Phetchaburi province

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|

Province of Thailand

Province in Thailand

Phetchaburi

เพชรบุรี

Province

From left to right, top to bottom: Khao Phanoen Thung, viewpoint of Kaeng Krachan National Park; Wat Khao Bandai It; Kaeng Krachan Reservoir, the origin of the Phetchaburi River; Mrigadayavan Palace; Wat Tham Rong; Bryde's whale in Ao Bang Tabun

Flag

Seal

Nickname:

Mueang Phet (Thai: เมืองเพชร)

Motto(s):

เขาวังคู่บ้าน ขนมหวานเมืองพระ เลิศล้ำศิลปะ แดนธรรมะ ทะเลงาม
("Home of Khao Wang. Desserts of the Buddhist town. Excellent fine arts. Land of Dharma. Beautiful seas.")

Map of Thailand highlighting Phetchaburi province

Country| Thailand
Capital| Phetchaburi
Government

• Governor| Popchanok Chalanukro
Area

[1]

• Total

| 6,172 km2 (2,383 sq mi)
• Rank| 36th
Population

(2024)[2]

• Total

| 484,145
• Rank| 56th
• Density| 78/km2 (200/sq mi)
• Rank| 64th
Human Achievement Index

[3]

• HAI (2022)| 0.6733 "high"
Ranked 4th
GDP

[4]

• Total| baht 68 billion
(US$2.3 billion) (2019)
Time zone| UTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code|

76xxx

Calling code| 032
ISO 3166 code| TH-76
Website| phetchaburi.go.th

Provincial Administrative Organization

Phetchaburi Provincial Administrative Organization

องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัดเพชรบุรี

Provincial Administrative Organization

Government

• Type| Local administrative divisions
• Body| Phetchaburi Provincial Administrative Organization
• President| Chaiya Angkinan
Website| phetchaburipao.go.th

Not to be confused with Phetchabun province.

Phetchaburi (Thai: เพชรบุรี, pronounced [pʰét.tɕʰā.bū.rīː]) or Phet Buri (pronounced [pʰét bū.rīː]) is one of the western or central provinces (changwat) of Thailand.[5] Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, and Prachuap Khiri Khan. In the west it borders the Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar. Phetchaburi is home to Kaeng Krachan National Park.[6]

## Geography

[edit]

Phetchaburi is at the north end of the Malay Peninsula, with the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Tanaosi mountain range forming the boundary to Myanmar. Except for these border mountains most of the province is a flat plain. With an area of 2,915 km2 (1,125 sq mi) Kaeng Krachan National Park is Thailand's largest national park, covering nearly half of the province.[7]: 28 It protects mostly rain forests in the mountains along the boundary to Myanmar, but also the Kaeng Krachan Reservoir is part of the park. The total forest area is 3,562 km2 (1,375 sq mi) or 57.7% of provincial area.[8] The only significant river of the province is the Phetchaburi River.

## History

[edit]

Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park (Khao Wang)

Originally, Phetchaburi was known as "Pipeli" (พลิพลี), or "Pribpri" (พริบพรี) as it used to be one of the southern kingdoms in Thai history alike to Tambralinga. Its name was recorded in De la Louère's memo during the reign of King Narai in the middle of the Ayutthaya period.[9]

Phetchaburi has been the location of multiple summer palaces commissioned by various kings. In 1860, King Rama IV built a palace near the city of Phetchaburi, commonly known as Khao Wang, but its official name is Phra Nakhon Khiri. Next to the palace the king built a tower for his astronomical observations. On the adjoining hill is the royal temple Wat Phra Kaeo.[10]

In 1910, King Rama V, constructed Phra Ram Ratchaniwet, now also known as Ban Puen Palace, slightly further south of Khao Wang. This was completed in the reign of King Rama VI, who also constructed Mrigadayavan Palace in 1923. in Cha-am district.[11]

## Symbols

[edit]

The provincial seal shows the Khao Wang palace in the background. In front are rice fields bordered by two coconut palm trees, symbolizing the major crops in the province.[12]

The provincial tree is Eugenia cumini.[13] Thai mahseer (Tor tambroides) is a provincial fish that is delicious and used to be found in the Phetchaburi River.[14]

## Environment

[edit]

