- Amphoe Takua Pa
Infobox_Amphoe
name=Takua Pa
thai=ตะกั่วป่า
province=Phang Nga
coordinates=coord|8|52|10|N|98|20|35|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
capital=Takua Pa
area=599.4
population=35,137
population_as_of=2005
density=58.6
density=72.5
postal_code=82110
geocode=8205Takua Pa ( _th. ตะกั่วป่า) is a district ("
Amphoe ") in the province Phang Nga in the south ofThailand .Geography
The district is located at the coast to the
Andaman Sea . To the north of the district is theSi Phang-nga National Park . The southern part of the district is covered by theKhao Lak-Lam Ru National Park , which includes the popular beach resort ofKhao Lak , devastated by thetsunami resulting from the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake .Neighboring districts are Khura Buri to the north, Phanom of
Surat Thani Province and Kapong to the east, and Thai Mueang to the south.History
Originally named "Takola" (Thai:ตะโกลา), the town was one of the historic city states ("
mueang ") dating back toSrivijaya times in the 13th century. It was also known as "Takkolam" (Tamil: தக்கொலம்) which is the Tamil word for “piper cuveba’ and “calyptranthes jambalana. There is also a place in theTamil country which up to now carries the same name "Takkolam". Takuapa could have been either abounded by the spices “calyptranthese jambalana” and “piper cubeba” or it could have been occupied by settlers from the Takkolam of theTamil country , or both.cite book | last = Arokiaswamy| first = Celine W.M.| title = Tamil Influences in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines| year = 2000| publisher = | location = Manila s.n.| pages = p. 46] Takuapa is said to have been the finest harbor on the west coast of the peninsula for trade between the Malay kingdom ofSri Vijaya and the early South Indian Tamil kingdoms of theCholas andPallavas during different times in history. It was later renamed to Takua Pa due to the rich ores near the town - Takua is the Thai word forlead , even thoughtin was the most important ore found there.There was a Hindu/Vishnu temple in the 8th century AD. An important Merchantile organisation called 'Kodumbalur Manigramam', built a water tank for this temple. They have left an inscription in Tamil. The tank was called 'Avani Naaranam' - 'Avani Naaranan' was the name of one of the Pallava Emperors of Tamilnadu.
The town was long administrated by Nakhon Si Thammarat. In 1892 it was converted to a province, administered within the
Monthon Phuket . This province was merged into Phang Nga province on April 1 1932. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=48|issue=0 ก|pages=576|title=พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ ยุบรวมท้องที่บางมณฑลและบางจังหวัด|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2474/A/576.PDF|date=February 21 1932|language=Thai] The district Talad Yai (big market, ตลาดใหญ่) was then renamed to Takua Pa. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=49|issue=0 ง|pages=576|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง เปลี่ยนนามอำภอตลาดใหญ่ เป็นอำเภอตะกั่วป่า|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2475/D/388.PDF|date=May 1 1932|language=Thai]Administration
The district Takua Pa is subdivided into 8 subdistricts ("
tambon "), which are further subdivided into 51 villages ("muban "). Takua Pa itself has town ("thesaban mueang ") status and covers the complete "tambon" Takua Pa. There are 6 tambon administrative organizations TAO - "tambon" Takua Pa is administrated by the town council, and Tam Tua by a neighboring TAO .References
External links
* [http://amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=390&pv=33 amphoe.com]
* [http://www.phangnga.go.th/english/Takuapa.htm Attractions of Takua Pa district by the Phang Nga province administration]
* [http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=47&lg=2 Khao Lak-Ram Lu National Park]
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