Kantharalak District

Amphoe Kantharalak ( in Thai อำเภอ กันทรลักษ์ ) is a district ( Amphoe - administrative district ) in the southeastern province of Si Saket. The Si Saket province is located in the northeast region of Thailand, the so-called Isaan.

Etymology

" Kanthara " ( กันทร ) means big cliff, cave or valley, " lak " ( ลัก ษ์ / ลักขณะ ) means ( auspicious ) signs.

Geography

Amphoe Kantharalak borders the following districts (from west clockwise): Amphoe Khun Han to the Si Rattana and Benchalak in the province of Sisaket, and Amphoe Thung Si Udom to the Nam Khun and the province of Ubon Ratchathani. To the south, the provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey are from Cambodia.

The headquarters of the National Park Khao Phra Viharn is located in this district, the main attraction of the park - the Khmer ruins of the Preah Vihear Temple - is situated on the border with Cambodia. It is still controversial, who has the sovereign right of the ruins.

See main article: border conflict over Preah Vihear

History

The old name of Kantharalak was Mueang Uthumphon Phisai which Mueang Khukhan was assumed as the central management in Ban Kan Tuat was in Tambon Uthumphon Phisai. The current administration building is located in Tambon Nam Om.

In 1939 the district of Nam Om was renamed Kantharalak.

Management

Amphoe Kantharalak is divided into 20 communes ( tambon), which in turn in 273 villages ( Muban ) are divided.

There is a city ( Mueang thesaban ) in the district:

• Kantharalak ( Thai: เทศบาล เมือง กันทรลักษ์ ), consisting of parts of the tambon Nong Ya Nam Om and Lat.

There is a small town ( thesaban tambon) in the district:

• Suan Kluai ( Tai: เทศบาล ตำบล สวน กล้วย ), consisting of the whole tambon Suan Kluai.

There are also 19 " Tambon Administrative Organizations" (TAO, องค์การ บริหาร ส่วน ตำบล - administrative organizations) in the district.

Note: The missing numbers refer to tambon which now belong to the Amphoe Benchalak.