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Phang-nga
General Information
The province of Phang-nga is located some 788 kilometres from Bangkok. It covers an area of 4,170 square kilometres.
Phang-nga is a province with two characters - land and sea - and packed with national parks that guard magnificent scenery with immensely different attractions.
Most famous is Ao Phang-nga National Park, a geological wonder filled with islets, sunken caverns and startling rock formations rising sheer out of the sea. The bay is extremely sheltered ideal for expeditions of sea canoes to explore the many fascinating caverns with their own eco-systems.
Phang-nga's andaman coast offers parks of a different kind. The island groups of Surin and Similan are renowned for their beautiful unspoilt beaches and spectacular underwater scenery, attracting divers from around the world. Khao Lak is a coastal park full of birds, mammals and scenic waterfalls, with a number of hotel developments after Tsunami disaster in December 2004.
Symbol
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 (Hardy Cinnamon), and the provincial flower is Anaxagorea javanica.
Getting there
By Car
• From Bangkok, take Highway No. 4, passing the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong, then drive straight to Phang-nga town. It is 788 kilometres from Bangkok. The trip takes around 12 hours.
• From Bangkok, take Highway No.4 to Chumphon, from there, take Higway No. 41 to Amphoe Tha Chang, then go straight to an intersection where a right turn is made to Highway No. 401, keep driving to Amphoe Ban Ta Khun for about 50 kilometres, and then take Highway No. 415 for 30 kilometres, take a right turn to Phang-nga town. Visitors travelling from Phuket should use Highway No. 402, passing Sarasin Bridge to Ban Khok Kloi, take a right turn to Amphoe Takua Thung. It is 87 kilometres from Phuket. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
By Bus
There are daily bus services from Bangkok to Phang-nga. Travelling time is 12 hours. For more information call the Southern Bus Terminal at tel. 0 2435 1199-200 or the Phang-nga Bus Terminal at tel: 0 7641 2300, 0 7641 2014 or visit www.transport.co.th.
By Train
There is no direct train to Phang-nga. The State Railways of Thailand operates daily train services between Bangkok and Surat Thani. A trip to Phang-nga can be made by getting off at the Surat Thani Railway Station and then ride a bus for another two hours. For more information call Bangkoks Hualamphong Railway Station at tel. 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th.
By Air
Thai Airways International operates Bangkok-Phuket flights daily. From Phuket, take a bus or rent a car to Phang-nga for about 58 kilometres. For more information, call Thai Airways at tel: 1566 or 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or visit www.thaiairways.com.
Festivals
Free The Turtles Fair
Free The Turtles Fair is annually held in March at Thai Muang Beach. A celebration takes place for 7 days. During the festival baby turtles raised by the Fisheries Department are released into the sea at Thai Muang Beach.
Interesting Products
Agricultural Products and Seafood
There are well known places in Phang-nga like Ko Yao and Ko Panyi that produce shrimp paste from quality fresh water shrimp. Another product for which Phang-nga is famous is the Kung Siep, sun-dried shrimps, which are sent to markets in neighbouring provinces. If you should be passing through Phang-nga, you can buy these products at all markets in Amphoe Mueang, and Takua Thung every day.
Artificial Flowers made from rubber and fish scales
These artificial flowers are exquisite and beautiful, a product stemming from the creativity of the farmer housewives group. At present, these flowers are souvenirs symbolic of Phang-nga province. The products are sold at Phang-nga Provincial Agricultural Office and the Farmer Housewives Group. For more information, contact the Phang-nga Provincial Agricultural Office, Monday to Friday, 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., tel: 0 7641 2019.
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