Chanthaburi Province

Chanthaburi จันทบุรี
Province
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Chanthaburi Province
Country	Thailand
Capital	Chanthaburi
Government
• Governor	Phunsak Pranutnoraphan (since 2008)
Area
• Total	6,338 km2 (2,447 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 34th
Population (2014)
• Total	527,350
• Rank	Ranked 52nd
• Density rank	Ranked 56th
Time zone	ICT
ISO 3166 code	TH-22

Chanthaburi (Thai: จันทบุรี; Chong: จันกะบูย; rtgs: Chankabui; "Moon City") is a province (changwat) of Thailand. It is in the east of Thailand, on the border with Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia and on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are Trat in the east and Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, and Sa Kaeo to the west and north.

Etymology

The word "chantha" originates from the Sanskrit word "chandra" meaning "moon", and the word "buri" from Sanskrit "puri", meaning "town" or "city". Therefore, the provincial name literally means "moon city". The Chong name for the province is Chankabui.

History

After the Paknam crisis in 1893, French colonial troops occupied Chanthaburi, returning it in 1905 when Thailand gave up ownership of the western part of Cambodia. A significant minority of Chanthaburi citizens are native Vietnamese, who came there in three waves: first in the 19th century during anti-Catholic persecutions in Cochin China; a second wave in the 1920s to 1940s fleeing from French Indochina; and a third wave after the communist victory in Vietnam in 1975. The town of Chanthaburi has been the seat of a Bishop of Chanthaburi since 1944.

Geography

Quiet street, Amphoe Laem Sing

While the southern part of the province is on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand and thus is mostly coastal alluvial plains, the hinterlands of the province are quite mountainous. The Chanthaburi mountain range in the north has the highest elevation of the province, the 1,556 m high Soi Dao Nua Peak. The main river of the province is the Chanthaburi River.

Together with the neighboring province, Trat, Chanthaburi is a center of gemstone mining, especially rubies and sapphires. Tropical fruits are also among the main products of the province. In 2000, it produced nearly 380,000 tonnes of durian, which was 45.57% of Thailand's durian production, approximately 27% of the entire world's production.

Within provincial boundaries lie three national parks: Namtok Phlio National Park; Khao Khitchakut National Park; and Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park.

Climate

Climate data for Chanthaburi (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	32.6 (90.7)	32.7 (90.9)	33.1 (91.6)	33.9 (93)	32.8 (91)	31.8 (89.2)	31.4 (88.5)	31.2 (88.2)	31.4 (88.5)	32.0 (89.6)	32.1 (89.8)	31.8 (89.2)	32.23 (90.02)
Average low °C (°F)	21.5 (70.7)	23.0 (73.4)	24.0 (75.2)	24.8 (76.6)	25.1 (77.2)	25.1 (77.2)	24.8 (76.6)	24.9 (76.8)	24.4 (75.9)	23.9 (75)	23.1 (73.6)	21.4 (70.5)	23.83 (74.89)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	18.7 (0.736)	36.4 (1.433)	71.9 (2.831)	125.2 (4.929)	392.5 (15.453)	512.6 (20.181)	483.2 (19.024)	497.2 (19.575)	497.6 (19.591)	297.6 (11.717)	54.5 (2.146)	6.8 (0.268)	2,994.2 (117.884)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm)	2	4	6	10	22	25	24	26	25	19	6	2	171
Average relative humidity (%)	69	74	77	78	83	84	84	85	86	82	72	66	78.3
Source: Thai Meteorological Department (Normal 1981–2010), (Avg. rainy days 1961–1990)

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the moon surrounded by an aura. Inside the moon disc is a rabbit, as in Thai folklore the dark areas on the moon (maria) form the shape of a rabbit. The seal symbolizes the peace and tranquility of the province. The moon also refers to the provincial name, "City of Moon".

The flag of the province also shows the seal in the middle, a white rabbit on a yellow moon disc, on a blue disc. The background of the flag is red, with the name of province in yellow written below the seal.

The provincial tree is Diospyros decandra. The provincial flower is an orchid.

The provincial slogan is Magnificent waterfalls, fruit city, good breeding peppercorns, loads of gems, Chanthabun mat, fertile nature, gathering place of King Taksin the Great's Liberation Army

Administrative divisions

Map of Amphoe

The province is subdivided in 10 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 76 subdistricts (tambon) and 690 villages (muban).

Mueang Chanthaburi Khlung Tha Mai Pong Nam Ron Makham

Laem Sing Soi Dao Kaeng Hang Maeo Na Yai Am Khao Khitchakut

Tourism

Sights

King Taksin the Great Shrine (ศาลสมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช): The shrine is a nonagonal building with a roof taking the shape of a royal hat with a pointed spire constructed in 1920. It houses a statue of King Taksin the Great.

