Nakhon Pathom Province
Nakhon Pathom (Thai: จังหวัดนครปฐม) is one of Thailand's central provinces (changwat). Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi. The province is renowned for its many fruit orchards. The provincial capital is just 56 kilometres from Bangkok in one of the smallest provinces lying to the west of Thailand’s capital. It’s principal river is the Tha Chin which is a tributary of the Chao Phraya River.
The name of the province is derived from Pali words meaning first city. In the Dvaravati period (6th-11th century) the area was important for trade with Indian and China. The old city of Nakhon Pathom was originally a seaport but with the silting up of the Chao Phraya delta the city was abandoned and the population moved to Nakhon Chai Si. There it would have remained undisturbed but in the 19th century under King Mongkut (Rama IV), the sacred temple, Phra Pathom Chedi, was rediscovered and restored. Since then a thriving community has developed through migration of a number of ethnic groups including the Chinese and the city has benefited from good road and rail links.
Top amongst the tourist attractions are the magnificent Phra Pathom Chedi itself, Phutthamonthon park devoted to Buddhism and Sanam Chan Palace, built by Crown Prince Vajiravudh in 1907-1910, the future King Rama VI.
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