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Chaiyaphum Province
Chaiyaphum (Thai: ชัยภูมิ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lopburi, and Phetchabun. The words chaiya and phum are from Sanskrit and translate as 'the land of victory'.
The province is cut in two by the Phetchabun mountain range, with the highest elevation in the province at 1,222 m. The east of the province is part of the Khorat Plateau. There are four national parks in the province. Tat Ton, Sai Thong, Pa Hin Ngam and Phu Laenkha. All are in the west or northwest of the province. Sai Thong and Pa Hin parks produce a wonderful display of Siamese tulips that bloom in July with the onset of summer rain. Stone fields, waterfalls and cliff-top views are found within these parks.
The history of the city of Chaiyaphum dates back to the Khmer Empire in the 12th century, when it was a small city on the route from Angkor to Prasat Singh (Kanchanaburi province). Prang Ku still remains from this time. In 1817 the area was settled by Laotians led by Nai Lae, an official of King Anouvong of Vientiane, which was a tributary state of the Thai monarch. When King Anouvong rebelled to gain independence, Nai Lae supported the Siamese army but lost his life defending the city. King Rama III bestowed the title Chao Praya and he was elevated to local hero and is revered to this day.
Such has been the influence of Lanchang (a Laotian dynasty) that most of Chaiyaphum's population speak a Laotian dialect, common in Isaan (Thailand's northeast).
Chaiyaphum province is ranked 7th in area but 15th in population in Thailand. The province is divided into 16 districts, some referred to in my blog. There are three major highways. The 201 runs north/south, the 202 runs east to border with Laos and the 225 west to Nakhon Sawan. There is a railway that heads though the southern districts collecting Keang Khoi (Saraburi) with Bua Yai (Nakhon Ratchasima).
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