City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมืองจันทบุรี): The shrine is assumed to have been originally built of laterite though what it looked like is unknown. The present shrine and city pillar were constructed in 1981 and have undergone restoration.

King Taksin the Great Monument (พระบรมราชานุสาวรีย์สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช): The monument of King Taksin the Great accompanied by four soldiers in memory of the historic liberation of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya is on an islet in the middle of the swamp.

Si Chan Road (ถนนศรีจันทร์): is the commercial area and centre of gem business. Even though gem mining in the province is not as extensive as it used to be, Chanthaburi remains a major centre for gem dealings with stones from neighbouring countries and abroad being bought and sold.

Wat Phai Lom (วัดไผ่ล้อม): The building is surrounded by a boundary wall with an entrance on each side. Behind the temple, there is a corridor supported by five pillars without decorative capitals. The building’s base line is straight, and there is a pagoda with twelve-redented corners within the wall.

The Catholic Church Chanthaburi (โบสถ์คาทอลิกจันทบุรี หรือ อาสนวิหารพระนางมารีอาปฏิสนธินิรมล): The construction of this old and large Catholic Church reputedly took 275 years to complete. It was built in Gothic-style with stained glass decorations depicting Christian saints.

Wang Suan Ban Kaeo (วังสวนบ้านแก้ว): The palace used to be a royal residence of Queen Rambhai Barni, the Royal Consort of King Rama VII. It also served as the queen's office and demonstration centre where plants were grown and animals raised.

Wat Phlap (วัดพลับ): The hall was used as the place to hold the Ceremony of Murathaphisek or making sacred water—water for pouring over the king's head in the coronation ceremony or other royal rituals—at the beginning of the Chakri Dynasty.

Wat Thong Thua (วัดทองทั่ว): The site of an ancient bot which was built over a Khmer-style temple. It has a large collection of ancient Khmer sculptures. Nearby is the Mueang Phaniat archaeological site with its remains of laterite base of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats marking the southern town limit.

Boran Sathan Mueang Phaniat (โบราณสถานเมืองเพนียด): It is believed that this monument might be the original settlement of Chanthaburi City about a thousand years ago. Today, only a ruined sandstone wall and an unidentified earth mound with a height of about 1–3 metres remains.

Wat Bot Mueang (วัดโบสถ์เมือง): It is believed to have been constructed in the late-Ayutthaya period as is evident from its white sandstone boundary markers as well as ordination hall (Phra Ubosot) and Ceylonese bell-shaped chedi. The temple houses a lintel of the late Baphuon style (967–1080 CE) depicting the God Indra on his Airavata elephant in a niche.

King Taksin Shipyard (อู่ต่อเรือพระเจ้าตาก) or Samet Ngam Shipyard (อู่ต่อเรือเสม็ดงาม): From underwater archaeological excavations and examination, several rectangular dock-like areas were found along the shore as well as parts of an old ship believed to be a three-masted Chinese junk measuring 24 metres long and 5 metres wide.

Panichnavee National Museum (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติพาณิชย์นาวี): In Noen Wong Fort, an exhibition on early Thai marine history as evidenced by over 20 years of underwater archaeological studies.

Chedi Yot Khao Phloi Waen (เจดีย์ยอดเขาพลอยแหวน): The round Ceylonese-style chedi contains a Buddha relic. There is also a mondop built in 1928 housing the Buddha's footprint.

Wat Takat Ngao (วัดตะกาดเง้า): A scripture hall or Ho Trai built in the middle of a pond by an artisan of the royal school toward the end of King Rama III's reign.

Khao Laem Sing (เขาแหลมสิงห์): A small hill with an elevation of 172 m, with a pile of rocks that look like a crouching lion at the front that gave it the name Khao Laem Sing or the "lion hill cape". Khao Laem Sing Forest Park (วนอุทยานเขาแหลมสิงห์) covers an area of 9,500 rai, including dry evergreen forest and beach forest which are home to important flora and fauna.

Laem Sadet–Ao Khung Kraben (แหลมเสด็จ–อ่าวคุ้งกระเบน): The Ao Khung Kraben Development Study Centre, which won the Thailand Tourism Awards 2002. The centre is responsible for research and study for appropriate development guidelines of Chanthaburi's shoreline.

Ao Khung Kraben Non-hunting Area (เขตห้ามล่าสัตว์ป่าอ่าวคุ้งกระเบน): The area suffered deforestation 40 years ago and has just recently seen pioneer plants. There are four types of forest within the area: dry evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest, beach forest, and mangrove forest.

