Nakhon Pathom Province Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Nakhon Pathom

นครปฐม

Province

Seal

Map of Thailand highlighting Nakhon Pathom Province

Country

Thailand

Capital

Thanon Khat

Area

• Total

2,168.3 km² (837.2 sq mi)

Area rank

Ranked 65th

Population

(2014)

• Total

891,071

• Rank

Ranked 26th

• Density

410.954/km² (1,064.365/sq mi)

• Density rank

Ranked 8th

Time zone

UTC+7 (ICT)

ISO 3166 code

TH-73

Nakhon Pathom (Thai: นครปฐม) is a province in central Thailand. It is known for its many fruit orchards.

Nakhon Pathom is a small province. It is about 56 kilometers (35 miles) from Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand.

History of Nakhon Pathom
Fun Places to Visit
Things to Do
Local Products to Try
Festivals and Celebrations
See also

History of Nakhon Pathom

The name "Nakhon Pathom" comes from ancient words meaning "first city." Many people believe Nakhon Pathom is Thailand's oldest city.

Long ago, the coastline moved far away from the city. This happened because of sedimentation, which is when sand and mud build up from the Chao Phraya River.

Fun Places to Visit

The tall Phra Pathom Chedi

Famous Temples and Palaces

Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Ratchaworaviharn (Thai: วัดพระปฐมเจดย์ราชวรวิหาร): This is a very important royal temple. It has the Phra Pathom Chedi, which is one of the tallest pagodas (a type of temple tower) in the world!
Nakhon Pathom Palace (Thai: พระราชวังนครปฐม): This is a royal palace.
Phrabat Somdej Phra Monkut Klao Chaoyuhua Museum (Sanam Chan Palace) (Thai: พิพิธภัณฑ์พระบาทสมเด็จพระมงกุฏเกล้าเจ้าอยู่หัว): King Rama VI built this palace in 1907.
Phra Tamnak Chali Monkol-asna (Thai: พระตำหนักชาลีมงคลอาสน์): This is a two-story building built in a European style.
Ya-Lei Monument (Thai: อนุเสาวรีย์ย่าเหล): This monument is for a dog named Ya-Lei. King Rama VI loved this dog very much. When Ya-Lei died, the king had a statue made of him. It stands in front of Phra Tamnak Chali Monkol-asna.
Neun Dhamma Sala (Thai: เนินธรรมศาลา): This looks like a small hill with a tunnel. People believe it connects two old temples. Some stories say there are valuable treasures inside, protected by a spirit!
Wat Phra Mayn (Thai: วัดพระเมรุ): This is an old, abandoned temple that now looks like a large hill. Old statues and carvings have been found here.
Phra Padhone Chedi (Thai: วัดพระประโทณเจดีย์): Many old items have been found at this temple, including Buddha statues and a bronze statue of a garuda (a mythical bird) holding a naga (a mythical snake). This garuda is a symbol of King Rama VI.
Neun Phra or Neun Yai Hom (Thai: เนินพระหรือเนินยายหอม): This area was once an ancient temple. The hill here might have been a large chedi (stupa) from about 1,000 years ago.
Buddhamonthon (Thai: พุทธมณฑล): This place features a huge, tall Buddha image.
Wat Klang Bang Kaew (Thai: วัดกลางบางแก้ว): This temple has a very old chapel and Buddha image. It also has a museum with historical items from past monks.

Nature and Animals

Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo (Thai: ลานแสดงช้างและฟาร์มจระเข้สามพราน): Here you can watch daily elephant shows, ride elephants, and see crocodile wrestling shows. They also have magic shows!
Rose Garden (Thai: สวนสามพราน): This beautiful garden has many different kinds of flowers.
Fish Sanctuary (Thai: อุทยานปลา): This is a natural home for many types of fish that live in the Tha Cheen River.
Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus (Botanical Garden): This university has special projects. You can see an Entomological Park with many butterflies, a vegetable garden, and a "Garden of a Hundred Thousand Palms" with different types of palm trees.

Other Interesting Places

Jesada Technik Museum: This museum has a large collection of old cars, trucks, and even planes!
Thai Human Imagery Museum (Thai: พิพิธภัณฑ์หุ่นขี้ผึ้ง): This museum shows very lifelike wax and fiberglass sculptures.
Ancient City of Kamphaeng Saen (Thai: เมืองเก่ากำแพงแสน): This is an old town that is now used as a Boy Scout camp. You can still see its old ditches and earth walls.

Things to Do

Boat Sightseeing: You can take boat tours along the canals. These tours let you see fruit orchards and orchid farms.
Visit Pomelo Orchards in Nakhon Chai Si (Thai: ชมสวนส้มโอนครชัยศรี): Explore farms that grow sweet pomelos.
Banchong Orchid Farm (Thai: ชมสวนกล้วยไม้ บรรจง ออร์คิดฟาร์ม): Visit this farm to see many beautiful orchids.

Local Products to Try

Sweet pomelo (Thai: ส้มโอหวาน): A delicious, sweet fruit.
Fragrant coconut juice (Thai: มะพร้าวน้ำหอม): Refreshing juice from special coconuts.
Khao lam (Thai: ข้าวหลาม): This is sticky rice mixed with coconut milk and cooked inside a bamboo stalk. It's a tasty snack!

Festivals and Celebrations

Nakhon Pathom has many fun festivals throughout the year!

Nakhon Pathom Food and Fruits Fair (Thai: งานเทศกาลอาหาร และผลไม้นครปฐม): This fair happens every year around January or February, during the Chinese New Year. It promotes local fruits like pomelo, sweet coconuts, and bananas. You can also see cooking contests and fruit contests.
Songkran Festival (Thai: ประเพณีสงกรานต์): This is the Thai New Year, celebrated from April 13th to 17th. There are parades, traditional dances, and people pour water on a revered Buddha image called Phra Ruang Rodjanarit.
Buffet for Elephant and Elephant Queen Pageant (Thai: งานเลี้ยงบุฟเฟ่ต์ช้าง และประกวดราชินีช้าง): Held on Labour Day (May 1st) at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo. Elephants get a special buffet! There's also a pageant to find a lady who shows the gentle nature of an elephant.
Wat Rai Khing Festival (Thai: งานนมัสการปิดทองหลวงพ่อวัดไร่ขิง): This fair takes place in the fifth month of the lunar calendar. You can find many goods from farmers and enjoy different types of entertainment.
Phra Pathom Chedi Festival (Thai: ประเพณีนมัสการองค์พระปฐมเจดีย์): This big fair happens every year in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar at the Phra Pathom Chedi grounds. There's lots of entertainment at night.
Loy Krathong Festival (Thai: งานประเพณีลอยกระทง): Celebrated in November, during the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. People float beautiful "krathongs" (decorated baskets) on the water. This festival at Sanam Chan Palace includes beauty pageants and lantern contests.

Kanchanaburi Province	Suphanburi Province	Ayutthaya Province
Ratchaburi Province		Nonthaburi Province
	Nakhon Pathom Province

	Samut Sakhon Province	Bangkok