| Saraburi | |
| Native Name: | สระบุรี |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Motto: | พระพุทธบาทสูงค่า เขื่อนป่าสักชลสิทธิ์ ฐานผลิตอุตสาหกรรม เกษตรนำล้ำแหล่งเที่ยว หนึ่งเดียวกะหรี่ปั๊บนมดี ประเพณีตักบาตรดอกไม้งาม เหลืองอร่ามทุ่งทานตะวัน ลือลั่นเมืองชุมทาง ("Precious Buddha's footprint. Pa Sak Jolasid Dam. Base of industrial production. Agricultural tourism. The only curry puffs and good milk. Flower alms giving festival. Bright yellow sunflower fields. The famed junction city.") |
| Mapsize: | frameless |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Saraburi |
| Leader Title: | Governor |
| Leader Name: | Phon Damtham (since 1 October 2022) |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 3,499 |
| Area Rank: | Ranked 56th |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 645,024 |
| Population As Of: | 2018 |
| Population Rank: | Ranked 40th |
| Population Density Km2: | 180.4 |
| Population Density Rank: | Ranked 17th |
| Demographics Type2: | GDP |
| Demographics2 Footnotes: | [3] |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics2 Info1: | baht 237 billion (US$8.0 billion) (2019) |
| Demographics Type1: | Human Achievement Index |
| Demographics1 Footnotes: | [4] |
| Demographics1 Title1: | HAI (2022) |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 0.6360 "average" Ranked 45th |
| Timezone1: | ICT |
| Utc Offset1: | +7 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 18xxx |
| Area Code Type: | Calling code |
| Area Code: | 036 |
| Iso Code: | TH-19 |
Saraburi (Thai: สระบุรี) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Lopburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, and Ayutthaya. It is believed to have been constructed in the year 1548 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya as a centre for recruiting troops.
Saraburi is on the east side of the Chao Phraya River valley. The eastern part of the province is covered by high plains and plateaus, while the western part is mostly low flat plains. Saraburi province has 848km² of forest or 24.2 percent of provincial area.[1] The town, as a gateway to the northeastern region, is 108 km from Bangkok. It occupies an area of 3,577 square kilometres.
There area a total of three national parks, two of which are in region 1 (Saraburi branch) and Khao Yai in region 1 (Prachinburi) of Thailand's protected areas.
Saraburi has been an important city since ancient times. It is assumed to have been established about 1549 during the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. It is assumed that the king ordered parts of Lopburi and Nakhon Nayok to be combined to set up Saraburi Province with the aim of mobilizing citizens during times of war. From the Ayutthaya period, the story of Saraburi is usually related to battles and wars. As for the origin of the word "Saraburi", it is assumed that due to its location near a swamp called "Bueng Nong Ngong", when the town was established a combination of sa ('swamp') and buri ('town') was suggested and the town was named "Saraburi".Lopburi and Nakhon Nayok to be combined to set up Saraburi Province with the aim of mobilizing citizens during times of war. From the Ayutthaya period, the story of Saraburi is usually related to battles and wars. As for the origin of the word "Saraburi", it is assumed that due to its location near a swamp called "Bueng Nong Ngong", when the town was established a combination of sa ('swamp') and buri ('town') was suggested and the town was named "Saraburi".
Saraburi has a tropical savanna climate, Aw (Climate Classification system of Koppen) The climate is arid with little rain in winter, relatively high temperatures in summer, cool in winter, and rain from May to October, about 70–90 days
The average annual temperature is 28-29 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperatures average 33-34 degrees Celsius and minimum temperature averages 23–24 degrees Celsius. April is the hottest month of the year, while winters are cool in January.
Saraburi has poor air quality resulting from cement production, chiefly stone crushing. In the area of Na Pra Lan Sub-district there are 133 plants, 17 mining sites, 32 stone mill plants, and 22 stone dressing plants. Air quality in the province frequently exceeds recommended limits for particulates.[6] [7]
There are 366 schools. There are a total of 125,255 students at all levels.
In 2007 Saraburi's population had an average income per capita 214,537 baht per year, making it tenth highest in the country, second in the central provinces. Annual GDP was 129,275 million baht.
In 2007, Saraburi's population was 89.34 percent Buddhist, 597,138 people. There are 499 temples. There are total of 3,443 monks and 274 neophytes. Muslims number 953 (0.32 percent). There are five Christian churches.
The provincial seal shows the temple Wat Phra Buddha Baat. In the 17th century a hunter found a puddle of water which looked like a large footprint. It was declared a footprint of Buddha, and a temple was built around it. Phra Phutthabat means footprint of Buddha.
The provincial tree is Lagerstroemia floribunda and the provincial flower is the yellow cotton tree (Cochlospermum regium). The endemic crab, Larnaudia larnaudii is the provincial aquatic animal.[8]
The province is divided into 13 districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 111 subdistricts (tambon) and 965 villages (muban).
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[9] one Saraburi Provincial Administrative Organization - PAO (Thai: ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 38 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Saraburi, Kaeng Khoi, Phra Phutthabat and Thap Kwang have town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 34 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).The non-municipal areas are administered by 70 Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
Saraburi's main station is Saraburi Railway Station. There is a major rail junction at Kaeng Khoi Junction.
Saraburi can be reached via Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1). Mittraphap Road (Highway 2), a main road in the northeastern region. It has a beginning here which is a route that separates from the right side of Phahonyothin Road.[10]
The main hospital of Saraburi is Saraburi Hospital, operated by the Ministry of Public Health.
| Health | Education | Employment | Income | |
| 51 | 37 | 27 | 17 | |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation | |
| 64 | 64 | 53 | 13 | |
| Province Saraburi, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6360 is "average", occupies place 45 in the ranking. | ||||
| Rank | Classification | |
| 1 - 13 | "high" | |
| 14 - 29 | "somewhat high" | |
| 30 - 45 | "average" | |
| 46 - 61 | "somewhat low" | |
| 62 - 77 | "low" |