Chonburi (ชลบุรี)

Thai-Sanskrit. ‘Water City’. The name of  a province on Thailand's west coast (map), as well as its capital city which is located about 81 kms from Bangkok, on the east side of the Gulf of Thailand. The name of the city, in Thai written as ชล (CHL) + บุรี (buri), is derived from the from the Sanskrit word jala meaning ‘water’ and the word buri meaning ‘city’. In Sanskrit each consonant carries the inherent vowel ‘a’ and CHL, pronounced ‘chon’ in Thai (with ล or L being pronounced as an N at the end of a word or syllable and carrying the silent vowel O), are thus pronounced ‘chala’ (jala) in Sanskrit. In this province are some places of interest, including the popular beach resort towns of Bang Saen (map - fig.), Pattaya (fig.) and Jomtien (map), as well as the cities Sri Racha, Sattahip and Laem Chabang which has an international seaport. Off the coast are the islands Koh Si Chang (map - fig.), Koh Lan, Koh Phai and Koh Khram. There are plenty of tourist attractions, such as the local so-called ‘Grand Canyon’ (map - fig.) with its Snow Mountain (fig.), Nong Nooch Garden (map - fig.), Bang Saen Aquarium & Institute of Marine Science (map - fig.), Sri Racha Tiger Zoo (fig.), Sri Racha Floating Sea Bridge (fig.), Wat Koh Loi (fig.), Khao Khiao Open Zoo (fig.) and Waterfall (map - fig.), Anek Kuson Sala (map - fig.), the Million Years Stone Park (map - fig.), Mini Siam (map - fig.), Prasat Satjatham, Jomtien Gay Beach (map - fig.), Wihaan Thep Sathit Phra Kiti Chaleum (fig.), Sai Kaew Beach (map - fig.), Mahathat Chedi Ming Molih Sri Burapah (fig.), talaat nahm 4 pahk floating market which is advertised with a giant kilometer marker on the highway into town (map - fig.), Mimosa (map - fig.), etc. The province has ten amphur and one king amphur, 92 tambon and 691 villages or mu ban. See also Chonburi data file. 回