Phang Nga is one of the southern
provincesThailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
(
changwat) of
ThailandThailand , 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...
, on the shore to the
Andaman SeaThe Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise)
RanongRanong is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, on the coast of the Andaman Sea. It is the province with the fewest citizens. Neighboring provinces are Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang Nga...
,
Surat ThaniSurat Thani is the largest of the southern provinces of Thailand, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani means City of Good People, the title given to the city by King Vajiravudh ....
and
KrabiKrabi is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, at the shore of the Andaman Sea. Neighbouring provinces are Phang Nga, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang. The Phuket province to the west is also neighbouring, but without any land boundary...
. To the south is the
Phuket provincePhuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
, but without land boundary to Phang Nga.
Geography
The province is located on the west side of the
Malay PeninsulaThe Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
, and includes many islands of the
Phang Nga BayPhang Nga Bay is a 400 km² bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park...
. The most famous one is the so-called James Bond Island, a needle formed
limestoneLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
rock in the sea, which featured in the 1974 movie
The Man with the Golden GunThe Man with the Golden Gun is the ninth spy film in the James Bond series and the second to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond...
. The Ao Phang-Nga (Phang-Nga Bay) National Park was established in 1981 to protect the many fascinating islands. The
Similan IslandsThe Similan Islands is a group of islands in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phang Nga Province, southern Thailand. It is a national park which was established in 1982....
, one of Thailand's main diving destinations, are also part of Phang Nga province. It is located 788 kilometres (489.6 mi) from Bangkok and covers an area of 4170 square kilometres (1,610 sq mi).
History
During the reign of King Rama II, nearby areas (including Thalang, now known as
PhuketPhuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
) were occupied by the Burmese and so many people fled to Kraphu-nga. In 1824, Siamese troops defeated the Burmese and the invaders were expelled. King Rama III renamed the area Phang-nga and in 1933 the town was expanded to be a province.
On the fateful morning of December 26, 2004 Phang-nga Bay was devastated by a
TsunamiA tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
disaster and thousands of people lost their lives.
Symbols
The
provincial seal-Present-day provinces of Thailand:This list includes all the seals of the Provinces of Thailand. It also includes the special administrative area of the capital, Bangkok.-Former Provinces:-External links:*...
shows the Phu Khao Chang mountains in the background, and the City Hall in front. It also shows a dredge to represent the
tinTin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
mining in the province.
The provincial tree is
Cinnamomum porrectum (Hardy Cinnamon), and the provincial flower is
Anaxagorea javanica.
The provincial slogan is
Massive mining industry, Ban Klang Nam “floating house” delightful caves, strangely-shaped hills, Jampun flower, rich in resources.
Administrative divisions
Phang Nga is subdivided into 8 districts (
amphoeAn 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...
), which are further subdivided into 48 communes (
tambonTambon 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...
) and 314 villages (
mubanMuban 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...
).
- Mueang Phangnga
Mueang Phang Nga is the capital district of Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Thap Put, Phanom of Surat Thani Province, Kapong, Thai Mueang and Takua Thung. To the south is the Phang Nga bay, with the insular district Ko Yao.The Ao Phang Nga National...
- Ko Yao
Ko Yao is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-History:The minor district Ko Yao was established in 1903 as a subordinate of Mueang Phang Nga district...
- Kapong
Kapong is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Phanom of Surat Thani Province, Mueang Phang Nga, Thai Mueang and Takua Pa....
- Takua Thung
Takua Thung is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-History:Mueang Takua Thung is an ancient city same as Phang Nga and Takua Pa. The old city hall was located in Ban Khai, Tambon Bang Thong, Amphoe Thai Mueang. In 1894 Burmese troops attacked Mueang Takua Pa. Thalang...
|
- Takua Pa
Takua Pa ) is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-Geography:The district is located at the coast to the Andaman Sea. To the north of the district is the Si Phang-nga National Park...
- Khura Buri
Khura Buri is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-Geography:The district is located at the coast to the Andaman Sea as the northernmost district of Phang Nga Province...
- Thap Put
Thap Phut is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-History:In 1785 Burmese troops attacked Mueang Thalang. The inhabitants escaped from Thalang to the area of modern-day Thap Put. They built shelter that in southern Thai language are called Thap...
- Thai Mueang
Thai Mueang is a district in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.-Geography:Neighboring districts are Takua Pa, Kapong, Mueang Phang Nga and Takua Thung. To the west is the Andaman Sea....
|
Transportation
Roads
- Highway No. 4 is the main route that connects all districts in Phang-Nga (except Kapong and Koh Yao).
- Highway No. 401 connects Phang-Nga to Surat Thani.
- Highway No. 402 connects Phang-Nga to Phuket Province.
- Highway No. 4090 connects Muang to Kapong district.
