Prachuap Khirikhan (ประจวบคีรีขันธ์)

Thai. ‘Land of mountain chains’. Name of a province (map) and its capital city, which is situated along an eight kilometer long bay (map - fig.) on the Gulf of Thailand, 281 kms South of Bangkok in the region of West Thailand. The city has a population of approximately 25,000. Its places of interest include Wat Thammikaram (วัดธรรมิการาม), a temple founded by King Rama VI on the hilltop of Khao Chong Krajok (vdo), the ‘mountain hole mirror’, so named after an opening in a side of the mountain (fig.) in which the sea and sky seem to reflect (map - fig.). A colony of monkeys populates this mountain that also offers a magnificent view of both the bay and city. In this province are several beach resorts, including the famous Hua Hin. Other places of interest are Ao Manao or ‘Lemon Bay’ (fig.), the royal Kuh Ha Sawan hall in the Phraya Nakhon cave, built by order of King Chulalongkorn in the year 1890 after he had visited the cave on two former occasions, Sirinat Rachini Mangrove Eco-system Learning Centre (map - fig.) in Prahnburi, and Khao Sahm Roi Yot (‘Three hundred mountain peaks’) National Park near the Gulf of Thailand. This park is known as one of the best places in the world to see langur, such as the Dusky Leaf Monkey (fig.) and slow loris. In addition there are crab-eating macaques and sometimes dolphins can be seen in the sea. The province has seven amphur and one king amphur. See also Prachuap Khirikhan data file and TRAVEL PICTURE. 回