Phichit Province
Phichit (Thai: พิจิตร, pronounced [pʰí(ʔ).t͡ɕìt]) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) lies in lower northern Thailand and 330 km due north of Bangkok. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, and Kamphaeng Phet.
Phichit พิจิตร | |
---|---|
Wat Pho Prathap Chang, an ancient temple in Pho Prathap Chang District, where believed to be the birth place of the Luang Sorasak who later became a King of Ayutthaya | |
Flag Seal | |
Map of Thailand highlighting Phichit Province | |
Country | Thailand |
Capital | Phichit town |
Government | |
• Governor | Sirirat Chumupakan (since October 2019)[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 4,816 km2 (1,859 sq mi) |
Area rank | Ranked 46th |
Population (2018)[3] | |
• Total | 539,374 |
• Rank | Ranked 47th |
• Density | 119/km2 (310/sq mi) |
• Density rank | Ranked 44th |
Human Achievement Index | |
• HAI (2017) | 0.5705 "somewhat low" Ranked 54th |
Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Postal code | 66xxx |
Calling code | 055 & 056 |
ISO 3166 code | TH-66 |
Vehicle registration | พิจิตร |
Website | www |
Geography
The Nan and Yom Rivers flow through Phichit Province, joining shortly before the Chao Phraya is formed. The province mainly consists of low fertile river plains, making rice and lotus the main crops.[5]
History
The town of Phichit was established in 1058 by Phraya Kotabongthevaraja (พระยาโคตระบอง), and was first part of the Sukhothai Kingdom, and later of Ayutthaya. An old temple in Pho Prathap Chang District is Wat Pho Prathap Chang (วัดโพธิ์ประทับช้าง). It was built by Phra Chao Suea, an Ayutthaya king, in 1701 at a site reputed to be his birthplace. The site is surrounded by double-walls and huge trees, some of which are over 200 years old.[6]
The name of the main city changed several times. At first it was called Sa Luang ('city of the royal pond'). In Ayutthaya times it was called Okhaburi ('city in the swamp'), and then finally Phichit ('beautiful city').
Symbols
The provincial seal shows a pond, which refers to the old name of Phichit, Mueang Sa Luang ("city of the royal pond"). The banyan tree in front refers to Wat Pho Prathap Chang. The temple was built in 1669-1671 by King Luang Sorasak, who was born in the village of Pho Prathap Chang, between a banyan and a sacred fig.
The flag of Phichit shows the circular provincial seal in the middle. It has three green bars and two white horizontal bars, with the middle bar being interrupted by the seal.
The provincial tree is the ironwood. The provincial flower is the lotus.
The provincial motto (loosely translated) states as follows:
- The province of Chalawan the crocodile king, the fun and exciting annual boat race, the land of exquisite rice and the delicious Tha Khoi pomelo; the center of the province is the Luang Pho Phet.
Health
The main hospital in Phichit is Phichit Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.
Transport
Rail
Phichit main station is Phichit Railway Station.
Administrative divisions
The province is divided into 12 districts (amphoes). These are further divided into 89 subdistricts (tambons) and 852 villages (mubans).
Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are[7]: one Phichit Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 28 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Phichit, Taphan Hin and Bang Mun Nak have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 25 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 73 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[3]
Human achievement index 2017
Health | Education | Employment | Income |
53 | 53 | 48 | 18 |
Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
30 | 41 | 53 | 59 |
Province Phichit, with an HAI 2017 value of 0.5705 is "somewhat low", occupies place 54 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.[4]
Rank | Classification |
1 - 15 | "high" |
16 - 30 | "somewhat high" |
31 - 45 | "average" |
45 - 60 | "somewhat low" |
61 - 77 | "low" |
Map with provinces and HAI 2017 rankings |
Notable people
Born in Phichit
- Suriyenthrathibodi: 29th King of Ayutthaya
- Sanan Kachornprasart: politician
- Yodrak Salakjai: luk thung singer
- Chuchart Trairatanapradit: professional snooker player
- Den Junlaphan a.k.a. Eagle Kyowa: professional boxer
Notes
Reports (data) from Thai government are "not copyrightable" (Public Domain), Copyright Act 2537 (1994), section 7.
References
- "ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง แต่งตั้งข้าราชการพลเรือนสามัญ" [Announcement of the Prime Minister's Office regarding the appointment of civil servants] (PDF). Royal Thai Government Gazette. 136 (Special 242 Ngor). 16. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- Advancing Human Development through the ASEAN Community, Thailand Human Development Report 2014, table 0:Basic Data (PDF) (Report). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Thailand. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-974-680-368-7. Retrieved 17 January 2016, Data has been supplied by Land Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Wayback Machine.
- "รายงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2561" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2018]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior (in Thai). 31 December 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- Human achievement index 2017 by National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), pages 1-40, maps 1-9, retrieved 14 September 2019, ISBN 978-974-9769-33-1
- "Phichit: General Info". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- "WAT PHO PRATHAP CHANG". Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- "Number of local government organizations by province". dla.go.th. Department of Local Administration (DLA). 26 November 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
35 Phichit: 1 PAO, 3 Town mun., 25 Subdistrict mun., 73 SAO.
External links
Phichit travel guide from Wikivoyage - Provincial website
- Phichit provincial map, coat of arms, and postal stamp
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Phichit Province. |