Phetchaburi's shoreline on the Inner Gulf of Thailand in the area of Pak Thale consists of salt pans, mudflats, mangroves, and sand spits. It has been termed, "...the premier bird watching site for shorebirds in Thailand,..." The 123-acre site provides sustenance for both passage and wintering species, as well as residents. The area hosts more than 7,000 waterbirds during the northern hemisphere winter. Economic development of the tidal flats, compounded by the impacts of climate change, threaten this ecosystem's future. Several regular visitors are under threat, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed sandpiper and Great knot, Nordmann's greenshank, and Far Eastern curlew.[15][16]

## Economy

[edit]

Phetchaburi province is an important salt producer. In 2011, 9,880 rai worked by 137 families were devoted to salt production in Phetchaburi.[17]

The province is known for its palm sugar (Thai: น้ำตาลปึก; RTGS: nam tan puek). It has more sugar palm trees than any other province. Producing sugar is a specialty of Ban Lat District in particular.[18] It is a key ingredient in many traditional Thai desserts, such as Khanom mo kaeng, which has earned Phetchaburi the nickname "city of desserts".[19]

Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Phetchaburi province. The province, however, has dropped from the fourth to the sixth most popular destination in Thailand due to coastal erosion, much of it in Cha-am District, caused by rising sea levels leading to "deteriorating scenery".[20]

## Administrative divisions

[edit]

Province with districts

### Provincial government

[edit]

The province is divided into eight districts (amphoe), which are further divided into 93 subdistricts (tambons) and 681 villages (mubans).

1. Mueang Phetchaburi
2. Khao Yoi
3. Nong Ya Plong
4. Cha-am

5. Tha Yang
6. Ban Lat
7. Ban Laem
8. Kaeng Krachan

|

### Local government

[edit]

As of 26 November 2019 there are:[21] one Phetchaburi Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 15 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Phetchaburi and Cha-am have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 13 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 69 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations – SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

## Human achievement index 2022

[edit]

Health  | Education  | Employment  | Income

|
|
|

|  |  |
14  | 13  | 13  | 22
Housing  | Family  | Transport  | Participation
|  |  |
43  | 59  | 27  | 33
Province Phetchaburi, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6733 is "high", occupies place 4 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

## Transportation

[edit]

Phetchaburi Railway Station

Phetchaburi's main station is Phetchaburi Railway Station, 150.49 km (93.5 mi) south of Hua Lamphong Railway Station. An excursion train Bangkok-Suan Son Pradiphat service only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, stop at this station including Cha-am Railway Station.

## Health

[edit]

Phetchaburi's main hospital is Phrachomklao Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.

## Art

[edit]

Phetchaburi has a long history, which has given rise to its distinctive artistic style, now known as the "Phet School". Among its notable handicrafts is the intricate banana stalk carving, for which Phetchaburi is especially renowned. Traditionally, these carvings were used to decorate crematoriums during funerals. The region is also famous for its exquisite Thai lacquerware and other traditional crafts.[22]

## Food

[edit]

Phetchaburi is famous for many distinguished dishes, including:

* Khanom mo kaeng: A Thai coconut and egg custard, considered the most prominent and renowned souvenir of the province.[23][19]
* Khao chae: A traditional Thai dish that is increasingly rare in modern times but remains commonly found in Phetchaburi. Influenced by Mon cuisine, its name literally means "soaked rice".[24][19]
* Kaeng lok: An authentic curry unique to Phetchaburi. It is a rare dish, little known even within the province, with only a few restaurants still preparing and selling it today. The name translates directly to "false curry", as it is made with curry paste that contains no chili, unlike other curries.[25]
* Kuay teaw mam daeng: Braised pork noodles served in a special sweet, red-colored broth.[26]
* Nam phrik lam pan: A traditional Thai spicy chili sauce (nam phrik) incorporating lam pan, a species of mangrove fruit that gives it a distinctive flavor. It is considered a delicacy of Phetchaburi and was voted the "Lost Taste" of the province in 2024.[27]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Toddy palm trees of Phetchaburi

