Chaiyaphum Province is located almost at the center of Thailand in the northeastern region. lts size ranks third in the region and eighth in the country. The province has a total area of 12,778.3 square km. or 7,986,429 Rai. It is 342 km. From Bangkok.

Approximately 50% of Chaiyaphum is mountains and forests. The rest is a plateau. Chaiyaphum is divided into 2 parts by the mountain range that runs through the center of the province form east to west which comprises Phu Yuak, Phu E Thao, Phu Lankha, Phu Phang Hoei and connects with Phu Phraya Fo which is part of the Petchabun Mountain Range. The range goes through Amphoe Thep Sathit, Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng and Amphoe Khon San. The main rivers are Chi River which originates in a thick jungle in Amphoe Nong Bua Daeng and Phrom River which comes from a thick jungle in Amphoe Khon San. They are important rivers of the Northeast.

Borders

Distance from:

History

Chaiyaphum is an old city dating back to the time when the Khmer Empire was the pinnacle of its power. The city was a lesser city of the empire. Some of the sites from those That Kut Chok.

When Ayutthaya was the capital, Chaiyaphum appeared on a map during the reign of King Narai the Great as a city under the administration of Nakhon Ratchasima. However, people later moved out to find new homes and left the city deserted. Chaiyaphum then reappeared during the time of king Rama ll. in the Rattanakosin Era. In 1817. Lae, a nobleman in Chao Anuwong’s ( Lord of Vientiane) court. took his family and friends across the Makhong River to settle at Ban Nong Nam Khun ( Nong E Chan) which is in the area of Amphoe Sung Noen in Nakhon Ratchasima now. in 1819, when too many people has migrated there, Lae moved everyone to a new location at Non Nam Om, Ban Chi Long . All through that time, Lae continued to provide offerings to Chao Anuwong to show his loyalty. At first it was rice but was later given gold when it was dug up at Khao Phraya Fo. as a result, Lae was promoted to Khun Phakdi Chumphon. Lae moved his settlement once again in 1822 because of drought to Nong Pla thao and Nong Lot, which combined was called Ban Luang, and turned to display loyalty Nakhon Ratchasima Province and provided offerings to King Rama lll instead, and proclaimed the city free from Chao Anuwong forever. King Rama lll rewarded Khun Phakdi Chumphon by making Ban Luang Chaiyaphum City and promoting him to Phraya Phakdi Chumphon and made him the city’s first lord.

Chao Anuwong organized a rebellion against King Rama lll and formed troops to attack Bangkok. He lied to cities along his route that he was rounding up military support to help Bangkok fight the British. Nakhon Ratchasima was subsequently overtaken in 1826. When the secret was out that Chao Anuwong and his troops were rebels, he gathered all the people of Nakhon Ratchasima to take them back to Vientiane. While at Thung Samrit, the captives under the leadership of Khunying Mo, the wife of Nakhon Ratchasima’s lord, fought back with the support of Phiraya Phakdi Chumpon and lords of nearby cities until they defeated Chao Anuwong.

Nonetheless, A remnant of Chao Anuwongs forces retreated from Nakhon Ratchasima and captured Chaiyaphum. After failing to persuade Phraya Phakdi Chumphon to join the rebellion, the invaders killed him under a big tamarind tree at Nong Pla thao. A shrine built by the city’s citizens is a tribute to this man is 3 km. from the provincial hall. The shrine is in the shape of a Thai pavilion and has a statue of Phraya Phakdi Chumphon which is highly revered.

How to get there

By Train
From Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), there are express and rapid Bangkok - Nong Khai trains running daily. Visitors can get off at Bua Yai Station and take a bus for 51 km. More to Chaiyaphum. 
For details, please call the Train Service Section at tel. 2237010 and 2337020

By Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin Road), turn right at Saraburi onto Highway No.2 (Mittraphap Road) past Amphoe Pak Chong. Then take a left onto Highway No.201 past Amphoe Si Kheo, Amphoe Dan Khun Thot and into Chaiyahum at Amphoe Chaturat straight to Amphoe Muang. The total distance is 332 kms.
From Nakhon Ratchasima, take Highway No.2 (Mittraphap Road) past Tambon Cho Ho. Then turn left onto Highway No.205 past Amphoe Non Thai to the interesection at Tambon Nong Bua Khok in Amphoe Chaturat. Then turn right onto Highway No.201 to Chaiyaphum. The total distance is 119 kms.

By Bus
The Transport Co. operates a daily Bangkok - Chaiyaphum bus Service. 
For more information, call tel. 2710101-5 (regular bus) and 2794484-7 (air - conditioned bus).

Festivals & Event

The annual Chao Poh Phraya Lae Festival
January
is held to commemorate the virtues of Phraya Lae, the founder of Chaiyaphum. During 12-20 January of each year, celebrations are organized at the grounds in front of the Town Hall and at the Chao Poh Phraya Lae Monument junction. Rites are performed to pay homage to the spirit of the Chao Poh , and there are elephant parades and processions from various districts. Exhibition stalls are put up by private and government agencies and an agricultural contest is held.

The Ram Phi Fah traditional dance
April
is performed in groups at Phu Phra where the highly revered Phra Chao Ong Tue , a Buddha statue carved in sandstone is enshrined . About 2 meters tall , it is celebrated during the 13th to 15th day of the 5th lunar month or April and also on Khao Pansa and Ok Pansa (beginning and ending of the Buddhist Rain Retreat).

Pay homage to Chao Poh Phraya Lae
May
is held at the Nong Pla Tao Shrine during 12-20 of May every year. Villagers flock to the shrine to perform homage paying rites and stage dances in his honor.