Wat Khao Sukim (วัดเขาสุกิม): A meditation venue. The temple also houses a large collection of religious items and valuable antiques donated by the public. On display are wax sculptures of over twenty Buddhist monks highly revered by the public.

Chanthaburi Herbal Garden (สวนสมุนไพรจันทบุรี): An agency under the Medical Science Department, Ministry of Public Health, 25 kilometres from Chanthaburi town.

Chong Phakkat Thai-Cambodian Border Market (ตลาดชายแดนไทย-กัมพูชา ช่องผักกาด): At Ban Khlong Yai, Mu 4 Tambon Khlong Yai, 30 kilometres from Pong Nam Ron District Office, 20 kilometres from Pailin, and 68 kilometres from Preah Tabong in Cambodia.

Ban Laem Thai-Cambodian Border Market (ตลาดชายแดนไทย-กัมพูชา บ้านแหลม): At Ban Laem, Mu 4 Tambon Thep Nimit, 46 kilometres from Pong Nam Ron District Office.

Namtok Hin Dat (น้ำตกหินดาด): The 12-tiered waterfall is surrounded by an intact evergreen forest.

Namtok Khao Soi Dao (น้ำตกเขาสอยดาว): The waterfall has 16 tiers with a large swarm of butterflies ideal for butterfly watching and plant study.

Namtok Khlong Narai (น้ำตกคลองนารายณ์): Known as "Namtok Khao So Bap", some eight kilometres from the provincial town on the Chanthaburi – Laem Sing route.

Waterfall, Namtok Phliu National Park

Namtok Phlio (น้ำตกพลิ้ว): It is a medium-scale waterfall originating from an underground stream that springs and cascades over the cliff down to a pool below. Before reaching the waterfall, there is a pool which is a natural habitat of soro brook carp that reside in the stream of waterfalls in some regions only. There are two important monuments within the waterfall area including:

Alongkon Chedi (อลงกรณ์เจดีย์): Built from laterite in 1876 by King Rama V in memory of the king and his beloved consort, Queen Sunantha Kumarirat, and their visit to the waterfall in 1874.

Phranang Ruea Lom Pyramid (ปิรามิดพระนางเรือล่ม): A pyramidal stupa built from granite in 1881 in memory of Queen Sunantha who was killed in a boat accident on the Chao Phraya River.

Namtok Trok Nong (น้ำตกตรอกนอง): The waterfall has three tiers. The 1st tier is known as "Namtok Mai Si" (Mai Si refers to bamboo). The 2nd tier is called "Namtok Klang" which is about one kilometre away from the 1st tier. The 3rd tier is "Namtok Trok Nong" about one kilometre from the 2nd tier and cascades down a cliff of approximately 20 metres high.

Phuttha-utthayan Wat Chak Yai (พุทธอุทยานวัดชากใหญ่): A Buddhist park featuring a fine sculptural exhibition of the Life of the Lord Buddha with narrative signs.

Khuk Khi Kai (คุกขี้ไก่): Was built to hold Thais who were against the French occupation of Chanthaburi in 1893. A seven metre high, square-shaped prison, it was built in bricks with each side measuring 4.40 metres.

Oasis Sea World (โอเอซิส ซี เวิลด์): Dolphin sanctuary and research centre.

Manut Boran Archaeological Site (สถานโบราณคดี “มนุษย์โบราณ”): Excavation 25 kilometres from Amphoe Pong Nam Ron. Prehistoric human skeletons, stone tools, artefacts, pottery, and ornaments some 4,000 years old, now removed from the pits, were unearthed.

Khao Sip Ha Chan National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาสิบห้าชั้น) or Namtok Nam Pen (น้ำตกน้ำเป็น): Places of interest include waterfalls like Namtok Saba, Namtok I Kek, and especially Namtok Khao Sip Ha Chan, a 15-tier waterfall with water all year round.

Local products

Gems (อัญมณี): One of the province's economic products including elaborately cut gemstones.

Magic rings (แหวนกล): Golden rings fixed with gemstones. The setting is usually made into various animals such as shrimp, crab, fish, Naga serpent, and can be separated into four connected rings.

Ban Samet Ngam Chanthabun Mat Weaving Centre (ศูนย์หัตถกรรมพื้นบ้านการทอเสื่อจันทบูรหมู่บ้านเสม็ดงาม): At Tambon Nong Bua, Amphoe Mueang Chanthaburi, seven kilometres from the city. The centre puts on exhibitions of reed mat weaving.

Bang Sa Kao Mat Weaving Village (หมู่บ้านทอเสื่อบางสระเก้า): At Tambon Bang Sa Kao, Amphoe Laem Sing, the village features a mat weaving demonstration.