Rail systems
There is no rail system in Phang-Nga Province. The nearest railway station is at
PhunphinPhunphin is a district in the province Surat Thani in the south of Thailand. The town Tha Kham as the central town of the district has 22,478 citizens in an area of 14.2 square kilometer.-Geography:...
district,
Surat Thani ProvinceSurat Thani is the largest of the southern provinces of Thailand, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Surat Thani means City of Good People, the title given to the city by King Vajiravudh ....
.
Bus
There are both non air-conditioned and air-conditioned buses to Bangkok and other provinces. There are also non air-condition inter-provincial buses.
Songthaew (public passenger pick-up vehicle)
The public passenger pick-up vehicle is the most popular mode of public transportation in Phang-nga.
Motorbike-taxi
These are found mainly in the town areas and are used mainly for very short distances. The charges differ according to the distance travelled through the Motorbike-taxi.
Airport
There is no airport in Phang-Nga Province because many high mountains around the town. The nearest airport is
Phuket International AirportPhuket International Airport is an airport serving the Phuket Province of Thailand. It is located in the north of Phuket Island, 32 kilometres from the centre of Phuket City. The airport plays a major role in Thailand's tourism industry, as Phuket Island is a popular resort destination...
.
Tourism
Situated on the Andaman Sea, Phang-nga province is famed for the natural beauty of its water, beaches, islands, mountains and forests.
Phang-nga was damaged in the 2004 Tsunami, although tourism has largely recovered.
Sights / Attractions
- Phang-nga Bay or Ao Phang-nga National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติอ่าวพังงา) was declared a national park in 1981. It has scenic views and features mass limestone formations scattered around in the sea near the shore. The same factors contribute to the density of caves in the area. The park is fertile with mangroves and there are a number of islands in the vicinity.
- ko Panyi
Ko Panyi is a fishing village in Phang Nga Province, Thailand notable for being built on stilts by Indonesian fishermen...
a Muslim Fishing Village on stilts.
- Mu Ko Similan National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะสิมิลัน) was declared a national park in 1982. Similan is a small group of islands comprising nine islands stretching from north to south and is highly praised for its beautiful scenery, both onshore and underwater.
- Mu Ko Surin National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะสุรินทร์) is an archipelago of 5 islands: Ko Surin Nuea, Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ri, Ko Khai, and Ko Klang. It was declared a national park on July 9, 1981. The archipelago is located in the Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
, near the Thai-Burmese oceanic border, to the west of Thailand. There are coral reefs and the area is suitable for snorkelingSnorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
.
- Ko Phra Thong (เกาะพระทอง), located in Tambon Phra Thong. It is a large island northwest of Phang-nga. The island has many beaches. There is a large fresh water reservoir on the island.
- Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาหลัก-ลำรู่) was declared a national park in August 1991. The park occupies a vast area of 150 square kilometres (57.9 sq mi) and covers Amphoe Thai Mueang, Amphoe Kapong, Amphoe Takua Pa, and Amphoe Mueang. The interesting attractions are: Khao Lak (เขาหลัก), which has the Chao Pho Khao Lak Shrine, Laem Pakarang (แหลมปะการัง) which has groves of pine, making it good for camping and relaxation and Namtok Ton Chong Fa (น้ำตกโตนช่องฟ้า) or Ton Chong Fa Waterfall.
- Khao Lampi-Hat Thai Mueang National Park (อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาลำปี-หาดท้ายเหมือง) The park occupies an area of 18000 acres (7,284.3 ha). It was declared a national park on April 14, 1988. Interesting attractions in the park include: Namtok Lampi (น้ำตกลำปี) is a 6-tiered waterfall that runs all year round, Namtok Ton Phrai (น้ำตกโตนไพร) is a huge waterfall that runs all year round and Hat Thai Mueang (หาดท้ายเหมือง) being a long beach where the Sea Turtle Festival is held annually.
- Wat Suwannakhuha (วัดสุวรรณคูหา), located in Tambon Krasom, is a temple in Phang-nga. It is of historical and archaeological importance. Within the boundary of the temple is a mountain with numerous caves out of which one is also used as a temple and houses various manners of Buddha images. There are also Royal Monograms inscriptions on the walls of the cave.
- Ko Yao (เกาะยาว) covers an area of 137 square kilometres (33,853.4 acre). The majority of the population are Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. The island is made up of 2 large islands: Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai.
- Hat Khao Lak (ชายทะเลเขาหลัก), located 32 kilometres (19.9 mi) from Takua Pa, is a long scenic beach along the Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
set beneath the green mountain of Khao Lak-Lamru National Park, parallel to the coast. The accommodation of Takua Pa along Khao Lak and Bang Sak Beach is built in the original southern architecture style.
