent of provincial area.

One of the provinces best-known products is bananas, especially the kluai khai, a small, round, sweet banana. Banana festivals are held every year to thank the spirits for the harvest.

National parks

There area three national parks in region 12 (Nakhon Sawan), they are the protected areas in Kamphaeng Phet province. (Visitors in fiscal year 2024)

Wildlife sanctuary

Khao Sanam Phriang Wildlife Sanctuary in region 12 (Nakhon Sawan) is in Kamphaeng Phet province.

Khao Sanam Phriang Wildlife Sanctuary 101 km2

Location protected areas

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Administrative divisions

Provincial government

The province is divided into 11 districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 78 subdistricts (tambons) and 823 villages (mubans).

Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 25 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Kamphaeng Phet, Pang Makha and Nong Pling have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 22 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 64 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Human achievement index 2022

Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.

Notable residents

• Tossapol Himmapan: singer
• Saman Sorjaturong: WBC & IBF light flyweight world champion
• Kaeo Pongprayoon: 2012 Summer Olympics silver medalist
• Chatchai Budprom: footballer
• Wattana Playnum: footballer
• Supattra Pairoj: volleyball player
• Somporn Yos: footballer

Popular culture

Kamphaeng Phet was mentioned in crime fiction Sarawat Yai as the backdrop of the whole story. It was adapted into a television drama of the same name twice on Channel 7, in 1994 and 2019. In the versions of both television dramas, Kamphaeng Phet was changed to be called Phra Kamphaeng (พระกำแพง, ).

Gallery

Banana Festival Kampheang Phet.jpg|Banana Festival Histparkkamphet.png|Map of Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park

References

References

1. "Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019". Royal Forest Department.
2. "Official statistics registration systems". Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA).
3. (July 2019). "''Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition''". Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
4. "ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)".
5. Cheevasitthiyanon, Supa. (2018-08-20). "จังหวัดกำแพงเพชร ประกาศให้ "ปลาตะพาก" เป็นปลาประจำจังหวัด". PRD.
6. (December 2020). "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง".
7. "สถิตินักท่องเที่ยวที่เข้าไปอุทยนห่งชาติ ปีงบประมาณ พ.ศ. 2567".
8. (26 November 2019). "Number of local government organizations by province". Department of Local Administration (DLA).
9. "สารวัตรใหญ่". Thairath.
10. (2019-01-09). "เรื่องย่อ "สารวัตรใหญ่"". Manager Online.