Nong Bua Lamphu province
Split off from Udon Thani in 1993, Nong Bua Lam Phu is a scenic province
famous for its prehistoric sites. Fossilised shells about 140 million years old can be seen in the cliffs 10 kilometres outside the main town;archaeological sites at Kudkwangsoi villages are also attractions.
Well worth a visit is the huge Erawan Cave, Full of beautiful stalagmites and stalacitites. A very long stairway leads up to the cavern, where a large Buddha sits at the entrance.
Wat Tham Klong Phen, a tranquil forest monastery outside of town, is revered as the home of the famous meditation monk. Luang Phu Khao Analayo. A museum in the compound is dedicated to the monk. A beautiful nature reserve is found at Phu Kao Phupan Kham National Park covering 320 square kilometres, including a large lake formed by Ubon Ratana Dam, which is a popular fishing area.
History
Nong Bua Lam Phu was traditionally given as appendage to the crown prince of Lan Xang. Chao Anou designated Phagna Narin the governor of this place in 1827, famous in history for being the spot where the King-Liberator of Siam, Naresuam, came in the sixteenth century to learn the outcome of the war between the Lao and the Burmese in the Vientiane region. Nong Bua Lam Phu was a Lao stronghold, where the birth place of the principal wife of Siribunyasan, last independent King of Vientiane.
The province was originally 5 Amphoe (districts) in the province Udon Thani. In 1993 this province was decentralized and the new province Nong Bua Lamphu was created. It is thus one of the three youngest provinces of Thailand, together with Amnat Charoen and Sa Kaeo.
Symbols
The seal of the province shows king Naresuan in his shrine. This shrine was built to commemorate the visit of king Naresuan to the city of Nong Bua Lamphu in 1574 when he was collecting troops to fight Burman kingdom of Taungoo. Behind the shrine is a pond with Lotus flowers (Nymphaea lotus), which is also the provincial flower. The provincial tree is the Siamese Rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis),
Administrative divisions
The province is subdivided into 6 districts (Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 59 sub-districts (tambon) and 636 villages (muban).
- Mueang Nongbua Lamphu
- Na Klang
- Non Sang
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- Si Bun Rueang
- Suwannakhuha
- Na Wang
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