Cha-am (, or ) is a district (''

amphoe An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the Provinces of Thailand, provinces, and are analogous to count ...

'') in the southern part of

Phetchaburi province Phetchaburi (, ) or Phet Buri () is one of the western or central Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ratchaburi province, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram province, Samut So ...

, western

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. The district was established in 1897 with the name ''Na Yang''. In 1914 the centre of the district was moved to Ban Nong Chok (now in

Tha Yang district Tha Yang (, ) is a district (''amphoe'') in the southern part of Phetchaburi province, western Thailand. Etymology In 1910, the western part of the district (which now is Kaeng Krachan district) was covered by dense forest. The main trees are ...

and its name was changed to Nong Chok. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the government moved the office to tambon Cha-am and also changed the district name to Cha-am.

Mrigadayavan Palace Mrigadayavan Palace (, ) is a former residence of King Vajiravudh, or Rama VI, who ruled Siam from 1910 to 1925. It is in Cha-am in Phetchaburi Province, Thailand. King Vajiravudh visited the palace twice during his reign. His first visit was du ...

(Thai: พระราชนิเวศน์มฤคทายวัน, RTGS: ''Phra Ratchaniwet Maruekkhathayawan'') in Cha-am district is a former residence of King

Vajiravudh Vajiravudh (1 January 188126 November 1925) was the sixth Monarchy of Thailand, king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama VI. He reigned from 1910 until his death in 1925. King Vajiravudh is best known for his efforts to create and pro ...

or Rama VI who ruled Siam from 1910 to 1925.

Toponymy

Its name "Cha-am" is said to have originated from the word "Cha-an" (ชะอาน, or ) meaning "to wash the saddle". In the

Ayutthaya period The Ayutthaya Kingdom or the Empire of Ayutthaya was a Thai people, Thai kingdom that existed in Southeast Asia from 1351 to 1767, centered around the city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city), Ayutthaya, in Siam, or present-day Thailand. Europe ...

Viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...

Ekathotsarot Ekathotsarot (, , ) or Sanphet III (); 1560 – 1610/11) was the King of Ayutthaya from 1605 to 1610/11 and overlord of Lan Na from 1605 to 1608/09, succeeding his brother Naresuan. His reign was mostly peaceful as Siam was a powerful state thr ...

(later King Ekathotsarot) raised an army to fight against the Burmese in this area, and washed his saddle here. Hence the name "Cha-an" and was distorted into "Cha-am" like today

Location

Cha-am lies south of Bangkok on

Phet Kasem Road Phet Kasem Road (, , ) or Highway 4 (, ) is one of the four primary highways in Thailand, along with Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1), Mittraphap Road (Highway 2), and Sukhumvit Road (Highway 3). At 1,310.554 km, route 4 is the longest highway ...

. Just a few trains stop at the town's railway station. Frequent bus and minibus services link Cha-am with neighbouring towns, such as

Hua Hin Hua Hin (, ) is one of eight districts (''amphoe'') of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand. Its seat of government, also named Hua Hin, is a beach resort town. The district's population was estim ...

, and with

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

. The district to the north is

. to the south is

Hua Hin district Hua Hin (, ) is one of eight districts (''amphoe'') of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula in Thailand. Its seat of government, also named Hua Hin, is a beach resort town. The district's population was estim ...

Prachuap Khiri Khan province Prachuap Khiri Khan (, ) is one of the western Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It is in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some south of Bangkok. Neighboring provinces include Phetchaburi province, Phetchabu ...

, also a beach resort.

Administration

Cha-am district is divided into nine sub-districts (''tambons'').

Economy

Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Cha-am and Phetchaburi Province. The province, however, has dropped from the fourth to the sixth most popular destination in Thailand due to

coastal erosion Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of Wind wave, waves, Ocean current, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts ...

, much of it in Cha-am, caused by

rising sea levels The sea level has been rising from the end of the last ice age, which was around 20,000 years ago. Between 1901 and 2018, the average sea level rose by , with an increase of per year since the 1970s. This was faster than the sea level had e ...

leading to "deteriorating scenery".

Education

Several tertiary educational institutions and universities are in Cha-am and surrounding districts including

Silpakorn University Silpakorn University (SU.) (; ) is a national university in Thailand. The university was founded in Bangkok in 1943 by Tuscan–born art professor Corrado Feroci, who took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen. It began as ...

(Phetchaburi IT Campus), Suan Dusit Rajaphat University,

Stamford International University Stamford International University Thailand (STIU) () is a private for-profit university. It was a partner of Laureate International Universities Laureate Education, Inc. is a company based in Miami, Florida, United States. The firm owns and ...

, and

Webster University Thailand Webster University Thailand (WUT) was an international campus of Webster University from Webster Groves, Missouri, Webster Groves, Missouri, US. The US-based non-profit university established its international campus in Thailand in 1999 with an u ...

References

External links

* {{Amphoe Phetchaburi Districts of Phetchaburi province Populated places in Phetchaburi province Beaches of Thailand Cities and towns in Thailand