Phang Nga (Thai พังงา) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, on the shore to the Andaman Sea. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ranong, Surat Thani and Krabi. To the south is the Phuket province, but without land boundary to Phang Nga.
The province is located on the west side of the
Malay Peninsula, and includes many islands in the
Andaman Sea. The most famous one is the so-called James Bond Island, a needle formed
limestone rock in the sea, which featured in the movie
The Man With the Golden Gun[?]. The Ao Phang-Nga (Phang-Nga Bay) National Park was established in
1981 to protect the many fascinating islands.
In the
18th century there were three cities of comparable status in the area - Takuapa, Takuatung and Phang Nga. The city Phang Nga was probably created in
1809 during the reign of King
Rama II[?], during one of the wars with neighboring
Burma. The city Thaland on
Phuket was razed, and the citizens were ordered to relocate to Phang Nga. In order to strengthen the defense in the strategic important area in
1840 Phang Nga became a province, and Takuatung was reduced in status as a district. In
1931 Takuapa was also incorporated into the province.
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The seal shows the Phu Khao Chang mountains in the background, and the City Hall in front. It also shows a dredge to represent the tin mining in the province.
The provincial tree is Cinnamomum porrectum[?], and the provincial flower is Anaxagorea javanica[?].
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Amphoe (districts) | |
- Mueang Phangnga
- Ko Yao
- Kapong
- Takua Thung
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- Takua Pa
- Khura Buri
- Thap Put
- Thai Mueang
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