Nakhon Pathom is a small province 56 km from Bangkok. It is in the alluvial plain of central Thailand and is drained by the Tha Chin River, a tributary of the Chao Phraya River. There are many canals that have been dug for agriculture. The capital city of Bangkok has grown until it borders Nakhon Pathom.
Climate
Nakhon Pathom province has a tropical savanna climate. Winters are dry and warm. Temperatures rise until May. Mansoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm. Climatological data for the years 2012 - 2013: It's maximum temperature is 40.1 °C in April 2013 and the lowest temperature is 12.0 °C in December 2013. The highest average temperature is 37.4 °C in April 2013 and the minimum average temperature is 16.5 °C in December 2013. The average relative humidity is 75% and the minimum relative humidity is 22%. Annual rainfall is 1,095 millimeters. The number of rainy days was 134 days for the year 2013.
Toponymy
The name derives from the Pali words Nagara Pathama, meaning 'first city', and Nakhon Pathom is often referred as Thailand's oldest city. Archaeological remains have been linked to the Dvaravati kingdom, dating to the 6th through 11th centuries.
History
Nakhon Pathom Province centuries ago was a coastal city on the route between China and India; due to sedimentation from the Chao Phraya River, the coastline moved much farther to sea. When the Tha Chin River changed its course, the city lost its main water source and thus was for hundreds of years deserted, the population moving to a city called Nakhon Chai Si. King Mongkut ordered the restoration of the Phra Pathom Chedi, which was then crumbling and abandoned in the jungle. A city gradually formed around it, bringing new life to Nakhon Pathom. A museum presents the archaeological record of the city's history. Major settlement of the province included immigration beginning in the reign of King Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, which included Khmer villages, the Lan Na-populated and Lao Song villages, as well as a major influx of southern Chinese in the late-1800s and early-1900s. Today Nakhon Pathom attracts people from all over Thailand, most notably from Bangkok and Isan, plus Burmese migrant workers. The province includes industrial zones, major university towns, government offices relocated from Bangkok, and agricultural and transport hubs.
Economy
In mid-2019, the Department of Airports proposed the construction of a new airport in the province, to relieve pressure on Bangkok's two existing airports. The 20 billion baht airport would occupy 3,500 rai of land in Bang Len District and Nakhon Chai Si District. Its capacity would be 25 million passengers annually. If approved, construction would start in 2023 and the airport would be operational by 2025 or 2026. When fully built-out, the airport will accommodate 80-100 seat aircraft flying between Bangkok and second-tier provinces to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. The project site has low population density, only 200 households on 400 plots of land.
Symbols
The provincial seal shows Phra Pathom Chedi, at 127 meters the tallest pagoda in the world. It is in the center of the city of Nakhon Pathom, and has been an important Buddhist center since the 6th century. The current building was created by King Mongkut in 1860. On the pagoda a royal crown is depicted, the symbol for King Mongkut's work on reconstructing the pagoda. The provincial flag is blue with the yellow provincial seal in the middle of the flag. The provincial tree is Chan, scientific name Diospyros decandra. The provincial slogan is "sweet pomelos, delicious rice, beautiful young ladies".
Administrative divisions
Provincial government
The province is divided into seven districts. The districts are further subdivided into 106 subdistricts and 904 villages.
Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Nakhon Pathom Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO and twenty-four municipal areas in the province. The capital Nakhon Pathom has city status. Further five have town status and eight-teen subdistrict municipalities.
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City municipality
1
Nakhon Pathom
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Town municipalities
3
Rai Khing
1
Nakhon Pathom
4
Krathum Lom
2
Sam Khwai Taro
5
Sam Phran
#
Subdistrict mun.
1
Phrong Maduea
10
Sam Ngam
2
Bo Phlap
11
Bang Len
3
Map Khae
12
Rang Krathum
4
Thammasala
13
Bang Luang
5
Don Yai Hom
14
Lam Phaya
6
Kamphaeng Saen
15
Om Yai
7
Nakhon Chai Si
16
Bang Kratuek
8
Khun Kaeo
17
Sala Ya
9
Huai Phlu
18
Khlong Yong
The non-municipal areas are administered by 91 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO.