- Wat Rat Uppatham or Wat Bang Riang (วัดราษฎร์อุปถัมภ์ หรือ วัดบางเหรียง), located in Tambon Bang Riang, the temple, situated on Khao Lan hill, contains several structures including an elaborate bell-shaped pagoda called Chedi Phutthathambanlue. The hilltop pagoda overlooks surrounding undulating mountains and hills as well as a huge Buddha image and a Guan-yin Chinese Goddess statue.
Activities
Elephant cave trekking
Elephant cave tours are usually made to Tham Phung Chang which is a cave with numerous stalactites and stalagmites.
Rafting
Rafting is considered to be an eco-tourism trip in the Ton Pariwat Wildlife Conservation Area.
Rock climbing
This is a popular activity which passes through the routes including high quality limestone, steep, pocketed walls, overhangs and hanging stalactites.
Kayaking
Phang-ngas coastline, which consists of mangroves, limestone, small coves, caves and islands, and an interior with rivers lined with fascinating cave systems, has transformed the area into a haven for tourists wanting to try out kayaking. The most popular place of all is Khao Lak.
Bird watching
Many rare birds are to be seen in Phang-nga such as: Gurneys, Finfoots, Bigwinged Brown Kingfishers, egrets, and herons.
Sailing and cruising
Phang-nga has plenty of anchorages in Phan-nga for sailing and cruising.
Fishing
Fishers catch the likes of marlin, sailfish barracuda and tuna.
Jungle trekking
Phang-nga’s forests and flora and fauna are good for trekking. Elephant riding is also popular.
Sea canoeing:
Inflatable canoes squeeze into and under island.
Bamboo Rafting:
This is a popular activity at Along Lamroo Canal at Khao Lak National Park
Golf
Over the past decade or so, the popularity of golf in Thailand has escalated; played both by local Thais and visiting foreign tourists and expatriates. There are two 18-hole golf courses in Phang-nga. There are two major golf courses in Khao Lak, which includes Tablamu Navy Golf Course and Thai Muang Beach Golf & Marina.
Spa
Proper world-class spa services in Phang-Nga are located in hotels and resorts. Since a lot of these spas are accredited by the Thai Spa Operators Association, then the therapists have been properly trained.
Diving
The Similan Islands have one of Thailand's most famous diving sites which lay claim to having one of the best diving sites in Asia. The Similans consist of 9 islands (Similan means 9 in Malay language) Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. The islands are famed for their reefs, coral and variety of marine life. Tourists like to spot chevron barracuda, giant trevally, manta rays, leopard sharks and rainbow runners.
- Surin Islands The Surin Islands are virtually untouched with reefs that slope to the seabed. The islands are situated 80 km (49.7 mi) west off Ranong Province
Ranong is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, on the coast of the Andaman Sea. It is the province with the fewest citizens. Neighboring provinces are Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang Nga...
along the west coast of Thailand. Located near the Surin Islands is the horseshoe-shaped Richelieu Rock which is considered by hoards of divers to be the best dive site in the whole of Thailand.
- Khao Lak Khao Lak Marine National Park a palm-fringed coastline with newly discovered reefs. The area is home to a plenitude of marine life and even a couple of wrecks.
Local Products
Created by the local Farmer’s Housewives Organization, artificial flowers made from rubber and fish scales are souvenirs symbolic of Phang-nga province.
Nightlife
Scattered around the beach and bay areas are several clusters of beer bars and live music venues. There are also hotel bars. Generally speaking however, the nightlife in Pha-nga is comparatively much more laid-back that of Krabi’s.
Lifestyle
Phang Nga is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Muslims and even
sea gypsiesSea Gypsies may refer to:In geography, it can refer to any of several groups in southeast Asia:* Bajau, an indigenous ethnic group residing in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, and parts of Sarawak, sometimes including the people who speak Makassar, and Bugis.* Moken,...
. The majority of the population in the rural areas is Muslim. Phang Nga however, does not suffer from any religious tension and the folk live in peace and harmony. Outside of the provincial town, the rural folk speak with a thick Southern dialect which is difficult for even other Thais to understand.
With this kind of mixture, Phang Nga is always celebrating something be it part of Thai Buddhist, Thai-Chinese or Thai-Islamic tradition.
Situated on the small island of Ko Surin is a community of
Morgan Sea GypsiesThe Moken , are an Austronesian ethnic group with about 2,000 to 3,000 members who maintain a nomadic, sea-based culture. They speak their own language which belongs to the Austronesian language family.-Nomenclature:They refer to themselves as Moken...
who still live their traditional life as sea-faring people. These sea gypsies speak Yawi dialect and are more very friendly. However, just like the long-necked Karen in Mae Hong Son, some folk complain that their village resembles a bit like a human zoo with hoards of tourists walking around gawking at the villagers.
