Phetchabun province

Province of Thailand

Province in Thailand

Phetchabun

เพชรบูรณ์

Province

Phu Thap Boek

Pine forest in Nam Nao National Park

Si Thep Historical Park

Flag

Seal

Nickname(s):

Mueang Makham Wan
(city of sweet tamarinds)

Motto(s):

เมืองมะขามหวาน อุทยานน้ำหนาว ศรีเทพเมืองเก่า เขาค้ออนุสรณ์ นครพ่อขุนผาเมือง
("City of sweet tamarinds. Nam Nao National Park. The old town of Si Thep. The monument of Khao Kho. Capital of Pho Khun Pha Mueang.")

Map of Thailand highlighting Phetchabun province

Coordinates: 16°20′N 101°06′E﻿ / ﻿16.333°N 101.100°E﻿ / 16.333; 101.100
Country| Thailand
Capital| Phetchabun
Government

• Governor| Saranyu Meethongkham
Area

[1]

• Total

| 12,340 km2 (4,760 sq mi)
• Rank| 10th
Population

(2024)[2]

• Total

| 960,718
• Rank| 23rd
• Density| 78/km2 (200/sq mi)
• Rank| 76th
Human Achievement Index

[3]

• HAI (2022)| 0.6337 "somewhat low"
Ranked 47th
GDP

[4]

• Total| baht 77 billion
(US$2.6 billion) (2019)
Time zone| UTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code|

67xxx

Calling code| 056 & 043
ISO 3166 code| TH-67
Website| phetchabun.go.th

Provincial Administrative Organization

Phetchabun Provincial Administrative Organization

องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดเพชรบูรณ์

Provincial Administrative Organization

Government

• Type| Local administrative divisions
• Body| Phetchabun Provincial Administrative Organization
• President| Akaradej Thongjaisod
Website| phetchabunpao.go.th

Not to be confused with Phetchaburi province.

Phetchabun (Thai: เพชรบูรณ์, pronounced [pʰét.tɕʰā.būːn]) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) and lies in lower northern Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit and Phitsanulok.

## Geography and climate

[edit]

Phetchabun is in the lower northern region of Thailand, in the area between the northern and the central region. The province lies in the broad fertile river valley of the Pa Sak River, with mountains of the Phetchabun mountain range to the east and west. The total forest area is 4,013 km2 (1,549 sq mi) or 32.5 percent of provincial area.[5]

### National parks

[edit]

Road to Khao Kho Sala Dusita, sunrise viewpoint of Thung Salaeng Luang

There are a total of four national parks, along with six other national parks, make up region 11 (Phitsanulok) of Thailand's protected areas.

* Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, 1,262 km2 (487 sq mi)[6]: 3
* Nam Nao National Park, 966 km2 (373 sq mi)[6]: 5
* Khao Kho National Park, 483 km2 (186 sq mi)[6]: 125
* Tat Mok National Park, 290 km2 (110 sq mi)[6]: 87

### Wildlife sanctuaries

[edit]

There are three wildlife sanctuaries, of which two are in region 11 (Phitsanulok) and Phu Luang is in region 8 (Khon Kaen) of Thailand's protected areas.

* Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, 897 km2 (346 sq mi)[7]: 5
* Tabo–Huai Yai Wildlife Sanctuary, 654 km2 (253 sq mi)[7]: 12
* Phu Pha Daeng Wildlife Sanctuary, 235 km2 (91 sq mi)[7]: 11

Phetchabun especially Khao Kho is a place with good weather and cold all year round. Therefore, received the nickname "Switzerland of Thailand".[8]

## Toponymy

[edit]

The word phetcha originates from the Sanskrit word vajra meaning "diamond" (or weapon of Indra), and the word bun from Sanskrit purna meaning "full", "perfect" or "whole". Hence the name of the province literally means "perfect diamond".

Initially, the province was called "Phe-cha-buth" as "Phuenchapura", which means the city that has plenty of crops.[9] The reason is that the province is very fertile and has ample resources. Because of the fertility of the land, Phetchabun has always been agriculturally productive area.

