Chachoengsao

This article is about the town named Chachoengsao. For the province of the same name of which it is part of see Chachoengsao Province.

Chachoengsao
Wat Sothonwararam Worawihan Wat Sothonwararam Worawihan
Chachoengsao Location in Thailand
Coordinates:
Country	Thailand
Province	Chachoengsao Province
Districts of Thailand	Amphoe Mueang Chachoengsao
Population (2006)
• Total	60,893

Chachoengsao (Thai: ฉะเชิงเทรา (Pronunciation)) is a town (thesaban mueang) in central Thailand, capital of the Chachoengsao Province. It is located on the bank of the Bang Pakong River. It occupies the tambon Na Mueang and parts of Ban Mai, Bang Tin Pet, Wang Takhian and Sothon of Mueang Chachoengsao district. As of 2006 it has a population of 60,893.

The town was established in the year 1549 during the reign of King Maha Chakkrapat of Ayutthaya and originally used as a centre for armed force recruitment. During the reign of King Maha Thammaracha, the kingdom was in a weak condition due to being defeated by the Burmese. Phraya Lawaek, the Khmer king conscripted Thai people from several towns including Chachoengsao to be in his work force.

Chachoengsao is sometimes referred to as "Paet Riu", such a name is derived from large sized fish locally caught in the past. Paet Riu literally means 8 cuts or slices which refers to the way the fish was cooked and served as a local dish in Chachoengsao.

The town is about 50 km east of Bangkok and can be accessed by train.

History

Chachoengsao or 'Paet Riu' is a province in the Central region. It has an old history back to the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat in the Ayutthaya period. Most of the people have settled by the Bang Pakong River and along canals. “Luangpho Phuttha Sothon” is a centre of faith of the people of Paet Riu. In the past, Chachoengsao was a fourth class city under the Ministry of Defence. During the reign of King Rama I, it was attached to the Ministry of Interior. Until the reign of King Rama V who changed the administration system, Chachoengsao became a city in the Prachin Buri Circle. In 1916, its status was changed from a city to a province. “Chachoengsao” is a Khmer word which means a deep canal. The name “Paet Riu”, which literally translates as "Eight Slices", comes from the story that the city once teemed with giant snake-head fish; up to 8 cuts were required on the sides in making sun-dried fish.

Geography

The west part of the province is the low river plain of the Bang Pa Kong River, which is used extensively for farming rice. To the east is more hilly terrain, with an average height of more than 100 m above sea level.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows the main hall of the Sothornvararamvoraviharn temple. In this hall is the most important Buddha image of the province, called Luang Por Buddha Sothorn.

Provincial tree is Peltophorum dasyrachis. The tree was assigned to the province by Queen Sirikit on the 50th anniversary of the coronation of King Rama IX in 2000. Provincial flower is the Yellow Flamboyant (Peltophorum pterocarpum).

The provincial slogan is The Bountiful Bang Pakong River,the Sacred Buddha Image of Luangpho Sothon, Phraya Si Sunthon the Scholar of Thai Language, and the Pristine Ang Rue Nai Forest

Tourism

Interesting Places

Phraya Sisunthonwohan (Noi Acharayangkun) Monument Phraya Sisunthonwohan (Noi Acharayangkun) was a native of Paet Rio. He was the author of many textbooks on Thai language for teaching purposes, such as Munlabot Banphakit, Wahanit Nikon, Akson Prayok, Sangyok Phithan, Waiphot Phichan, Phisan Karan, etc.; these can be considered the most complete textbooks for Thai youth at that time.

Chachoengsao City Fortress (ป้อมเมืองฉะเชิงเทรา) was made to protect an enemy invasion. In the reign of King Rama V, it was a stronghold for an army to suppress the Ang Yi rebellion of illegal Chinese opium traders who instigated chaos and robbed the people.

City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมือง) The building of Thai architecture has a four-porched roof with a Prang finial. Inside, two city pillars are housed. The old one was built in 1834 during the reign of King Rama III. The other belongs to the present day; it was constructed in 1895 during the reign of King Rama V.

Suan Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park Chachoengsao (สวนสมเด็จพระศรีนครินทร์ฉะเชิงเทรา) The park is dedicated to the memory of the mother of the King of Thailand. It is located in front of the provincial hall, near the town centre. There is a large lagoon at its centre surrounded by a walking path and shady trees. It is a popular recreation facility for local residents.

Shopping

• Big C
• Big C 2
• Makro
• Home Pro
• Eastern Complex Shopping Mall

External links

• Chachoengsao travel guide from Wikivoyage