| Nakhon Sawan | |
| Native Name: | นครสวรรค์ |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Nickname: | Pak Nam Pho (Thai: ปากน้ำโพ) Khon Wan (Thai: คอนหวัน) Mueang Si Khwae (Thai: เมืองสี่แคว) (city of four tributaries) |
| Motto: | เมืองสี่แคว แห่มังกร พักผ่อนบึงบอระเพ็ด ปลารสเด็ดปากน้ำโพ ("City of four tributaries. Dragon festival. Rest at Bueng Boraphet. Delicious fish of Pak Nam Pho.") |
| Mapsize: | frameless |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Nakhon Sawan city |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Chayan Sirimas (since October 2021) |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 9,526 |
| Area Rank: | Ranked 20th |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 1,059,887 |
| Population As Of: | 2019 |
| Population Rank: | Ranked 21st |
| Population Density Km2: | 111 |
| Population Density Rank: | Ranked 46th |
| Demographics Type2: | GDP |
| Demographics2 Footnotes: | [3] |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics2 Info1: | baht 107 billion (US$3.7 billion) (2019) |
| Demographics Type1: | Human Achievement Index |
| Demographics1 Footnotes: | [4] |
| Demographics1 Title1: | HAI (2022) |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 0.6288 "somewhat low" Ranked 57th |
| Timezone1: | ICT |
| Utc Offset1: | +7 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 60xxx |
| Area Code Type: | Calling code |
| Area Code: | 056 |
| Iso Code: | TH-60 |
Nakhon Sawan (Thai: นครสวรรค์, in Thai pronounced as /ná(ʔ).kʰɔ̄ːn sā.wǎn/,) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat). It lies in lower northern Thailand, neighbouring the provinces of Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lopburi, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani, and Tak (clockwise from north).
The word nakhon originates from the Sanskrit word nagara meaning 'city', and the word sawan from Sanskrit svarga meaning 'heaven'. Hence the name of the province literally means 'city of heaven' or 'heavenly city'.
Nakhon Sawan province was a city since Dvaravati era. While part of the Sukhothai Kingdom, it was called Mueang Phra Bang, the southern frontier city of Sukhothai. Later within the Ayutthaya kingdom it was an important trade center because of its location at the two major rivers from the north. It also was the common meeting point of Burmese troops before moving to attack Ayutthaya. In the reign of King Taksin the Great, Phra Bang became a Siamese military base to prevent further Burmese attacks.
When King Mongkut signed the Bowring Treaty with Britain the glorious time of Nakhon Sawan began, as it became the main rice and teak trading centre. However the opening of the northern railway in 1922, the economic crisis before 1932 revolution, and finally the opening of Dejativongse bridge and Phahonyothin highway in 1950 each decreased the importance of water transportation and thus made Nakhon Sawan less important.
When in 1895 King Chulalongkorn established the monthon as part of the Thesaphiban administrative reform, Nakhon Sawan became capital city of Monthon Nakhon Sawan.
The 4th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Area Army is based in Nakhon Sawan. It is responsible for defending the northwestern border with Burma, from Mae Hong Son in the north to Kanchanaburi in the south.[5]
The Ping and Nan rivers merge near the city of Nakhon Sawan to form the Chao Phraya River. Mae Wong National Park, on the border with Khamphaeng Phet province, was created in 1987 to preserve the woodlands of Mae Wong-Mae Poen. The forested area covers 927km2 or 9.7 percent of provincial area.[1]
Bueng Boraphet is the largest freshwater wetland in Thailand, in total covering 212 km2. The swamp is directly east of the town Nakhon Sawan and extends into the districts of Tha Tako and Chum Saeng. During the winter months many waterfowl migrate there. Parts of the swamp, covering 106 km2, are protected as a non-hunting area.[6]
There is one national park, along with two other national parks, make up region 12 (Nakhon Sawan) of Thailand's protected areas.
The provincial seal shows a Wiman, a mythological heavenly castle. This relates to the name of the province which translates to 'Heavenly City'.
The provincial tree as well as the flower is Lagerstroemia loudonii (Loudon's crape myrtle). Iridescent shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is the provincial fish.
The province is divided in 15 districts (amphoe). These are further divided into 130 subdistricts (tambon) and 1,328 villages (muban).
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As of 26 November 2019 there are:[8] one Nakhon Sawan Provincial Administration Organisation (Thai: ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 21 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Nakhon Sawan has city (thesaban nakhon) status and Takhli and Chum Saeng have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 18 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 121 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[2]
Nakhon Sawan lies on Route 1 (Phahonyothin Road), which runs from Bangkok through Ayutthaya and Saraburi before passing through Nakhon Sawan, then continues through Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, and Chiang Rai until it reaches the border with Burma at Mae Sai. Route 117 leads north to Phitsanulok, and Route 225 leads east to Chaiyaphum.
Nakhon Sawan has a station, Nakhon Sawan Railway Station, on the Northern Line of the State Railway of Thailand. The station is on the east side of the river, opposite the main city on the west side.
Nakhon Sawan is served by Nakhon Sawan Airport.[9]
Sawanpracharak Hospital is the main hospital of the province.
| Health | Education | Employment | Income | |
| 18 | 35 | 59 | 28 | |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation | |
| 33 | 71 | 65 | 48 | |
| Province Nakhon Sawan, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6288 is "somewhat low", occupies place 57 in the ranking. | ||||
| Rank | Classification | |
| 1–13 | "High" | |
| 14–29 | "Somewhat high" | |
| 30–45 | "Average" | |
| 46–61 | "Somewhat low" | |
| 62–77 | "Low" |