NONTHABURI

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	Nonthaburi is situated in a fertile basin on the bank on the Chao Phraya River. This abundant town is full of fruit and flower plantations as well as historical temples. The town is only 20 kms. from Bangkok and is conveniently accessible by road or river. Nonthaburi has been found in history as a part of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was once consolidated with Bangkok in 1943 and was re-established as a province in 1946. Nonthaburi occupies an area of 622 square kilometres and is administratively divided into six districts: Muang Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Bang Kruai, Bang Bua Thong and Sai Noi. Borders □ North: Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani □ South: Bangkok □ East: Bangkok and Pathum Thani □ West: Nakhon Pathom Distance from Nonthaburi city of nearby Provinces □ Angthong 99 kms. □ Bangkok 20 kms. □ Nakhon Pathom 36 kms. □ Pathum Thani 26 kms. Distance from Nonthaburi city to its districts □ Bang Kruai 27 kms. □ Bang Bua Thong 18 kms. □ Bang Yai 18 kms. □ Pak Kret 10 kms. □ Sai Noi 30 kms. How to get there □ By Boat Take a Tha Chang-Bangkok Noi-Bang Yai ferry line from Chang Pier. It operates from 06.30 to 23.00 hrs. and leaves from the pier every 30 minutes. The best time for the visitors to ride a ferry is from 08.30 to 15.30 hrs. □ By Car From Phra Nang Klao Bridge turn left to Bang Kruai for 17 kilometres at Bang Bua Thong junction, turn right to Nonthaburi District Office at Wat Chalo, continue driving for 500 metres. Wat Bang O will be found on the right.

Nonthaburi is over 400 years old, dating back to when Ayutthaya was the capital. The town was originally located at Tambon Ban Talat Khwan, a famous fruit orchard where the Chao Phraya River and various canals pass through.

King Prasat Thong ordered the digging of a canal as a shortcut from the south of Wat Thai Muang to Wat Khema because the old waterway flowed into Om River to Bang Yai then to Bang Kruai Canal next to Wat Chalo before ending in front of Wat Khema.

After the new shortcut was completed, the Chao Phraya River changed its flow into the new route that remains today. In 1665, King Narai the Great noticed that the new route gave enemies too much proximity to the capital. Therefore, he ordered that a fortress be built at the mouth of Om River and relocated Nonthaburi to this area. A city shrine still stands there.

Later during the reign of King Rama IV of the Rattanakosin period, he ordered the town moved to the mouth of Bang Su Canal in Ban Talat Khwan. King Rama V then had the provincial hall built there on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River. In 1928, the hall was moved to Ratchawitthayalai, Ban Bang Khwan, Tambon Bang Tanao Si. It is now the Training Division of the Ministry of Interior on Pracha Rat 1 Road, Amphoe Muang, on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. The building is of European architecture decorated with patterned woodwork. The Fine Arts Department has registered it as an historical site. The provincial hall is now on Rattanathibet Road.