Saraburi (Thai: สระบุรี) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Lopburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya. It is believed to have been constructed in the year 1548 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya as a centre for recruiting troops.
Saraburi
สระบุรี | |
|---|---|
      (Clockwise from top left) Wat Phra Phutthabat, the provincial symbol, Kaeng Khoi Junction railway station, the main railway station of the province, Curry puffs, good stuff of province, Mittraphap Road in the area of Muak Lek, Muak Lek old town zone, Chet Sao Noi Waterfall | |
 Flag .png) Seal | |
| Motto(s): พระพุทธบาทสูงค่า เขื่อนป่าสักชลสิทธิ์ ฐานผลิตอุตสาหกรรม เกษตรนำล้ำแหล่งเที่ยว หนึ่งเดียวกะหรี่ปั๊บนมดี ประเพณีตักบาตรดอกไม้งาม เหลืองอร่ามทุ่งทานตะวัน ลือลั่นเมืองชุมทาง ("Precious Buddha's footprint. Pa Sak Jolasid Dam. Base of industrial production. Agricultural tourism. The only curry puffs and good milk. Flower alms giving festival. Bright yellow sunflower fields. The famed junction city.") | |
 Map of Thailand highlighting Saraburi province | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Capital | Saraburi |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Phon Damtham (since 1 October 2022) |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,499 km2 (1,351 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 56th |
| Population (2018)[2] | |
• Total | 645,024 |
| • Rank | Ranked 40th |
| • Density | 180.4/km2 (467/sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 17th |
| Human Achievement Index | |
| • HAI (2022) | 0.6360 "average" Ranked 45th |
| GDP | |
| • Total | baht 237 billion (US$8.0 billion) (2019) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
| Postal code | 18xxx |
| Calling code | 036 |
| ISO 3166 code | TH-19 |
Geography
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Saraburi is on the east side of the Chao Phraya River valley. The eastern part of the province is covered by high plains and plateaus, while the western part is mostly low flat plains.[citation needed] Saraburi province has 848 km2 (327 sq mi) of forest or 24.2 percent of provincial area.[1] The town, as a gateway to the northeastern region, is 108 km from Bangkok. It occupies an area of 3,577 square kilometres.
National parks
editThere area a total of three national parks, two of which are in region 1 (Saraburi branch) and Khao Yai in region 1 (Prachinburi) of Thailand's protected areas.
- Namtok Chet Sao Noi protects 42 km2 (16 sq mi) around a scenic waterfall.[5]: 129
- Namtok Sam Lan protects the Khao Sam Lan Forest, which consists of hilly landscape and is the source to several rivers and waterfalls. The highest elevation is the Khao Khrok at 329 m. The 45 km2 (17 sq mi) area was declared a national park in 1981.[5]: 27
History
editSaraburi has been an important city since ancient times.[citation needed] It is assumed to have been established about 1549 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. It is assumed that the king ordered parts of Lopburi and Nakhon Nayok to be combined to set up Saraburi Province with the aim of mobilizing citizens during times of war. From the Ayutthaya period, the story of Saraburi is usually related to battles and wars. As for the origin of the word "Saraburi", it is thought that due to its location near a swamp called "Bueng Nong Ngong", when the town was established a combination of sa ('swamp') and buri ('town') was suggested and the town was named "Saraburi". Lopburi and Nakhon Nayok were combined to set up Saraburi Province with the aim of mobilizing citizens during times of war. From the Ayutthaya period, the story of Saraburi is usually related to battles and wars.
Climate
editSaraburi has a tropical savanna climate, Aw (Climate Classification system of Koppen) The climate is arid with little rain in winter, relatively high temperatures in summer, cool in winter, and rain from May to October, about 70–90 days.
The average annual temperature is 28-29 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperatures average 33-34 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature averages 23–24 degrees Celsius. April is the hottest month of the year, while winters are cool in January.
