Chom Thong District, Chiang Mai Province
|
Chom Thong จอมทอง |
|
|---|---|
| Amphoe | |
 Amphoe location in Chiang Mai Province |
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| Coordinates: 18°25′2″N 98°40′33″E / 18.41722°N 98.67583°ECoordinates: 18°25′2″N 98°40′33″E / 18.41722°N 98.67583°E | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Chiang Mai |
| Area | |
| • Total | 712.297 km2 (275.019 sq mi) |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 66,353 |
| • Density | 107.20/km2 (277.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | ICT (UTC+7) |
| Postal code | 50160 |
| Geocode | 5002 |
Chom Thong (Thai: จอมทอง; IPA: [tɕɔ̄ːm tʰɔ̄ːŋ]) is a district (amphoe) in the southern part of Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand.
According to the legend of Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan, the location of the temple is on a small hill which looks similar to a termite hill (chom pluak in Thai). The hill is covered by thong kwao or Bastard teak (Butea monosperma) and Thong Lang or coral tree (Erythrina variegata) forest. Thus the people called the hill Chom Thong.
After Buddha entered parinirvana, King Asoka the Great visited the hill to place Buddha's relics there. The temple was built on the hill and named Wat Phra That Chom Thong in 1451. Later the temple was upgraded to be royal temple and at the same time renamed Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan.
The government created a district in the area in 1900 and named the new district Chom Thong following the legend. The district office was originally in Ban Tha Sala, Tambon Khuang Pao. In 1933 the office was moved to the southwest of Wat Phra That Chom Thong.
Neighbouring districts are (from the south clockwise) Hot, Mae Chaem, Mae Wang, Doi Lo of Chiang Mai Province, Wiang Nong Long, and Ban Hong of Lamphun Province.
The important river is the Ping River.
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