The Emblem of Chaiyaphum

Introduction
     Chaiyaphum  Province is located almost at the center of Thailand in the northeastern region. lts size  ranks  third  in  the  region and eighth in the country. The province has a total area of 12,778.3 square km. or 7,986,429 Rai. lt is 342 km. From Bangkok.

     Approximately  50% of Chaiyaphum is mountains and forests. The rest is a plateau.  Chaiyaphum  is  divided  into 2 parts by the mountain range that runs through  the  center  of  the  province  form  east  to  west which comprises Phu Yuak,  Phu  E  Thao,  Phu  Lankha,  Phu  Phang  Hoei  and  connects with Phu Phraya  Fo  which  is part of the Petchabun Mountain Range. The range goes through  Amphoe  Thep Sathit, Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng and Amphoe Khon San.   The   main  rivers  are  Chi  River  which  originates  in  a  thick  jungle  in Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng and Phrom River which comes from a thick jungle in Amphoe Khon San. They are important rivers of the Northeast.

Borders
North
South
East
West 		Petchabun and Khon Kaen Province.
Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
Petchabun and Lop Buri Province.


From Chaiyaphum city of nearby Provinces
     -   Khon Kaen 150 kms.
     -   Lopburi 243 kms.
     -   Nakhon Ratchasima 119 kms.
     -   Petchabun 259 kms

From Chaiyaphum city to its districts
     -   Narong 58 kms.
     -   Ban Khawao 13 kms.
     -   Ban Thaen 80 kms.
     -   Chaturat 40 kms.
     -   Kaeng Khro 45 kms.
     -   Kaset Sombun 90 kms.
     -   Khon San 125 kms.
     -   Khon Sawan 38 kms.
     -   Nong Bue Daeng 53 kms.
     -   Nong Bua Raheo 33 kms.
     -   Phakdi Chumphon 85 kms.
     -   Phu Khiao 80 kms.
     -   Thep Sathit 105 kms.
     -   Noen Sa - Nga 30 kms.
     -   Sab Yai Subdistrict 50 kms.
 
History
     Chaiyaphum  is an  old  city dating back to the time when the Khmer Empire was the pinnacle of its power. The city was a lesser city of the empire. Some of the sites from those That Kut Chok.








     When  Ayutthaya  was  the  capital,  Chaiyaphum  appeared  on  a map  during  the  reign  of  King  Narai  the  Great  as  a  city under the administration    of   Nakhon   Ratchasima.   However,   people   later moved out to find new homes and left the city deserted. Chaiyaphum then reappeared during the time of king Rama ll. in the Rattanakosin Era.   In   1817.   Lae,   a   nobleman   in   Chao   Anuwong's  (  Lord  of Vientiane)  court.  took  his  family  and  friends  across  the Makhong River to settle at Ban Nong Nam Khun ( Nong E Chan) which is in the area  of  Amphoe  Sung  Noen  in  Nakhon Ratchasima now. in 1819, when  too many people has migrated there, Lae moved everyone to a  new  location at Non Nam Om, Ban Chi Long . All through that time, Lae  continued  to  provide  offerings  to  Chao  Anuwong  to show his loyalty. At first it was rice but was later given gold when it was dug up at  Khao  Phraya  Fo.  as  a result, Lae was promoted to Khun Phakdi Chumphon.  Lae  moved his settlement once again in 1822 because of  drought  to  Nong  Pla  thao  and  Nong  Lot,  which combined was called    Ban    Luang,    and    turned    to    display    loyalty    Nakhon Ratchasima   Province   and   provided   offerings   to   King  Rama lll instead,  and  proclaimed  the  city  free from Chao Anuwong forever. King  Rama lll  rewarded  Khun  Phakdi  Chumphon  by  making  Ban Luang   Chaiyaphum   City   and   promoting   him   to  Phraya  Phakdi Chumphon and made him the city's first lord.

     Chao   Anuwong  organized  a  rebellion  against  King  Rama  lll  and  formed  troops  to  attack Bangkok.   He  lied  to  cities  along  his  route  that  he  was  rounding  up  military  support  to  help Bangkok  fight  the  British.  Nakhon  Ratchasima  was  subsequently overtaken in 1826. When the secret  was  out  that  Chao  Anuwong  and  his  troops  were  rebels, he gathered all the people of Nakhon  Ratchasima  to  take  them  back to Vientiane. While at Thung Samrit, the captives under the   leadership  of  Khunying  Mo,  the  wife  of  Nakhon  Ratchasima's  lord,  fought  back  with  the support   of   Phiraya   Phakdi   Chumpon   and   lords  of  nearby  cities  until  they  defeated  Chao Anuwong. Nonetheless, A remnant of Chao Anuwongs forces retreated from Nakhon Ratchasima and   captured   Chaiyaphum.   After   failing  to  persuade  Phraya  Phakdi  Chumphon  to  join  the rebellion,  the  invaders killed him under a big tamarind tree at Nong Pla thao. A shrine built by the city's citizens is a tribute to this man is 3 km. from the provincial hall. The shrine is in the shape of a Thai pavilion and has a statue of Phraya Phakdi Chumphon which is highly revered.

How to get there
Bangkok to Chaiyaphum

By Train
     From  Bangkok  Railway  Station  (Hua  Lamphong),  there  are  express  and  rapid  Bangkok - Nong  Khai  trains  running  daily.  Visitors  can  get off at Bua Yai Station and take a bus for 51 km. More  to  Chaiyaphum.  For  details,  please  call  the  Train  Serv ice  Section  at  tel.  2237010 and 2337020

By Car
     From  Bangkok,  take  Highway  No.1 (Phahonyothin Road), turn right at Saraburi onto Highway No.2  (Mittraphap  Road)  past  Amphoe  Pak  Chong.  Then  take a left onto Highway No.201 past Amphoe  Si  Kheo,  Amphoe  Dan  Khun  Thot  and into Chaiyahum at Amphoe Chaturat straight to Amphoe Muang. The total distance is 332 kms.
     From Nakhon Ratchasima, take Highway No.2 (Mittraphap Road) past Tambon Cho Ho. Then turn  left  onto  Highway  No.205 past Amphoe Non Thai to the interesection at Tambon Nong Bua Khok   in   Amphoe   Chaturat.   Then  turn  right  onto  Highway  No.201  to  Chaiyaphum.  The  total distance  is  119 kms.  The  Transport  Co.  operates  a daily Bangkok - Chaiyaphum bus Service. For more information, call tel. 2710101-5 (regular bus) and 2794484-7 (air - conditioned bus).