* Hat Chao Samran

* View of Cha-am district

* Hat Cha-am

* Hat Cha-am at low tide

* Sunrise at Hat Cha-am

* Aerial view of Hat Puek Tian another famous beach of Phetchaburi

* Common greenshank at Laem Phak Bia

* Highway connecting Cha-am to Hua Hin of Prachuap Khiri Khan

* Phra Ram Ratchaniwet Palace

## 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.76`{{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 52`{{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. ^ "Phetchaburi". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
6. ^ "Kaeng Krachan National Park". Department of National Parks (DNP) Thailand. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
7. ^ "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. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
8. ^ "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`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
9. ^ Ko Banrao (2010-11-21). "+++ พิบพลี (Pipeli)...ที่ผ่านมา +++ มีใครรู้บ้างว่าองค์ปฐมกษัตริย์แห่งกรุงศรีอยุธยาเป็นชาวเมืองเพชญบุรีย +++" [พิบพลี (Pipeli)...in the past +++ Does anyone know that the first King of Ayutthaya was a Phetchaburi resident +++]. Oknation (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-02.
10. ^ "Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace". Renown-travel.
11. ^ "พระราชนิเวศน์มฤคทายวัน ททท".
12. ^ "Phetchaburi". THAILEX Travel Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
13. ^ yuwadee (2018-02-27). "คําขวัญ จังหวัดเพชรบุรี" [Phetchaburi's motto]. Mthai (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-02.
14. ^ "ขยายพันธุ์ 'ปลาเวียน' สู่สัตว์เศรษฐกิจ" [Breed 'mahseer' to livestock]. Kom Chad Luek (in Thai). 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
15. ^ Upton, Nick (2019-03-18). "Laem Pak Bia & Pak Thale". Thai Birding. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
16. ^ "Crowdfunder launched to save key Spoon-billed Sandpiper wintering site". Birdguides. 2019-05-11. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
17. ^ Wattanavanitvut, Phongthai (10 September 2016). "Salt industry prepares for a shake-up". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
18. ^ Sukphisit, Suthon (21 July 2019). "Sweet Success". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
19. ^ a b c "เพชรบุรี...เมืองขนมหวาน" [Phetchaburi... dessert city]. TCDC (in Thai).
20. ^ Arunmas, Phusadee; Apisitniran, Lamonphet; Kasemsuk, Narumon (13 January 2020). "Falling water levels deliver a taste of things to come". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
21. ^ "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019. "37 Phetchaburi: 1 PAO, 2 Town mun., 13 Subdistrict mun., 69 SAO."
22. ^ "ชู"สกุลช่างเมืองเพชร"ก้าวสู่ระดับสากล" [Uphold "Phetch School" to the internationally]. Thaipost (in Thai). 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
23. ^ Lounkaew, Kiatanantha (2015-04-17). "หม้อแกงเมืองเพชร จากโดษเด่นเป็นดาษดื่น" [Mo kaeng Mueang Phet from dominant to banal]. Bangkokbiznews (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-02.
24. ^ "รีวิว ข้าวแช่เมืองเพชร กับทีเด็ดข้าวแช่แม่อร" [Mueang Phet Khao chae review and trick of Khao chae Mae On]. Review Promote (in Thai). 2019-06-02. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
25. ^ Luersamai, Krit (2017-01-16). "เผ็ดร้อนแห่งผองเราฯ" [Our spicy]. Waymagazine (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-08.
26. ^ Khun Chai Talon Chim (2020-03-15). "คุณชายตะลอนชิม : "เจ๊จุ๋มหมูน้ำแดง"" [Khun Chai Talon Chim : "Jay Jum Mu Nam Daeng"]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Retrieved 2020-03-15.
27. ^ ข่าวเพชรบุรี 24ชั่วโมง (2024-11-15). "#น้ำพริกลำแพน ได้รับการโหวต ให้เป็นสุดยอดเมนูอาหารถิ่น "1 จังหวัด 1 เมนู เชิดชูอาหารถิ่น รสชาติ...ที่หายไป The Lost Taste" ประจำปี 2567". Facebook (in Thai). Retrieved 2024-08-20.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

## External links

[edit]

* Phetchaburi travel guide from Wikivoyage
* Website of province (Thai only)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phetchaburi Province.

Places adjacent to Phetchaburi province

|  | Ratchaburi province | Samut Songkhram province

|
|

|  |
Tanintharyi Region,  Myanmar |

Phetchaburi province

| Bight of Bangkok
|  |
| Prachuap Khiri Khan province |

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