Air quality
editSaraburi has poor air quality resulting from cement production, chiefly stone crushing. In the area of Na Pra Lan Sub-district there are 133 plants, 17 mining sites, 32 stone mill plants, and 22 stone dressing plants. Air quality in the province frequently exceeds recommended limits for particulates.[6][7]
Education
editThere are 366 schools. There are a total of 125,255 students at all levels.[citation needed]
Economy
editIn 2007 Saraburi's population had an average income per capita 214,537 baht per year, making it tenth highest in the country, second in the central provinces. Annual GDP was 129,275 million baht.[citation needed]
Religion and culture
editIn 2007, Saraburi's population was 89.34 percent Buddhist, 597,138 people. There are 499 temples. There are total of 3,443 monks and 274 neophytes. Muslims number 953 (0.32 percent). There are five Christian churches.[citation needed]
Symbols
editThe provincial seal shows the temple Wat Phra Buddha Baat. In the 17th century a hunter found a puddle of water which looked like a large footprint. It was declared a footprint of Buddha, and a temple was built around it. Phra Phutthabat means footprint of Buddha.
The provincial tree is Lagerstroemia floribunda and the provincial flower is the yellow cotton tree (Cochlospermum regium). The endemic crab, Larnaudia larnaudii is the provincial aquatic animal.[8]
Administrative divisions
editProvincial government
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The province is divided into 13 districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 111 subdistricts (tambon) and 965 villages (muban).
Local government
editAs of 26 November 2019 there are:[9] one Saraburi Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 38 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Saraburi, Kaeng Khoi, Phra Phutthabat and Thap Kwang have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 34 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).[2] The non-municipal areas are administered by 70 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
Transport
editRail
editSaraburi's main station is Saraburi Railway Station. There is a major rail junction at Kaeng Khoi Junction.
Road
editSaraburi can be reached via Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1). Mittraphap Road (Highway 2), a main road in the northeastern region. It has a beginning here which is a route that separates from the right side of Phahonyothin Road.[10]
Health
editThe main hospital of Saraburi is Saraburi Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.
Human achievement index 2022
edit| Health | Education | Employment | Income |
|
|
|
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| 51 | 37 | 27 | 17 |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
|
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| 64 | 64 | 53 | 13 |
| Province Saraburi, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6360 is "average", occupies place 45 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 |
|
Notable people
edit- Pramarn Adireksarn (1913–2010), late politician
- Pongpol Adireksarn (born 1942), politician and author
- Veeraphol Sahaprom (born 1968), retired boxer and Muaythai fighter
- Arthit Tanusorn (born 1975), retired footballer
- Mick Tongraya (born 1992), actor
- Mink Nutcharut (born 1999), snooker player
References
edit- ^ a b "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) - ^ a b "ร่ยงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2561" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2018]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ 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 77
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ Wipatayotin, Apinya (2019-01-27). "Grappling with pollution". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
- ^ Wipatayotin, Apinya (13 January 2018). "Saraburi area hits No.1 for worst air quality". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- ^ "สัตว์น้ำจืดประจำจังหวัดสระบุรี (ปูน้ำตกสระบุรี)" [Saraburi provincial freshwater animal (Waterfall crab)]. 4.fisheries.go.th (in Thai). 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
- ^ "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
62 Saraburi: 1 PAO, 4 Town mun., 34 Subdistrict mun., 70 SAO.
- ^ ""สุดบรรทัด-เจนจบทิศ" สู่ "ถนนมิตรภาพ" ช่วยย่นเวลาเดินทางกทม.-โคราชจาก 10 เหลือ 3 ชม" ["Sudbanthat-Jenjopthit" to "Mittraphap Road" help shorten the travel time from Bangkok - Khorat from 10 to 3 hrs.]. Silpa Wattanatham (in Thai). 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
External links
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Saraburi travel guide from Wikivoyage- Provincial page, Tourist Authority of Thailand
- Khao Yai National Park
- Saraburi history in Thai language Archived April 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