Cultural Activities
- Manora or Nora (มโนราห์หรือโนรา) is an art form native to southern Thailand. The performance has graceful and beautiful dance postures. The singer will sing the lyrics ad-lib. Therefore, he or she would have to be a quick thinker to find words that rhyme and that are meaningful in lyrics, dance and costume. Accompanying musical instruments include drums, cymbals, gongs, Java pipes, and castanets. Nowadays Nora has developed into incorporating modern instruments.
- Shadow Play (หนังตะลุง) is a popular art of southern Thailand. Dried animal hide is carved into drama figures like a hermit, a lord, a lead actor, a lead actress, a giant, and a clown. The figures are held up behind a lighted screen to create shadows on it. Nai Nang or the puppeteer will sing verses or narrate the performance. He must have exceptional reflexes and be able to narrate the whole story by himself. Musical instruments used are the same as for Nora, with perhaps So U and So Duang (stringed instruments) added in.
- Li-ke Pa (ลิเกป่า) is also called Li-ke Bok or Li-ke Rammana. This type of performance is different from the usual Li-ke as the performers wear other kinds of costumes. Li-ke Pa is popular among Thai Muslims. Only 3 performers play in a single set the whole show. However, the set will have a location name change to correspond to the story being played. Musical instruments used include 2-3 tambourines, cymbals, gongs, and pipes.
Festivals / Events
- Water Melon Day (งานวันแตงโม) is organized every year. There is plenty of watermelon on offer and a food and beauty contest.
- Free The Turtles Fair (ประเพณีปล่อยเต่า) is annually atThai Muang Beach. The celebration takes place for 7 days. During the festival baby turtles raised by the Fisheries Department are released into the sea at Thai Mueang Beach.
- Songkran Festival (งานประเพณีสงกรานต์) There are a merit making ceremonies, a water-pouring ceremony to pay respect to monks and elderly people, and many shows performed by local students.
- The Ma Jor Poh Statue Procession (งานแห่เทพเจ้าศาลเจ้าแม่ม่าจ้อโป๋) It's a yearly ceremony. The statue of Ma Jor Poh is carried on an ancient Chinese carriage around the town along with the weapons of various sacred spirits from the Chinese temple with traditional music played on Chinese musical instruments.
- The Chao Ley (sea gypsy) Boat Floating Festival(งานประเพณีลอยเรือ) It's a ceremony to celebrate the ancestor's spirits (Nia An Lo Pong). Morgan sea gypsies of all kinds join in this ceremony. The ceremony includes spirit dwelling, ancestor worshipping, fortune telling, music performances, dances, and "Kabang" floating which is believed to take away all sickness and bad luck from their families and community.
- The worshipping ceremony of Narayana and his followers (งานบวงสรวงเทวรูปพระนารายณ์และบริวาร) There are also various shops, several forms of entertainment, and activities performed by students.
- Vegetarian Festival (ประเพณีถือศีลกินผัก) The Phang-Nga Vegetarian Festival: Similar to the well-known Vegetarian Festival in Phuket and Trang, this festival is held from the first through the ninth nights of the ninth Chinese lunar month.
- Amazing Phang-Nga Festival: High Season Opening in Phang Nga (งานเปิดโลกมหัศจรรย์แดนสวรรค์เมืองพังงา) There is an opening and special events ceremony Khao Lak Center. The ceremony features entertainment, cultural shows, an exhibition of tourist attractions, water sports and local sport competitions, local products shops, and enjoy vast variety of sea food from many resort in Khao Lak.
- Free The Turtles Fair (ประเพณีปล่อยเต่า) During the festival baby turtles raised by the Fisheries Department are released into the sea at Thai Mueang Beach.
Local Food
In general, Southern Thai food is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen) and chicken birayani.
Phang-nga’s Panyi Island is famous for its Shrimp Paste and Takuapa for its Chinese-style baked cakes.
Medical Health Care
The main medical facility available at Phang-nga is General Hospital. Whereas, in case of severe conditions of patients or international standards, people normally go to nearby Phuket. For nothing too serious there are plenty of clinics and pharmacies.
Retirement
There are a great number of retirees in Pha-nga and the amount is growing rapidly. One of their favourite spots is Khao Lak.
There are some other retirees though, who reside in extremely quiet locations away from the tourist scene as the cost of living off the beaten track is far cheaper.
Media / Contact
Local television, satellite TV channels are available. English language newspapers and magazines are available in some bookstores. You can order your newspaper from home via the NewspaperDirect Network (Printstation in Bang Niang, Khao Lak)
(http://www.newspaperdirect-asia.com). A local bi-weekly English language magazine for Khao Lak is available online as well as in print. (http://khaolakecho.com)
Landline telephone, satellite phone and all mobile phone systems are available at Phang-nga town and village areas. Internet can be had in hotels, resorts and internet cafés. There are Post Offices in every district.
External links