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Saraburi province

Saraburi
สระบุรี
Province
250px
Official seal of Saraburi
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Saraburi Province
Map of Thailand highlighting Saraburi Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Saraburi
Government
 • Governor Bundit Theveethivarak (since October 2016)
Area
 • Total 3,577 km2 (1,381 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 56th
Population (2014)
 • Total 633,460
 • Rank Ranked 42nd
 • Density rank Ranked 17th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-19

Saraburi (Thai: สระบุรี) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Lopburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya. Saraburi has been an important town since ancient times. It is believed to have been constructed in the year 1548 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya as a centre for recruiting troops.

Saraburi is on the east side of the Chao Phraya river valley. The eastern part of the province is covered by high plains and plateaus, while the western part is mostly low flat plains.

Two national parks are located in the province. Namtok Chet Sao Noi protects 28 km² around a scenic waterfall. Phra Puttachai protects the Khao Sam Lan Forest, which consists of hilly landscape and is the source to several rivers and waterfalls. The highest elevation is the Khao Khrok at 329 m. The 44.57 km² were declared a national park in 1981.

The town, as a gateway to the northeastern region, is 108 km from Bangkok. It occupies an area of 3,577 square kilometres.

Saraburi has been an important city since ancient times. It is assumed to have been established approximately in 1549 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. It is assumed that the king had ordered to combine some parts of Lopburi and Nakhon Nayok together and set up Saraburi Province with the aim of mobilizing citizens during times of war. Therefore, from the Ayutthaya period, the story of Saraburi has usually related to battles and wars. As for the origin of the word "Saraburi", it is assumed that due to its location near a swamp called "Bueng Nong Ngong", when the town was established a combination of "Sa" ("swamp") and "buri" ("town") was suggested and the town was named "Saraburi".


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Wikipedia

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