Kamphaeng Phet

Province

Kamphaeng Phet ( Thai: กำแพงเพชร, pronunciation: [ kamp ʰ ɛ ː ŋ p ʰ ét ]; formerly Cha Kang Rao and Nakhon Chum ) is a city ( เทศบาล เมือง แพร่ ) in the Thai province of Kamphaeng Phet. It is the capital of the district ( Amphoe ) Mueang Kamphaeng Phet and the Kamphaeng Phet province. The Kamphaeng Phet province is located in the northern region of Thailand.

The city of Kamphaeng Phet has 28 977 inhabitants.

Etymology

The name comes from กำแพง ( Kamphaeng, "wall" ) and เพชร ( Phet, " diamond ", from Sanskrit वज्र, Vajra, the name of the thunderbolt of God Indra ) together. This desire is expressed, the walls of the fortress Kamphaeng Phet, which was an outpost on the border with Burma may, be hard as diamond.

The coat of arms of the city ( and the province ) correspondingly shows a part of the historic city walls studded with diamonds.

Geography

Kamphaeng Phet is located about 360 kilometers north-west of Bangkok on the Maenam Ping, one of the tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. The surroundings are determined by rich forests and jungle -covered hills. Here begin the teak forests of the north, extending over hundreds of miles to Chiang Mai and to the border with Laos, although many parts have already been cut down.

Economic importance and

In the vicinity there are petroleum and natural gas reserves, which are used to generate electricity.

History

Kamphaeng Phet is probably in the 1360s by King Lu Thai ( พระยา ลือ ไทย, reg 1347 -. 1368 ) been established as the southern outpost and at the same time as south-west buffer zone of the Kingdom of Sukhothai and remained for centuries an important garrison town of the kings of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Everywhere you meet still worth seeing sites from the old days. They are built from the characteristic red laterite bricks.

Since 1991, the city walls and the Historical Park Kamphaeng Phet is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Attractions

Detail from the Lak Mueang of Kamphaeng Phet

Banana Festival in Kamphaeng Phet

Clock Tower in Kamphaeng Phet

• Historical Park Kamphaeng Phet - several territories in the immediate vicinity of the old town with an impressive collection of temples
• Wat Phra Kaeo - Temple within the city walls, large Buddha statues and an impressive chedi with lion figures
• National Museum Kamphaeng Phet - bronze sculptures and ceramics from the different eras, Mon - art.
• Old town " Mueang Nakhon Chum " - four restored elegant stupas and the remains of a fort
• Wat Chang Rop - Temple with 68 elephants Busts
• The Kamphaeng Phet Mini Banana Festival - a traditional festival for local banana type, which is called " Kluai Khai ", with cooking competitions for traditional dishes such as " Khao Kraythip " and " Khao Krayasat ". It takes place every year from September to October.