Phichit province

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right"\n! colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#DEFFAD"|Statistics\n|-\n||Capital:||Phichit\n|-\n||Area:||valign=top|4,531.0 km²
Ranked 47th\n|-\n||Inhabitants:||valign=top|572,989 (2000)
Ranked 43rd\n|-\n||Pop. density:||valign=top|126 inh./km²
Ranked 31st\n|-\n||ISO 3166-2:||TH-66\n|-\n!colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#DEFFAD"|Map\n|-\n|colspan="2" align=center|\n|}\nPhichit (Thai พิจิตร) is one of the provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the north of the country. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet.

Table of contents

1 Geography 2 History 3 Symbols 4 Administrative divisions

Geography

\nThe rivers Nan and Yom flow through the Phichit province, before they join shortly before the Chao Phraya is formed. The province mainly consists of low fertile river plains, making rice and lotus the main crops.

History

\nThe town Phichit was established in 1058 by Phraya Kotabongthevaraja, and was first part of the Sukhothai kingdom, and later of Ayutthaya. The name of the main city changed several times. At first it was called Sra Luang (city of the royal pond), in Ayutthaya times it was called Okhaburi (city in the swamp), and then finally Phichit (beautiful city).

Symbols

\n{|\n| valign=top|\n| valign=top|The provincial seal show a pond, which refers to the old name of Phichit, Mueang Sra Luang (meaning city at the royal pond). The Banyan tree in front refers to the temple Wat Pho Prathab Chang. The temple was built in 1669-71 by King Luang Sorasak, who was born at the village of Pho Prathab Chang, between a Banyan and a Bodhi tree. The flag of Phichit shows the circular provincial seal in the middle. It has three green bars and two white horizontal bars, with the middle bar being interrupted by the seal. Provincial tree is the Ironwood (Mesua ferrea), provincial flower is the Lotus (Nymphaea lotus).\n|}\n

Administrative divisions

\nThe province is subdivided in 9 districts (Amphoe) and 3 minor districts (King Amphoe). These are further subdivided into 89 communes (tambon) and 852 villages (mubaan).\n{|\n!|Amphoe\n!|\n!|King Amphoe\n|--- valign=top\n||\n#Mueang Phichit\n#Wang Sai Phun\n#Pho Prathap Chang\n#Taphan Hin\n#Bang Mun Nak\n||\n

\n
6. Pho Thale\n
7. Sam Ngam\n
8. Tap Khlo\n
9. Wachirabarami\n

\n||\n#Sak Lek\n#Bueng Na Rang\n#Dong Charoen\n|}\n

External links

\n*Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand\n*Golden Jubilee Network province guide \n