หลวงปู่ศุขลือชา เขื่อนเจ้าพระยาลือชื่อ นามระบือสวนนก ส้มโอดกขาวแตงกวา ("Revered Luang Pu Suk. Renowned Chao Phraya Dam. Famous Bird Park. Rich in pomelos and white cucumbers.")
Chai Nat is on the flat river plain of central Thailand's Chao Phraya River valley. In the south of the province the Chao Phraya Dam (formerly Chai Nat Dam) impounds the Chao Phraya River, both for flood control as well as to divert water into the country's largest irrigation system for the irrigation of rice paddies in the lower river valley. The dam, part of the Greater Chao Phraya Project, was finished in 1957 and was the first dam constructed in Thailand. The total forest area is 64 km2 (25 sq mi) or 2.6 percent of provincial area.[7]
Chai Nat was first established during the Ayutthaya period and was used as a successful base of operations for confronting the Burmese army. As the Burmese were defeated every time, the area earned the name Chai Nat, 'place of victory'.[5]
After World War II, when the Japanese had left, economic conditions were bad and food was in short supply. Chai Nat suffered this problem especially badly where bandits grouped up in the countryside stealing cattle and incited violence and crime.[8]
The provincial seal shows a dhammachakka and in the background a mountain. It refers to the Dhammachak Buddha image housed in the hall of Wat Dhammamoen, built on the slope of a mountain.[9]
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[10] one Chai Nat Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 39 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Chai Nat has town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 38 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).[2]
The non-municipal areas are administered by 20 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
Apart from Chao Phraya Dam, Chai Nat also has various important places such as
Chai Nat Bird Park: is the largest bird park in Chai Nat and Thailand, covering the area of 248 rai, include the largest aviary in Asia, and release the birds living in nature. Besides, there is also a public aquarium displaying freshwater fish species found in the Chao Phraya River.
Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao: a Thai temple in Wat Sing District, next to the mouth of Khlong Makham Thao (Tha Chin River). This temple used to be the residence of Luang Pu Suk. Suk was a revered monk who was known for producing many renowned amulets. He has many disciples, of whom the most respected was Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon.
Sapphaya Old Police Station: an ancient police station of the district of Sapphaya, built since the King Rama V's reign older than 100 years. The station features a single level wooden building with a hip roof and received the ASA Architectural Conservation Award in 2018.
Province Chai Nat, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6124 is "low", occupies place 73 in the ranking.
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the Human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]
^ ab"ร่ยงานสถิติจำนวนประชากรและบ้านประจำปี พ.ศ.2561" [Statistics, population and house statistics for the year 2018]. Registration Office Department of the Interior, Ministry of the Interior. stat.bora.dopa.go.th (in Thai). 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
^ ab"ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved 12 March 2024, page 23{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
^"ตารางที่ 2 พี้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562" [Table 2 Forest area Separate province year 2019]. Royal Forest Department (in Thai). 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2021, information, Forest statistics Year 2019{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
Chai Nat travel guide from Wikivoyage
