Pathum Thani Province

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Pathum Thani
ปทุมธานี
Province
Official seal of Pathum Thani
Seal
Map of Thailand highlighting Pathum Thani Province
Map of Thailand highlighting Pathum Thani Province
Country  Thailand
Capital Pathum Thani town
Area
 • Total 1,525.9 km2 (589.2 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 69th
Population (2014)
 • Total 1,074,058[1]
 • Density rank Ranked 4th
Time zone ICT (UTC+7)
ISO 3166 code TH-13

Pathum Thani (Thai: ปทุมธานี, pronounced [pā.tʰūm tʰāːnīː]) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Bangkok, and Nonthaburi.

The province is north of Bangkok and is part of the Bangkok metropolitan area. In many places the boundary between the two provinces is not noticeable as both sides of the boundary are equally urbanized. Pathum Thani town is the administrative seat, but Ban Rangsit, seat of Thanyaburi District, is the largest populated place in the province.[2]

Pathum Thani is an old province, heavily populated by the Mon people, filled with temples, parks, and areas to experience Mon culture. The most famous amusement park in Thailand, Dream World, is here.

Geography

The province lies on the low alluvial flats of the Chao Phraya River that flows through the capital. Many canals (khlongs) cross the province and feed the rice paddies.

History

The city dates back to a settlement founded by Mon migrating from Mottama (Thai: เมาะตะมะ) in Myanmar around 1650. The original name was "Sam Khok".[3]:230,369 In 1815 King Rama II visited the city and the citizens offered him many lotus flowers, which prompted the king to rename the city "Pathum Thani", meaning "the lotus flower town".[4]

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a pink lotus flower with two rice stalks bending over it, representing the fertility of the province.

The provincial tree is the Indian coral tree (Erythrina variegata). The provincial flower is the lotus (Nymphaea lotus).

Administrative divisions

The province is divided into seven districts (amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 60 communes (tambon) and 529 villages (muban).

  1. Mueang Pathum Thani
  2. Khlong Luang
  3. Thanyaburi
  4. Nong Suea
  1. Lat Lum Kaeo
  2. Lam Luk Ka
  3. Sam Khok

Education and technology

Pathum Thani has a very high concentration of higher education institutions, especially ones in the field of science and technology. This, together with a large number of industrial parks and research facilities (including those in Thailand Science Park), make the region the educational and technology hub of the area.

Academic institutes
National Science Museum, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok University, Eastern Asia University, Pathumthani University, Rajamangala University of Technology, Rangsit University, Shinawatra University, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, and Thammasat University (Rangsit Center)
Research bodies
Thailand Science Park, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Nanotechnology Center (NANOTEC), National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thai Microelectronics Center (TMEC), Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR), TOT Innovation Institute (TOT)
Industrial parks
Software Park Thailand (in Nonthaburi, southwest of Pathum Thani), Nava Nakorn Industrial Promotion Zone (1376 acres / 5.6 km²), Bangkadi Industrial Park (470 acres / 1.9 km²), Techno Thani (a "Technology City" administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology), and a number of industrial parks in neighboring Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi Provinces

Attractions

Dream World

References

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  3. Rajanubhab, D., 2001, Our Wars With the Burmese, Bangkok: White Lotus Co. Ltd., ISBN 9747534584
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External links

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