Amphoe Pak Chong
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Province: | Nakhon Ratchasima |
| District office: | Pak Chong |
| Area: | 1,825.2 km² |
| Inhabitants: | 175,541 (2000) |
| Pop. density: | 96.2 inh./km² |
| Geocode: | 3021 |
| Postal code: | 30130 |
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Pak Chong (Thai: ปากช่อง) is the westernmost district (Amphoe) of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, northeastern Thailand.
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[edit] History
In the past this area was a part of Tambon Khanong Phra, Chan Thuek district (which is now Sikhio district). In the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during the construction of the northeastern railway through the area, the Nok Yung and Noi mountains were blasted through to make a channel (Chong in Thai) for the railway. Then the people named the village Pak Chong, meaning mouth of the channel.
In 1949 Ban Pak Chong was upgraded to be Tambon Pak Chong. It was upgraded to a minor district (King Amphoe) in 1956. It was finally upgraded to a full district in July 1958.[1]
[edit] Geography
The district is the gateway to the Northeast (Isan) of Thailand from the central region. Both the Mittraphap Highway as well as the northeastern railway cross the Phetchabun mountain range in this district. The postcode is 30130. Telephone area code 044 or 66-44 from outside Thailand. All Pak Chong local numbers are 6 digits but require dialing 044 in front of the number even in the local area.
Pak Chong is the biggest district of Nakhon Ratchasima by area. Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Sikhio, Wang Nam Khiao of Nakhon Ratchasima, Mueang Nakhon Nayok of Nakhon Nayok Province, Prachantakham of Prachinburi Province, and Muak Lek of Saraburi Province.
Thailand's first and largest national park, Khao Yai is located in this district, the origin of the Takhong River, a tributary of the Mun River. The Takhong is the main water resource of Nakhon Ratchasima city.
The town of Pak Chong can been found on Google Maps at [1]. The location of Pak Chong is 14° 42' 15N and 101° 24' 47E. The altitude of 310m (1020 feet) makes for a very pleasant environment - and being only 160km or 100 miles from Bangkok makes for an easy weekend visit. The population within 7km is approximately 13,000 people. Pak Chong's time zone is the same as Bangkok - 7 hours ahead of GMT (zulu).
Latest weather information and location of airports can be found at FallingRain [2]
Details of Pak Chong's sunrise, sunset, sun path, monthly temperatures, rainfall, windspeed, solar energy, and days of rain can be found at the Gaisma site [3].
Train service to Pak Chong is excellent - if a little slow, but made up for by the cheap fares. Train times directly to and from Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nong Khai (for Laos), Ubon Ratchatani are shown at [4]. Sleeper service is available to Bangkok and Ubon Ratchatani though it is unlikely that you will want to take a sleeper to Bangkok as it is only 4 1/2 hours leaving at 01:27am. Local trains are available to stations between Saraburi and Korat - times are difficult to find as they are not listed on the free timetables on the web and available at stations - the following link provides all local trains in Thailand and you should search for Pak Chong on the page to find the (few) relevant services [5].
[edit] Administration
The district is subdivided into 12 subdistricts (tambon). Pak Chong is a town (thesaban mueang) which covers parts of the tambon Pak Chong and Nong Sarai. The township (thesaban tambon) Klank Dong covers parts of the tambon Klang Dong and Phaya Yen.
| 1. | Pak Chong | ปากช่อง | 2. | Klang Dong | กลางดง | 3. | Chanthuek | จันทึก[2] | 4. | Wang Katha | วังกะทะ | 5. | Mu Si | หมูสี | 6. | Nong Sarai | หนองสาหร่าย | 7. | Khanong Phra | ขนงพระ | 8. | Pong Talong | โป่งตาลอง | ||||||||
| 9. | Khlong Muang | คลองม่วง | 10. | Nong Nam Daeng | หนองน้ำแดง | 11. | Wang Sai | วังไทร | 12. | Phaya Yen | พญาเย็น |
[edit] Local Highlights
- There are many choices for hotels in the area. Some convenient options in or close to Pak Chong are listed below. Closer to Kai Yai National Park - approximately 20km to the south - are many excellent resort hotels and hostels.
- Pak Chong Landmark Hotel, 151/1 Mittraphap Road. [6] and [7].
- Juldis Khao Yai Resort & Spa, 54 Moo 4, Thanarat Road, (Km.17), T.Moosri Pak Chong [8].
- Khao Yai National Park
- Some natural history experiences and excellent photos of a enthusiastic traveler who took the train from Bangkok to Pak Chong to visit Khao Yai are available at [9], and also see [10].
- An excellent review of the many things to do in Pak Chong appears in Thaiways' website [11].
- GOLF - there are many golf courses in the region. They include:
- Mission hills golf club and resort - Khao Yai - a course designed by Jack Nicklaus at 151 Moo 5,Thumbol Mhoosee, Pakchong, tel 044-297-258 to 61 [12]
[edit] References
- ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาจัดตั้งอำเภอกระสัง อำเภอกระนวน อำเภอบางกอกใหญ่ อำเภอขุนหาร อำเภอพนา อำเภอปากช่อง อำเภอวังเหนือ อำเภอวังชิ้น อำเภอแม่ทา อำเภอหนองหมู อำเภอสระแก้ว อำเภออมก๋อย อำเภอบางซ้าย อำเภอทับสะแก อำเภอบุณฑริก อำเภอลานสะกา อำเภอจอมบึง อำเภอท่ายาง อำเภอสามเงา อำเภอฟากท่า อำเภอบ้านเขว้า อำเภอชานุมาน อำเภอแม่พริก อำเภอท่าสองยาง อำเภอสะเมิง อำเภอหนองแขม อำเภอพระแสง พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๑" (in Thai) (July 22 1958). Royal Gazette 75 (55 ก): 321.
- ^ "พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามอำเภอ กิ่งอำเภอ และตำบลบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒" (in Thai) (April 17 1939). Royal Gazette 56 (0 ก): 354–364.
[edit] External links
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