Nakhon Pathom Province
Nakhon Pathom () is one of the central
provinces (
changwat) of
Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise)
Suphan Buri,
Ayutthaya,
Nonthaburi,
Bangkok,
Samut Sakhon,
Ratchaburi and
Kanchanaburi.
Nakhon Pathom is located in the alluvial plain of central Thailand. It is drained by the
Tha Chin River (also called Nakhon Chaisi river), a
distributary of the
Chao Phraya river. The urban area of Bangkok has already grown until the provincial borders to Nakhon Pathom.
Approximate centre:
The name Nakhon Pathom derives from the
Pali Nagara Pathama, meaning
First city, and is thus often referred as the oldest city of Thailand. It was already an important center during the
Dvaravati kingdom from the
6th century until the
11th century, however it might even be older. Some historians speculate it dates back to the
3rd century BC, when Buddhist missionaries from India visited there.
Originally Nakhon Pathom was a coastal city, however due to the sedimentation of the Chao Phraya river the coast line moved away from the city. When the Tha Chin river changed its course, the city was removed from water and was deserted, the population moved to the new city of Nakhon Chaisi (or Sirichai). King
Mongkut (Rama IV) moved the population back to the old city in 1870, after the restoration of
Phra Pathom Chedi was finished.
{|- valign=top|
 |
Seal of the province |
|The provincial seal shows the
pagoda Phra Pathom Chedi, with 127m the highest pagoda of the world. It is located in the center of the city 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 Mongkuts work on reconstructing the pagoda.
Provincial tree is
Diospyros decandra.
The provincial slogan is
sweet pomelos, delicious rice, beautiful young ladies.