## History

[edit]

Phetchabun was established by two kingdoms: the Sukhothai Kingdom, and the Ayutthaya Period of the King Narai.[citation needed]

In the Thesaphiban administrative reforms at the beginning of the 20th century, the province, together with Lom Sak province to the north, formed monthon Phetchabun. As it was the smallest monthon, it was also the first monthon to be dissolved in 1915, after being temporarily administered from Monthon Phitsanulok between 1903 and 1907. Lom Sak province was abolished and merged into Phetchabun in 1932.

From 1968–1982, communist insurgents established bases in the mountains in the province. From hidden locations they fought occasional skirmishes against the Thai Army.[citation needed]

## Symbols

[edit]

The provincial seal shows a diamond on a mountain, as diamonds are found in the province. In the foreground are tobacco plants, as it is one of the crops grown in the province. The provincial tree is the tamarind. Craspedacusta sowerbyi, a rare species of freshwater jellyfish is the provincial aquatic animal. What with Phetchabun is one of the few places in the world, that is the habitat of this species of invertebrates.[10]

## Economy

[edit]

Tourism is considered the main industry of the province.

Phu Thap Boek, the highest mountain in the province, is a well-known tourist destination. The area surrounding it is the largest cabbage-growing area in Thailand.[11]

## Transport

[edit]

### Road

[edit]

Phetchabun is 346 kilometres from Bangkok by using Highway 1 and Highway 21.

### Air

[edit]

Phetchabun is served by Phetchabun Airport. Nok Air has served the airport with flights to Bangkok.[12]

## Administrative divisions

[edit]

Map of 11 districts

### Provincial government

[edit]

The province is divided into 11 districts (amphoe). These are further divided into 117 subdistricts (tambon) and 1261 villages (muban).

1. Mueang Phetchabun
2. Chon Daen
3. Lom Sak
4. Lom Kao
5. Wichian Buri
6. Si Thep

7. Nong Phai
8. Bueng Sam Phan
9. Nam Nao
10. Wang Pong
11. Khao Kho

|

### Local government

[edit]

As of 26 November 2019, there are:[13] one Phetchabun Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 25 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Phetchabun, Wichian Buri and Lom Sak have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 22 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 102 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[14]

## Human achievement index 2022

[edit]

Health  | Education  | Employment  | Income

|
|
|

|  |  |
43  | 68  | 12  | 47
Housing  | Family  | Transport  | Participation
|  |  |
28  | 44  | 41  | 47
Province Phetchabun, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6337 is "somewhat low", occupies place 47 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 - 13 | "high"
14 - 29 | "somewhat high"
30 - 45 | "average"
46 - 61 | "somewhat low"
62 - 77 | "low"
Map with provinces and HAI 2022 rankings

## Local products

[edit]

* Sweet tamarind
* Arabica coffee
* Khao lam (sticky rice in bamboo)
* Black galingale
* Stevia tea
* Thai vermicelli rice noodles
* Cabbage
* Poultry
* Tobacco

## Notable people

[edit]

* Saensak Muangsurin (b. 1950–2009), boxer
* Khaosai Galaxy (b. 1959), boxer, member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
* Kaokor Galaxy (b. 1959), boxer
* Chana Porpaoin (b. 1966), boxer
* Songkram Porpaoin (b. 1966), boxer
* Sujin Naknayom (b. 1979), footballer
* Chakrit Buathong (b. 1985), footballer
* Sittisak Tarapan (b. 1984), footballer