Khlum Woven Products (ผลิตภัณฑ์แปรรูปจากต้นคลุ้ม): A handicraft promoted by the Chanthaburi Provincial Skill Development Centre. Khlum is a kind of water plant with tough and strong fibre.

Ban Suan Som Furniture Market (ตลาดเฟอร์นิเจอร์บ้านสวนส้ม): Fifty-five kilometres from Amphoe Pong Nam Ron, the village has been promoted for its wooden furniture.

Preserved durian (ทุเรียนกวน): The province's famous processed product with a mildly sweet taste and aroma typical to each of the durian varieties.

Pepper (พริกไทย): Both black and white, Chanthaburi's major economic crop.

Sen Chan Noodle (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเส้นจันท์): A iconic Chanthaburi product with a soft and glutinous quality.

Pumpkin, durian, and taro crisps (ข้าวเกรียบฟักทอง ทุเรียน และเผือก): Cooked by the Pong Nam Ron Housewife Group.

Soi Dao Paper (กระดาษสอยดาว): Made from the pulp of Soi Dao weed grown in abundance in Chanthaburi's evergreen forests. Ban Kwian Hak Housewife Group in Amphoe Khlung started to make paper from the bark of the soft wood, fast-growing soi dao plant, which is similar to sa paper but tougher and brown. Soi dao paper can be made into sachets for tea or herbal beverages, or artificial flowers. The wood is used to make furniture.

Culture

Festivals

Phra Phutthabat Phluang Homage-paying Fair (งานนมัสการรอยพระพุทธบาทพลวง) held on the new Mun day of the 2nd lunar month during the period of the Chinese New Year to Magha Puja (around January–March) on top of Khao Khitchakut, Tambon Phluang, Amphoe Makham. The fair features an offering ceremony to guardian angels, gilding the Lord Buddha’s footprint, and climbing up Khao Khitchakut. The tradition has been observed for generations out of a folk belief that climbers will gain high merit, in addition, to mental endurance from so doing. In the past, merit-makers had to walk on foot for a distance of some 15 kilometres up the mountain.

Phra Phutthasaiyat Gilding Fair (งานปิดทองพระพุทธไสยาสน์) held around the period of the Chinese New Year to pay homage and gild the image of Phra Phutthasaiyat or Reclining Buddha at Wat Phai Lom and featuring Dharma preaching and various forms of entertainment.

Rajamangala Rak Lueang Chan Festival (งานราชมงคลรักษ์เหลืองจันท์) is held in February of every year at Rajamangala Institute of Technology (Eastern Campus). There will be an academic exhibition, Lueang Chanthabun Orchid Competition, and sales of agricultural products and plants.

Kwian Phrabat Tug-of-war Tradition (ประเพณีชักกะเย่อเกวียนพระบาท) held around the Songkran Festival at Wat Tapon Yai, Amphoe Khlung. This tradition has been observed for more than a century and will feature a Rot Nam Dam Hua ceremony (pouring scented water onto the hands of the elderly to seek their blessing), Kwian Phrabat or the Buddha’s footprint cart tug-of-war, and various forms of entertainment during the night.

World Durian Festival (งานมหกรรมทุเรียนโลก) held annually for 1–2 weeks in the month of May at the Triangular Na Choei Ground. The fair features contests of fruit decorated floats, beauty queens, Eastern famous fruits such as rambutan, durian, mangosteen, Rakam and Sala zalaccas and varieties of santol and Thai ridgeback dog, as well as booth displays of gems and jewellery and other farmer housewife groups.

Chanthaburi Gemstone and Local Product Fair (งานเปิดโลกอัญมณีและของดีเมืองจันท์) is the largest jewellery fair in the eastern region, held during 8–12 December of every year, at the Chanthaburi Gems Centre, on Tri Rat and Chanthanimit Roads.

King Taksin the Great Commemoration Day and Chanthaburi Red Cross Fair (งานวันสมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราชรำลึก และงานกาชาดจังหวัดจันทบุรี) annually held from 28 December to the first week of January at the Provincial Stadium to commemorate his courageous liberation of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. The fair will feature exhibitions by public agencies, booth display of the province’s local products, and Miss Chanthaburi Beauty Pageant.

Khao Soi Dao Tourism Festival (เทศกาลท่องเที่ยวเขาสอยดาว) held toward the end of the year at viewpoints of Soi Dao District Office and Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. Activities include selling of agricultural produce and OTOP products, cultural performances, Soi Dao lucky draw, and sales of the district’s famous fruits such as longan, sweet tamarind, etc.

External links

• Chanthaburi travel guide from Wikivoyage