Photharam District

Photharam โพธาราม
Amphoe
Amphoe location in Ratchaburi Province
Coordinates: 13°41′32″N 99°51′13″E / 13.69222°N 99.85361°E / 13.69222; 99.85361Coordinates: 13°41′32″N 99°51′13″E / 13.69222°N 99.85361°E / 13.69222; 99.85361
Country	Thailand
Province	Ratchaburi
Area
• Total	417.009 km2 (161.008 sq mi)
Population (2000)
• Total	128,434
• Density	308.0/km2 (798/sq mi)
Time zone	THA (UTC+7)
Postal code	70120
Geocode	7007

Photharam (Thai: โพธาราม, pronounced [pʰōː.tʰāː.rāːm]) is a district (Amphoe) in the northern part of Ratchaburi Province, western Thailand.

History

Photharam was a district (Kwaeng) of Mueang Ratchaburi in the 19th century already. In 1836 the district office was relocated from the mouth of Bang Tanod canal to the east bank of the Mae Klong river opposite of Wat Chaloem Art. On March 10, 1952 it was moved to its present location within the municipality of Photharam.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise) Bang Phae, Damnoen Saduak, Mueang Ratchaburi, Chom Bueng of Ratchaburi Province, Tha Muang of Kanchanaburi Province, Ban Pong of Ratchaburi Province again and Mueang Nakhon Pathom of Nakhon Pathom Province.

The important water resource is the Mae Klong River.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 19 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 156 villages (muban). There are 6 municipal (thesaban) areas - the town (thesaban mueang) Photharam covers the whole tambon Photaram, the townships (thesaban tambon) Ban Lueak, Ban Sing and Chet Samian each cover the same-named tambon completely. The township Khao Khuang covers the whole tambon Nang Kaeo and parts of Chamrae, Tao Pun and Khao Cha-ngum. Township Nong Pho finally covers parts of the tambon Nong Pho. There are further 14 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

Sources

• Photharam district history