Kamphaeng Phet (Thai: กำแพงเพชร, pronounced [kām.pʰɛ̄ːŋ pʰét]) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) that lies in lower northern Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, and Tak.
Kamphaeng Phet
กำแพงเพชร | |
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Province | |
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Nickname(s): Chakungrao Mueang Kluai Khai (city of lady finger bananas) | |
Motto(s): "กรุพระเครื่อง เมืองคนแกร่ง พระแสงฯ ล้ำค่า ศิลาแลงใหญ่ กล้วยไข่หวาน น้ำมันลานกระบือ เลื่องลือมรดกโลก" ("Buddha amulet chamber, Strong city, Phra Saeng precious,
Laterite, Banana Egg, Lan Krabue oil and Famed world heritage") | |
Country | Thailand |
Government | |
• Governor | Chathip Ruchanaseri (since October 2022) |
Area | |
• Total | 8,607 km2 (3,323 sq mi) |
• Rank | Ranked 23rd |
Population (2019)[2] | |
• Total | 725,867 |
• Rank | Ranked 35th |
• Density | 86/km2 (220/sq mi) |
• Rank | Ranked 56th |
Human Achievement Index | |
• HAI (2017) | 0.5643 "somewhat low" Ranked 60th |
Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Postal code | 62xxx |
Calling code | 055 |
ISO 3166 code | TH-62 |
Vehicle registration | กำแพงเพชร |
Website | www |
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.
The main river is the Ping, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. River flats make up much of the east of the province, while the west is mountainous and covered with forests. The total forest area is 1,997 km2 (771 sq mi) or 23.5 percent of provincial area.[1]
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.
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 later of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
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.[4]
The province is divided into 11 districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 78 subdistricts (tambons) and 823 villages (mubans).
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[5] 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).[2]
Health | Education | Employment | Income |
54 | 67 | 70 | 12 |
Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
36 | 60 | 51 | 15 |
Province Kamphaeng Phet, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.5643 is "somewhat low", occupies place 60 in the ranking. |
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.[3]
Rank | Classification |
1 - 15 | "high" |
16 - 30 | "somewhat high" |
31 - 45 | "average" |
45 - 60 | "somewhat low" |
61 - 77 | "low" |
Map with provinces and HAI 2017 rankings |
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: CS1 maint: postscript (link)4 Kamphaeng Phet: 1 PAO, 3 Town mun., 22 Subdistrict mun., 64 SAO.
Places adjacent to Kamphaeng Phet province | ||||||||||||||||
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