Amphoe Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province

Infobox Amphoe
name=Chom Thong
thai=จอมทอง
province=Chiang Mai
coordinates=coord|18|25|2|N|98|40|33|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
area=712.297
population=65,162
population_as_of=2005
density=91.5
postal_code=50160
geocode=5002

Chom Thong ( _th. จอมทอง) is a district ("Amphoe") in the southern part of Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand.

History

According to the legend of "Wat" Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan, the location of the temple is on a small hill which looks similar to a termite hill ("Chom Pluak" in Thai). The hill is covered by "Thong Kwao" or Bastard teak ("Butea monosperma") and "Thong Lang" or Coral trees ("Erythrina variegata") forest. Thus the people called the hill Chom Thong.

After Lord Buddha entered parinirvana, King Asoka the Great visited the hill to place Buddha's relics there. The temple was built on the hill and named Wat Phra That Chom Thong in 1451. Later the temple was upgraded to be Royal temple and at the same time renamed to Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan.

The government created a district in the area in 1900 and named the new district Chom Thong following the legend. The district office was originally located in Ban Tha Sala, Tambon Khuang Pao. In 1933 the office was moved to the southwest of Wat Phra That Chom Thong.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise) Hot, Mae Chaem, Mae Wang, Doi Lo of Chiang Mai Province, Wiang Nong Long and Ban Hong of Lamphun Province.

The important river is the Ping River.

The Doi Inthanon National Park is located in the district.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 6 subdistricts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 96 villages ("muban"). Chom Thong is a township ("thesaban tambon"), which covers parts of "tambon" Ban Luang, Khuan Pao and Doi Kaeo. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).Missing numbers are "tambon" which now form Doi Lo district.