Ratchaburi province

{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right"\n! colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#DEFFAD"|Statistics\n|-\n||Capital:||Ratchaburi\n|-\n||Area:||valign=top|5,196.5 km²
Ranked 43rd\n|-\n||Inhabitants:||valign=top|791.217 (2000)
Ranked 28th\n|-\n||Pop. density:||valign=top|152 inh./km²
Ranked 22th\n|-\n||ISO 3166-2:||TH-70\n|-\n!colspan="2" align=center bgcolor="#DEFFAD"|Map\n|-\n|colspan="2" align=center|\n|}\nRatchaburi (often short Rat'buri, Thai ราชบุรี) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, \nSamut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi. In the west it borders Myanmar.

Table of contents

1 Geography 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Symbols 5 Administrative divisions 6 External links

Geography

\nThe east part of the province contains the flat river plains of the Mae Klong river, crisscrossed by many khlongs. The most famous tourist spot in this area are the floating markets of Damnoen Saduak. The west of the province is more mountainous, and includes the Tanawsri mountain range. As the mountains are made mostly of limestone, there are several caves containing stalactites. Some caves are inhabited by large colonies of bats, and it is an impressive sight when they swarm out in the evening to feed.

History

\nThe history of the city of Ratchaburi dates back to the Dvaravati period, when it was an important city of the Mon kingdom. According to legend it even dates back to the mythical Suvannabhumi kingdom predating Dvaravati.

Demographics

\n1.1% of the population are members of the hill tribes, mostly Karen living near the boundary to Myanmar. Also some Mon, Lawa, Lao and Khmer minorities live in the province.

Symbols

\n{|\n|- valign=top\n||\n||The provincial seal shows the royal sword and the royal sandals, as the name Ratchaburi means City of the King. The provincial slogan is Beautiful women of Photharam, beautiful women of Baan Pong, the city of earthern jars, shadow plays at Wat Khanon, magnificent caves, floating market at Damnern, bats, delicious Yii Sok fish. The provincial flower is the Pink Shower Tree (Cassia bakeriana), and the provincial tree is Wrightia pubescens.\n|}\n

Administrative divisions

\nThe province is subdivided into 9 districts (Amphoe) and one minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 104 communes (tambon) and 935 villages.\n{|\n!|Amphoe\n!|\n!|King Amphoe\n|---valign=top\n||\n#Mueang Ratchaburi\n#Chom Bueng\n#Suan Phueng\n#Damnoen Saduak\n#Ban Pong\n||\n

\n
6. Bang Phae\n
7. Photharam\n
8. Pak Tho\n
9. Wat Phleng\n

\n||\n#Ban Kha\n|}

External links

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