Nakhon Si Thammarat province

Statistics
Capital:	Nakhon Si Thammarat[?]
Area:	9,942.5 km² Ranked 18th
Inhabitants:	1,527,273 (2001) Ranked 5th
Pop. density:	154 inh./km² Ranked 22nd
ISO 3166-2:	TH-80
Map

Nakhon Si Thammarat (often in short Nakhon, Thai นครศรีธรรมราช ) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, at the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) Songkhla, Phattalung, Trang, Krabi and Surat Thani.

The name of the province derives from its Pali-Sanskrit name Nagara Sri Dhammaraja (City of the Sacred Dharma King), which in Thai pronunciation becames Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Table of contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Symbols 4 Administrative divisions 5 External links

Geography

The province is located on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand on the east side of the Malay Peninsula. The terrain is mostly rugged hilly forest area. It contains the highest elevation of southern Thailand, the Khao Luang with 1,835 m, now protected in the Khao Luang national park.

History

The area around Nakhon Si Thammarat was part (or probably even the center) of the Srivijaya[?] kingdom from the 3rd century until king Ramkhamhaeng[?] of Sukhothai occupied it and added it to his kingdom. With the fall of Sukhothai it fell it its successor, the Ayutthaya kingdom. Nakhon became a province in 1932.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the Phra Baromathat Chedi of the Wat Phra Mahathat Voramahavihan, one of the most important historical sites in southern Thailand. According to historic sources it was already built in 311, but archaeology dates it to the 13th century. The chedi is surrounded by the animals of the Chinese zodiac in the seal. The provincial flower is the Golden Shower Tree (Cassis fistula[?]), and the provincial tree is Millettia atropurpurea[?].

Administrative divisions

Amphoe (districts)		King Amphoe (minor districts)
Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat Phorm Khiri Lan Saka Chawang Phipun Chian Yai Cha-uat Tha Sala Thung Song Na Bon Thung Yai	Pah Phanang Ron Phibun Sichon Khanom Hua Sai Bang Khan Tham Phannara Chulabhorn Phta Phrom Chaloem Phra Kiat	Nopphitam Chang Klang

External links

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand (http://www.tat.or.th/province/south/n_sri/index.htm)
• Golden Jubilee Network province guide (http://kanchanapisek.or.th/cgi-bin/kp8/oncc/province.cgi?prov=s4)