Amphoe Bo Rai
Encyclopedia
Bo Rai is a township and district (Amphoe
) located in Trat Province
, Eastern Thailand
, in close vicinity to the Cambodia
n Khao Banthat Mountain Range
. Neighboring districts are Mueang Trat
and Khao Saming
to the south, Khlung
of Chanthaburi Province
to the west, Pong Nam Ron
of Chanthaburi to the north, and Battambang
of Cambodia
to the north and east.
), which are further subdivided into 34 villages (muban
). The central town is Bo Phloi, which has township status (thesaban tambon) and covers parts of the same-named tambon. As of 2005, the population in the township is 10,009. Each of the tambon is administrated by a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).
and sapphires) and gem trade which made Bo Rai prosper and grow. From the 1960s until the beginning of the 1990s the town experienced an economic boom, which was ended almost overnight with the exhaustion of the mining fields through plundering. The economic depression that followed was further increased by the downfall of the Khmer Rouge
and the subsequent end of the border trafficking of goods and gems.
Once the centre of Thailand's gem trade, Bo Rai is now but a shadow of its former glory, yet some hope is seen in the migrating refugees coming from the troubled South. There have been attempts at economic conversion, such as the cultivation of rubber trees. There are rumours of a new Thai-Cambodian border crossing being opened in the near future, a thing welcomed and hoped for by the local population.
Quite recently , the town has had newcomers settling down and opening new businesses and the once rundown merchant houses are open again. The new mayor has had a reviving effect on the town, a new project called Bor Ploy Health Club has been opened close to Dan Chumphol - Saen Tung road intersection.
About nine kilometres from the town, there is a tiny but well kept National Park called Namtok Khlong Kaeo (Thai น้ำตกคลองแก้ว). Admission is free of charge even for foreigners. A paved path leads up to the source of the waterfall, about 800 metres above sea level. The visitor is rewarded with a stunning view over the landscape with groves and rubber plantations as far as the eye can see.
. The shortest route to Bo Rai is from Highway 3 through Khao Saming (route 3159). There is a public transport service by songthaew
from Trat and Chanthaburi. Apart from day time baht buses, no regular bus route is currently available.
Amphoe
An amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces, and are analogous to a county seat...
) located in Trat Province
Trat Province
Trat is a province of Thailand. It is located in the east of Thailand, and has borders with Chanthaburi Province to the northwest, Cambodia to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south.Trat is most famous for gemstone mining and trading....
, Eastern Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, in close vicinity to the Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n Khao Banthat Mountain Range
Cardamom Mountains
The Krâvanh Mountains, literally the "Cardamom Mountains" , is a mountain range in the south west of Cambodia, jutting into southeastern Thailand.-Location and description:...
. Neighboring districts are Mueang Trat
Amphoe Mueang Trat
Mueang Trat is the capital district of Trat Province, eastern Thailand.-History:The area was settled in 1901 as a Khwaeng of Mueang Trat. The government upgraded the Khwaeng to be Mueang Trat district in 1908. In 1921 the district was renamed to Bang Phra after the name of the central tambon...
and Khao Saming
Amphoe Khao Saming
Khao Saming is a district in Trat Province, eastern Thailand.-History:The district was established in 1898, but its name and the location of the district office had changed several times in its history. At first named Si Bua Thong, then Thung Yai, it was finally renamed to Khao Saming when the...
to the south, Khlung
Amphoe Khlung
Khlung is the southernmost district of Chanthaburi Province, eastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Laem Sing, Mueang Chanthaburi, Makham, Pong Nam Ron of Chanthaburi Province, Bo Rai, Khao Saming and Laem Ngop of Trat Province...
of Chanthaburi Province
Chanthaburi Province
Chanthaburi is a province of Thailand. It is located in the east of Thailand, at the border to Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia and the shore to the Gulf of Thailand...
to the west, Pong Nam Ron
Amphoe Pong Nam Ron
Pong Nam Ron is the easternmost district of Chanthaburi Province, eastern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Khlung, Makham, Khao Khitchakut and Soi Dao of Chanthaburi Province. To the east are Battambang and Pailin of Cambodia.There are two border crossings into Cambodia in Pong Nam...
of Chanthaburi to the north, and Battambang
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
to the north and east.
Administration
Amphoe Bo Rai is divided into five subdistricts (tambonTambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
), which are further subdivided into 34 villages (muban
Muban
Muban is the lowest administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as village, they are the subdivision of tambon. As of 2008, there are 74944 administrative villages in Thailand. As of the 1990 census, the average village consisted of 144 households or 746 persons.A muban does not...
). The central town is Bo Phloi, which has township status (thesaban tambon) and covers parts of the same-named tambon. As of 2005, the population in the township is 10,009. Each of the tambon is administrated by a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).
|
History
The area is renowned for its gemstone mining (rubiesRuby
A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum . The red color is caused mainly by the presence of the element chromium. Its name comes from ruber, Latin for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapphires...
and sapphires) and gem trade which made Bo Rai prosper and grow. From the 1960s until the beginning of the 1990s the town experienced an economic boom, which was ended almost overnight with the exhaustion of the mining fields through plundering. The economic depression that followed was further increased by the downfall of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
and the subsequent end of the border trafficking of goods and gems.
Once the centre of Thailand's gem trade, Bo Rai is now but a shadow of its former glory, yet some hope is seen in the migrating refugees coming from the troubled South. There have been attempts at economic conversion, such as the cultivation of rubber trees. There are rumours of a new Thai-Cambodian border crossing being opened in the near future, a thing welcomed and hoped for by the local population.
Quite recently , the town has had newcomers settling down and opening new businesses and the once rundown merchant houses are open again. The new mayor has had a reviving effect on the town, a new project called Bor Ploy Health Club has been opened close to Dan Chumphol - Saen Tung road intersection.
Sights
There is a big Buddhist temple in the city called Wat Bo Phloy and a brand new Fresh-food Market Talat Sot opened just 2006 . On Wednesdays there is a Talat Nat (weekly market), with vendors coming from as far as the neighbouring Cambodia. There is a public park Suan Sukhaphap, a hospital, many schools, a public library as well as an astonishing number of beauty parlours scattered all over town. At the time of writing there are two motels in town.About nine kilometres from the town, there is a tiny but well kept National Park called Namtok Khlong Kaeo (Thai น้ำตกคลองแก้ว). Admission is free of charge even for foreigners. A paved path leads up to the source of the waterfall, about 800 metres above sea level. The visitor is rewarded with a stunning view over the landscape with groves and rubber plantations as far as the eye can see.
Location and Directions
Bo Rai seems to be faraway from everywhere: 50 kilometres from Trat (route 3157 via Dan Chumphon), 90 kilometres from Chanthaburi (via Saen Tung), and 450 kilometres from BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. The shortest route to Bo Rai is from Highway 3 through Khao Saming (route 3159). There is a public transport service by songthaew
Songthaew
A songthaew , also known in English as a baht bus, is a passenger vehicle in Malaysia, Thailand and Laos adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi....
from Trat and Chanthaburi. Apart from day time baht buses, no regular bus route is currently available.
Places
- Bo Phloi town: 12°34′17"N 102°32′18"E
- Namtok Khlong Kaeo National Park: 12.618065°N 102.577597°E