Nakhon Sawan

Nakhon Sawan is a city (thesaban nakhon) in Thailand, the name literally means “Heavenly City”. The city is the capital of Nakhon Sawan Province, and covers the complete subdistrict (tambon) Pak Nam Pho and parts of Khwae Yai, Nakhon Sawan Tok, Nakhon Sawan Ok and Wat Sai, all of Mueang Nakhon Sawan district. As of 31 December 2020, it has a population of 82,305. Nakhon Sawan is 238 km north of Bangkok.

Nakhon Sawan Province was a city since Dvaravati era. While part of the Sukhothai Kingdom, it was called Mueang Phra Bang, the southern frontier city of Sukhothai. Later within the Ayutthaya kingdom it was an important trade center because of its location at the two major rivers from the north. It also was the common meeting point of Burmese troops before moving to attack Ayutthaya. In the reign of King Taksin the Great, Phra Bang became a Siamese military base to prevent further Burmese attacks.