Exercise 6

REPORT

Nakhon Sawan
(Subject: Access to Library and Information System)

ABSTRACT

This report will briefly give you information about Nakhon Sawan Province, Thailand. This is including information about geography, history, symbols, tourism, and festivals of Nakhon Sawan.

CONTENTS

1. Etymology
2. Geography
3. History
4. Symbols
5. Administrative Division
6. Tourism
7. Festivals
8. Conclusion
9. Reference

INTRODUCTION

Nakhon Sawan is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring Provinces are (from north clockwise) Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani and Tak.

BODY

1. Etymology

The word Nakhon originates from the Sanskrit word Nagara meaning city, and the word Sawan from Sanskrit svarga meaning heaven. Hence the name of the province literally means Heaven City.

2. Geography

The Ping and Nan rivers merge near the city of Nakhon Sawan to form the Chao Phraya River. The Mae Wong National Park on the border with Khamphaeng Phet province was created in 1987 to preserve the Mae Wong-Mae Poen jungle.

Bueng Boraphet is the largest freshwater swamp in Thailand, in total covering 212 km². The swamp is located directly east of the town Nakhon Sawan and extends into the districts Tha Tako and Chum Saeng. During the winter months many waterfowls migrate there. Parts of the swamp are protected as a non-hunting area.

3. History

Nakhon Sawan was a city since Dvaravati era. While part of the Sukhothai kingdom, it was called Mueang Phra Bang, the southern frontier city of Sukhothai. Later within the Ayutthaya kingdom it was an important trade center because of its location at the two major rivers from the north. It also was the common meeting point of Burmese troops before moving to attack Ayutthaya. In the reign of King Taksin the Great, Phra Bang became a Siamese military base to prevent further Burmese attacks.

When King Mongkut signed the Bowring Treaty with Britain the glorious time of Nakhon Sawan began, as it became the main rice and teak trading center. However the opening of the Northern railway in 1922, the economic crisis before 1932 revolution, and finally the opening of Dejativongse bridge and Phahonyothin highway in 1950 each decreased the importance of water transportation and thus made Nakhon Sawan less important.

When in 1895 King Chulalongkorn established the monthon as part of the thesaphiban administrative reform, Nakhon Sawan became capital city of Monthon Nakhon Sawan.

The 4th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Area Army is based in Nakhon Sawan. It is in charge of the northwestern border with Burma, from Mae Hong Son in the north to Kanchanaburi in the south.

4. Symbols

The provincial seal shows a Wiman, a mythological castle located in heaven. This relates to the name of the province which translates to Heavenly City.

The provincial tree as well as the flower is Lagerstroemia loudonii (Loudon's crape myrtle).

5. Administrative Division

The province is subdivided in 15 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 130 subdistricts (tambon) and 1328 villages (muban).
1. Mueang Nakhon Sawan
2. Krok Phra
3. Chum Saeng
4. Nong Bua
5. Banphot Phisai
6. Kao Liao
7. Takhli
8. Tha Tako
9. Phaisali
10. Phayuha Khiri
11. Lat Yao
12. Tak Fa
13. Mae Wong
14. Mae Poen
15. Chum Ta Bong

6. Tourism

Bung Boraphet (บึงบอระเพ็ด) is the largest freshwater swamp in Thailand. Some parts of the swamp have been declared the Bung Boraphet Non-Hunting Area under the care of the Wildlife Conservation Division. Bung Boraphet is also a fish breeding ground where the Department of Fisheries has set up the Bung Boraphet Fishery Development Station

Wat Woranat Banphot or Wat Khao Kop (วัดวรนารถบรรพต หรือ วัดเขากบ): The peak has a replica of Lord Buddha’s Footprint and a pagoda encasing the relic of Lord Buddha built when Sukhothai was the country’s capital. The temple was praised by the Department of Religious Affairs as the best development temple of 1966.

Utthayan Sawan (อุทยานสวรรค์) is a beautiful public park in Nakhon Sawan Municipality beside the Asian Highway. It was originally a large swamp with an area of 502,400 square meters called Nong Som Bun. The middle of the park is an island with an area of 6,400 square meters.

Khao No-Khao Kaeo (เขาหน่อ-เขาแก้ว) is a limestone mountain that has Wat Khao Lo at its foot. There are numerous monkeys at the foot of the mountain and you can see plenty of bats that live in the cave flying out to feed in the evening, making a long black line in the night sky.

Mae Wong National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติแม่วงก์): The area consists of winding mountains and is the source of several waterways, including the Mae Wong River and some parts of Khlung Canal. Attractions in Mae Wong National Park Kaeng Pha Khoi Nang-Kaeng Nam.


7. Festivals

Chao Pho-Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho Procession Festival (งานประเพณีแห่เจ้าพ่อ-เจ้าแม่ปากน้ำโพ) is a festival of the Thai Chinese who live in Nakhon Sawan. This festival has been held since ancient times. It takes place during Chinese New Year (around the beginning of February every year) to bring good fortune. It features various processions such as lion parade, dragon parade, angel procession, the goddess Guan Yin procession and others going along the main roads in the municipality. The festival is famous among Thais and foreigners

Boat Races for His Majesty’s Trophy (ประเพณีการแข่งเรือยาวชิงถ้วยพระราชทาน) are held annually at the end of the Buddhist Lent on the Chao Phraya River in front of the Provincial Hall. There are also races at temples along the river such as Wat Ko Hong and Wat Takhian Luan. The races show the unity of the people, as well as the skill of paddlers and boat owners participating.

8. Conclusion

From this report, I had been study about the Nakhon Sawan Porvince. I choosen this topic because Nakhon Sawan is my hometown. I think to know more about others thing I need to know my hometown first because People would like ask you when you first met as "Where are you from?", so if I answer Nakhon Sawan, they would ask some information about Nakhon Sawan. After I have done this I be able to know more about my province which provide in this report.


9. Reference

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhon_Sawan_Province