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Introduction |
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Chaiyaphum Province is located
almost at the center of Thailand in the northeastern region. lts size
ranks third in the region and eighth in the country. The province has a
total area of 12,778.3 square km. or 7,986,429 Rai. It is 342 km. From
Bangkok.
Approximately 50% of Chaiyaphum
is mountains and forests. The rest is a plateau. Chaiyaphum is divided
into 2 parts by the mountain range that runs through the center of the
province form east to west which comprises Phu Yuak, Phu E Thao, Phu
Lankha, Phu Phang Hoei and connects with Phu Phraya Fo which is part of
the Petchabun Mountain Range. The range goes through Amphoe Thep Sathit,
Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng and Amphoe Khon San. The main rivers are Chi River
which originates in a thick jungle in Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng and Phrom
River which comes from a thick jungle in Amphoe Khon San. They are
important rivers of the Northeast.
Borders
» North
» South
» East
»
West |
:Petchabun and Khon Kaen Province.
:Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
:Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
:Petchabun and Lop Buri Province. |
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Chaiyaphum city of nearby Provinces |
Chaiyaphum city to its districts |
| - Khon Kaen |
150 kms. |
| - Lopburi |
243 kms. |
| - Nakhon Ratchasima |
119 kms. |
| - Petchabun |
259 kms |
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| - Narong |
58 kms. |
- Nong BueDaeng |
53 kms. |
| - Ban Khawao |
13 kms. |
- Nong Bua Raheo |
33 kms. |
| - Ban Thaen |
80 kms. |
- Phakdi Chumphon |
85 kms. |
| - Chaturat |
40 kms. |
- Phu Khiao |
80 kms. |
| - Kaeng Khro |
45 kms. |
- Thep Sathit |
105 kms. |
| - Kaset Sombun |
90 kms. |
- Noen Sa - Nga |
30 kms. |
| - Khon San |
125 kms. |
- Sab Yai Subdistrict |
50 kms. |
| - Khon Sawan |
38 kms. |
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History |
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Chaiyaphum is an old city dating back to the time
when the Khmer Empire was the pinnacle of its power. The city was a
lesser city of the empire. Some of the sites from those That Kut Chok.
When Ayutthaya was the capital, Chaiyaphum appeared on a map during the
reign of King Narai the Great as a city under the administration of
Nakhon Ratchasima. However, people later moved out to find new homes and
left the city deserted. Chaiyaphum then reappeared during the time of
king Rama ll. in the Rattanakosin Era. In 1817. Lae, a nobleman in Chao
Anuwong’s ( Lord of Vientiane) court. took his family and friends across
the Makhong River to settle at Ban Nong Nam Khun ( Nong E Chan) which is
in the area of Amphoe Sung Noen in Nakhon Ratchasima now. in 1819, when
too many people has migrated there, Lae moved everyone to a new location
at Non Nam Om, Ban Chi Long . All through that time, Lae continued to
provide offerings to Chao Anuwong to show his loyalty. At first it was
rice but was later given gold when it was dug up at Khao Phraya Fo. as a
result, Lae was promoted to Khun Phakdi Chumphon. Lae moved his
settlement once again in 1822 because of drought to Nong Pla Thao and
Nong Lot, which combined was called Ban Luang, and turned to display
loyalty Nakhon Ratchasima Province and provided offerings to King Rama
lll instead, and proclaimed the city free from Chao Anuwong forever.
King Rama lll rewarded Khun Phakdi Chumphon by making Ban Luang
Chaiyaphum City and promoting him to Phraya Phakdi Chumphon and made him
the city’s first lord.
Chao Anuwong organized a rebellion against King Rama lll and formed
troops to attack Bangkok. He lied to cities along his route that he was
rounding up military support to help Bangkok fight the British. Nakhon
Ratchasima was subsequently overtaken in 1826. When the secret was out
that Chao Anuwong and his troops were rebels, he gathered all the people
of Nakhon Ratchasima to take them back to Vientiane. While at Thung
Samrit, the captives under the leadership of Khunying Mo, the wife of
Nakhon Ratchasima’s lord, fought back with the support of Phiraya Phakdi
Chumpon and lords of nearby cities until they defeated Chao Anuwong.
Nonetheless, A remnant of Chao Anuwongs forces
retreated from Nakhon Ratchasima and captured Chaiyaphum. After failing
to persuade Phraya Phakdi Chumphon to join the rebellion, the invaders
killed him under a big tamarind tree at Nong Pla thao. A shrine built by
the city’s citizens is a tribute to this man is 3 km. from the
provincial hall. The shrine is in the shape of a Thai pavilion and has a
statue of Phraya Phakdi Chumphon which is highly revered.
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How to get there |
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By Train
From Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), there are express and rapid
Bangkok - Nong Khai trains running daily. Visitors can get off at Bua
Yai Station and take a bus for 51 km. More to Chaiyaphum.
For details, please call the Train Service Section at tel. 2237010 and
2337020.
By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin Road), turn right at
Saraburi onto Highway No.2 (Mittraphap Road) past Amphoe Pak Chong. Then
take a left onto Highway No.201 past Amphoe Si Kheo, Amphoe Dan Khun
Thot and into Chaiyahum at Amphoe Chaturat straight to Amphoe Muang. The
total distance is 332 kms.
From Nakhon Ratchasima, take Highway No.2 (Mittraphap Road) past Tambon
Cho Ho. Then turn left onto Highway No.205 past Amphoe Non Thai to the
intersection at Tambon Nong Bua Khok in Amphoe Chaturat. Then turn
right onto Highway No.201 to Chaiyaphum. The total distance is 119 kms.
By Bus
The Transport Co. operates a daily Bangkok - Chaiyaphum bus Service.
For more information, call tel. 2710101-5 (regular bus) and 2794484-7
(air - conditioned bus). |
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Festivals & Event |
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The annual Chao Poh
Phraya Lae Festival
January
is held to commemorate the virtues of Phraya Lae, the founder of
Chaiyaphum. During 12-20 January of each year, celebrations are
organized at the grounds in front of the Town Hall and at the Chao Poh
Phraya Lae Monument junction. Rites are performed to pay homage to the
spirit of the Chao Poh , and there are elephant parades and processions
from various districts. Exhibition stalls are put up by private and
government agencies and an agricultural contest is held.
The
Ram Phi Fah traditional dance
April
is performed in groups at Phu Phra where the highly revered Phra Chao
Ong Tue , a Buddha statue carved in sandstone is enshrined . About 2
meters tall , it is celebrated during the 13th to 15th day of the 5th
lunar month or April and also on Khao Pansa and Ok Pansa (beginning and
ending of the Buddhist Rain Retreat).
Pay homage to Chao Poh
Phraya Lae
May
is held at the Nong Pla Tao Shrine during 12-20 of May every year.
Villagers flock to the shrine to perform homage paying rites and stage
dances in his honor. |
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Provided by
Tourism Authority of
Thailand
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