Kamphaeng Phet

Kamphaeng Phet is one of Thailand’s seventy-six provinces (changwat) lies in lower northern Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, and Tak.In Thai or Lao kamphaeng means ‘wall’ and phet (from Sanskrit vajra) means ‘diamond’. The name means ‘wall as hard as diamond’. This wall served as a defensive line to protect the Ayutthaya Kingdom from what is now modern-day Burma. The old name was Khao Kampeng, referring to a ‘mountain wall’ between the two countries.

The main river is the Ping, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. River flats make up much of the east of the province, while the west is mountainous and covered with forests. The total forest area is 1,997 km2 (771 sq mi) or 23.5 percent of provincial area.One of the provinces best-known products is bananas, especially the kluai khai, a small, round, sweet banana. Banana festivals are held every year to thank the spirits for the harvest.