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019". Royal Forest Department. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
2. ^ "Official statistics registration systems". Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). Retrieved 10 February 2025, year 2024 >provincial level >Excel File >no.67`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
3. ^ a b "ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved 12 March 2024, page 53`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
4. ^ "Gross Regional and Provincial Product, 2019 Edition". <>. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). July 2019. ISSN 1686-0799. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
5. ^ "ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019, Thailand boundary from Department of Provincial Administration in 2013`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
6. ^ a b c d "ข้อมูลพื้นที่อุทยานแห่งชาติ ที่ประกาศในราชกิจจานุบกษา 133 แห่ง" [National Park Area Information published in the 133 Government Gazettes]. Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (in Thai). December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
7. ^ a b c "ตาราง 5 พื้นที่เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่า พ.ศ. 2562" [Table 5 Wildlife Sanctuary Areas in 2019] (PDF). Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Plant Conservation (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
8. ^ "เที่ยวเขาค้อ "สวิสเซอร์แลนด์เมืองไทย" แดนแห่งขุนเขาและทะเลหมอก ณ เมืองเพชรบูรณ์" [Travel to Khao Kho, "Switzerland of Thailand" land of mountains and sea of mist in Phetchabun]. Tong Tua Thai.com (in Thai).
9. ^ Thanarutleasakon, k. (2002). Pra – wat – tai – sart – Thai – ched– sib – hoke – jung -wat [Thai history of 76 provinces]. Bangkok : One World Publishing.
10. ^ "สัตว์น้ำประจำจังหวัดเพชรบูรณ์" [Provincial aquatic animal]. 4.fisheries.go.th (in Thai). 2018-02-11. Archived from the original on 2021-09-30. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
11. ^ "กะหล่ำปลีสีเขียว ๆ ยังมีให้ดูที่ภูทับเบิก" [Green cabbages are also available at Phu Tub Berk]. Ch3 (in Thai). 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
12. ^ "Nok Air adds Phetchabun from June 2018".
13. ^ "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "38 Phetchabun: 1 PAO, 3 Town mun., 22 Subdistrict mun., 102 SAO."
14. ^ รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ส.2562 [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2019]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Phetchabun travel guide from Wikivoyage
* Phetchabun Tourist information
* Website of province (Thai)
* Maps & attractions in Phetchabun

Places adjacent to Phetchabun province

| Phitsanulok province | Loei province | Khon Kaen province

|
|

|  |
Phichit province |

Phetchabun province

| Chaiyaphum province
|  |
Nakhon Sawan province | Lopburi province |

* v
* t
* e

Provinces of Thailand

Capital: Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon)

Northern|

* Chiang Mai
* Chiang Rai
* Lampang
* Lamphun
* Mae Hong Son
* Nan
* Phayao
* Phrae
* Uttaradit

Northeastern
(Isan)|

* Amnat Charoen
* Bueng Kan
* Buriram
* Chaiyaphum
* Kalasin
* Khon Kaen
* Loei
* Maha Sarakham
* Mukdahan
* Nakhon Phanom
* Nakhon Ratchasima
* Nong Bua Lamphu
* Nong Khai
* Roi Et
* Sakon Nakhon
* Sisaket
* Surin
* Ubon Ratchathani
* Udon Thani
* Yasothon

Western|

* Kanchanaburi
* Phetchaburi
* Prachuap Khiri Khan
* Ratchaburi
* Tak

Central|

* Ang Thong
* Chai Nat
* Kamphaeng Phet
* Krung Thep Maha Nakhon
* Lopburi
* Nakhon Nayok
* Nakhon Pathom
* Nakhon Sawan
* Nonthaburi
* Pathum Thani
* Phetchabun
* Phichit
* Phitsanulok
* Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
* Samut Prakan
* Samut Sakhon
* Samut Songkhram
* Saraburi
* Sing Buri
* Sukhothai
* Suphan Buri
* Uthai Thani

Eastern|

* Chachoengsao
* Chanthaburi
* Chonburi
* Prachinburi
* Rayong
* Sa Kaeo
* Trat

Southern|

* Chumphon
* Krabi
* Nakhon Si Thammarat
* Narathiwat
* Pattani
* Phang Nga
* Phatthalung
* Phuket
* Ranong
* Satun
* Songkhla
* Surat Thani
* Trang
* Yala

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* IdRef

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template