Prachuap Khiri Khan
| Prachuap Khiri Khan ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
|
Aerial Photograph | |
  Prachuap Khiri Khan | |
| Coordinates: 11°49′N 99°48′E / 11.817°N 99.800°E | |
| Country |
 Thailand |
| Provinces | Prachuap Khiri Khan Province |
| Amphoe | Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan District |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2000) | 26,926 |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (UTC+7) |
Prachuap Khiri Khan (Thai: ประจวบคีรีขันธ์) is a town in southern Thailand. It is the capital of Prachuap Khiri Khan province and is on the coast at one of the narrowest stretches in Thailand, only 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Burmese border at Dan Sing Khon in the Tenasserim Hills. The area has large pineapple and coconut industries, in addition to being popular with Thai tourists. The town is 291 km south of Bangkok by road.
History
Prachuap Khiri Khan is home to a Royal Thai Air Force base, and was an invasion point for Japanese troops on December 8, 1941, during World War II. An annual memorial is held each December to honour the 38 Thai airmen and civilians who died fighting against the Japanese 143rd Infantry Regiment in the Battle of Prachuab Khirikhan.
Climate
Prachuap Khiri Khan has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Seasons are not as distinct as in more northerly parts of Thailand; temperatures are quite similar throughout the year and the dry and wet seasons are not as clearly defined, with appreciable rain falling in all months. However, in general the months from December to April are drier with about 45 millimetres (1.8 in) in each month, while October and November are the wettest months with over 200 millimetres (7.9 in) each. The other months, from May to September, have an intermediate level of rainfall around 100 millimetres (3.9 in).
| Climate data for Prachuap Khiri Khan (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) |
31.6 (88.9) |
32.5 (90.5) |
34.0 (93.2) |
33.5 (92.3) |
32.8 (91) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.1 (89.8) |
32.3 (90.1) |
31.3 (88.3) |
30.9 (87.6) |
30.4 (86.7) |
32.06 (89.69) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
25.0 (77) |
25.3 (77.5) |
25.3 (77.5) |
24.9 (76.8) |
25.0 (77) |
24.6 (76.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.0 (73.4) |
21.2 (70.2) |
23.65 (74.57) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 24.4 (0.961) |
21.8 (0.858) |
71.8 (2.827) |
55.5 (2.185) |
126.9 (4.996) |
86.2 (3.394) |
109.3 (4.303) |
99.1 (3.902) |
99.5 (3.917) |
227.8 (8.969) |
154.5 (6.083) |
15.0 (0.591) |
1,091.8 (42.986) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 128 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 75 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 78 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 76.4 |
| Source: Thai Meteorological Department (Normal 1981-2010), (Avg. rainy days 1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
Transportation
Prachuap Khiri Khan can reached from Bangkok by train on the Southern Line from Hualamphong Railway Station. It may also be reached by bus from Bangkok's Southern Bus terminal.
The main road, which runs past the city from north to south, is Route 4 (Phetkasem Road). To the north, this road connects to Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi and Bangkok; to the south, it connects to Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung and the border with Malaysia near Sadao.
Prachuap Khiri Khan is served by Prachuap Airport, at the south end of town.[1]
Dining
The town is well known for its fresh and inexpensive seafood, with stalls set up each evening near the fishing pier on Prachuap Bay. A night market in the large square in front of the police station at the center of town offers a variety of inexpensive dishes, including local specialities.
Monkey temple
The "monkey temple", Wat Thammikaram, is just north of town on a steep hill. Many monkeys live in the temple and a monkey fountain statue is at the base of the hill. The temple provides excellent views of the bay and countryside, and many locals there go to feed or watch the monkeys.
Beaches
Prachuap Bay is not particularly good for swimming, but better beaches are found both to the north and south. Ao Manao beach is excellent, but can only be reached through the air force base, site of the ferocious two-day battle. Locals simply walk through the base, but non-Thais may need to sign in and out.
Industry
Australian company ASC and Thai company Silkline International formed a joint venture to build three Keka-class patrol boat for the Royal Thai Navy at Silkline's yard at Pak Nam Pran in Prachuap Khiri Khan.[2]
Gallery
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City Hall
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Ao Manao Bay
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Old City Hall
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Pillar Shrine
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Prachuap Bay at dawn
References
- ↑ "Prachuap Airport". OurAirports. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ↑ "Australian ship builder to build landing craft for Royal Thai Navy". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
External links
Prachuap Khiri Khan travel guide from Wikivoyage
Coordinates: 11°49′N 99°48′E / 11.817°N 99.800°E
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