Nakhon Pa Mak () is a rural subdistrict (''

tambon ''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' of Bangkok, whi ...

'') in the Bang Krathum District of Phitsanulok Province,

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 ...

.Nakhon Pa Mak at Pitlok.net
(Thai)

Etymology

The first element ''nakhon'' (Thai: นคร) means 'town' or 'city'. The second element ''pa'' (Thai: ป่า) means 'forest'. The third element ''mak'' (Thai: หมาก) means '

betel palm ''Areca catechu'' is a species of palm native to the Philippines cultivated for areca nuts. It was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1500 BCE due to its use in betel nut chewing. It ...

'. The name as a whole would be loosely translated as 'betel palm forest city'. Betel palms are indigenous to the area and inhabitants chew on the

betel nuts The areca nut ( or ) or betel nut () is the fruit of the areca palm (''Areca catechu''). The palm is originally native to the Philippines, but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 15 ...

which contain a natural stimulant, much like chewing

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

Geography

Nakhon Pa Mak primarily consists of flat lowlands in the Nan Basin, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The

Wang Thong River The Wang Thong River (, , , also known as the ''Khek River'') is a river in Thailand. Its source lies in the Phetchabun Mountains in the Amphoe Khao Kho, Khao Kho District, Thailand.

flows through Nakhon Pa Mak at the villages of Ban Sam Ruen and Bang Kranoi.Google Earth Nakhon Pa Mak borders Tha Tan to the north-west, Mae Raka of Wang Thong District to the north-east,

Wat Ta Yom Wat Ta Yom () is a subdistrict (''tambon'') in the Bang Krathum District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. Etymology The first element ''wat'' (Thai: วัด) means 'temple'; the second element ''ta'' (Thai: ตา) means 'eye'; the third el ...

to the east, Phai Lom to the south, and Bang Krathum to the west.

History

Originally named Sam Ruean (สามเรือน), it was renamed to Nakhon Pa Mak in 1939.

Administration

The subdistrict is divided into 13 smaller divisions called (''

muban Muban (; , ) is the lowest Administrative divisions of Thailand, administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet (place), hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74 ...

''), which roughly correspond to the villages within Nakhon Pa Mak.Nakhon Pa Mak at Thaitambon.com
(Thai) There are eight villages, several of which occupy more than one muban. Nakhon Pa Mak is administered by a

Tambon administrative organization ''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' of Bangkok, whi ...

(TAO). The muban in Nakhon Pa Mak are enumerated as follows:Nakhon Pa Mak at Pitlocal.org
Thai) RiceFarmingNakhonPaMak

Education

Nakhon Pa Mak has four elementary schools (Bueng Lam School, Wat Rat Samosom School, Wat Grung See Jayrin School and Wat Laemphrathat School). Wat Rat Samoson School in Ban Sam Ruen was strictly an elementary school until around 1990, when an additional high school building was added. Prior to 1990, Nakhon Pa Mak children who wished to attend high school were required to utilize private transportation to the nearest high school in Ban Bang Krathum. There are no other high schools and no colleges or universities in Nakhon Pa Mak. There is also no school bus service.

Settlements

From most populated to least, the villages of Nakhon Pa Mak are: Ban Grong Greng (pop. 1881), Ban Sam Ruen (pop. 1340), Ban Bueng Lam (pop. 1050), Ban Dongphayom (pop. 678), Bang Kranoi (pop. 567), Ban Laemphrathat (pop. 565), Ban Gao (pop. 299) and Ban Laemkrok (pop. 209). From greatest land area to least, the villages rank as follows: Ban Grong Greng (20.9 km²), Ban Laemphrathat (10.4 km²), Ban Dongphayom (6.2 km²), Ban Bueng Lam (5.9 km²), Ban Sam Ruen (5.4 km²), Ban Bang Kranoi (4.4 km²), Ban Gao (2.8 km²) and Ban Laemkrok (1.8 km²).

Temples

A complete list of active temples in Nakhon Pa Mak is as follows:Nakhon Pa Mak Temples on WebWat.net
(Thai) *Wat Bunglam in Ban Bueng Lam is used primarily for funeral ceremonies. * Wat Grung See Jayrin (has a historic chedi) * Wat Laemphrathat * Wat Rat Samosom *Wat See Bun Mayiga Ram (Thai: วัดศรีบุญมายิการาม, Temple of the Renowned Merit of the Noble Lady) in Ban Laemkrok * Wat Dongphayom All of the temples in Nakhon Pa Mak are of the

Theravada ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' (anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or ''Dharma (Buddhi ...

Buddhist denomination.

Attractions

* Wat Grung See Jayrin * Ban Dongphayom Boat RaceBan Dongphayom Boat Race at Department of Agriculture Extension
(Thai)

References

{{reflist Tambon of Phitsanulok province Populated places in Phitsanulok province