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General
Information
 
Krabi Province is situated approximately
814 kilometers from Bangkok which
one of most attractive destinations
in southern Thailand. Covering an
area of 4,708 square kilometers,
the western border of Krabi falls
by the side of the Andaman Sea,
the northern borders are Surat Thani
and Phang-nga Provinces, the southern
borders are Trang Province and the
Andaman Sea and the eastern borders
are Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang
Provinces. Krabi is an ideal getaway
destination teeming with natural
attractions including white sandy
beaches, fascinating coral reefs,
numerous large and small islands
and verdant forests with caves and
waterfalls.
The topography is mostly mountains
and highlands separated by plains
in some parts. Krabi river is flowing
through Krabi City to the Andaman
Sea at Pak Nam Sub-district which
is 5 kilometers in length. In addition,
there are several canals originating
from the province's highest mountain
range, Khao Phanom Bencha including
Khlong Pakasai, Khlong Krabi Yai
and Khlong Krabi Noi. Lush mangrove
forests line the canals and the
banks of Krabi river particularly
before it empties into the Andaman
Sea. The provinces sandy soil conditions
are suitable for growing various
agricultural products, particularly
rubber trees, palms, coconuts, cashew
nuts and coffee.
 Due
to the influence of the tropical
monsoon, there are only two seasons
in Krabi; the hot season from January
to April and the rainy season from
May to December. Temperatures range
between 17 °C and 37 °C.
Krabi is administratively divided
into 8 Amphurs (Districts): Amphur
Mueang, Khao Phanom, Khlong Thom,
Plai Phraya, Koh Lanta, Ao Luek,
Lam Thap, and Nuea Khlong. The provinces
jurisdiction covers not only in-land
districts and sub-districts, but
also extends to more than 130 large
and small islands including the
world famous Phi Phi Islands.
In addition, Krabi is the location
of two world class beaches Ao Nang
and Hat Rai Le which offer numerous
diving trips, restaurants, shops
etc. Additional attractions in the
province are stunning limestone
cliffs and rock formations which
make it a heaven for rock climbers
and a National Park located approximately
40 kilometers outside of town with
lakes, caves and spectacular natural
scenery.
History of Krabi
 Some
archeologists claim that Krabi City
is one of the older settlements
in the country as there is archaeological
evidence indicating that this area
had been home to homosapiens during
the prehistoric times or between
25,000 - 35,000 B. C. The assumption
has been strongly supported by the
discovery of stone tools, ancient
colored pictures, beads, pottery
and skeletal remains in the provinces
cliffs and caves.
In 1200 A.D., the area was known
as Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal
cities that had a monkey as the
town symbol. During this period
of time, Krabi was under the rule
of the Kingdom of Ligor, a city
better known today as Nakhon Si
Thammarat.
 During
the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910),
the community was known as Pakasai
Sub-county and remained under the
direct jurisdiction of Nakhon Si
Thammarat province.
Around 1872, King Rama V elevated
Pakasai Sub-county to Krabi Province
with the provincial administration
office situated at Krabi-yai Sub-county
(currently, the office is located
near the estuary at Pak Nam Sub-district)
and in 1875, ordered the separation
of Krabi Province from Nakhon Si
Thammarat Province.
During the present reign, the
corps of civil servants, merchants,
and the people of Krabi and nearby
provinces have collectively organized
the construction of a royal residence
at Laem Hang Nak Cape which is thirty
kilometers west of Krabi Town on
the Andaman coast to be presented
to His Majesty the King.
Origin of Krabi
There are two legends regarding
the origin of the name "Krabi".
The first is that villagers presented
a large ancient sword (or krabi)
that was discovered by chance to
the governor. Later when a smaller,
on discovering a smaller one, it
was also presented to the governor.
Regarded as sacred and auspicious,
the governor decided to keep them
in the province. As the process
for the establishment of the province
was still in progress, the swords
were placed crossing each other
in Khao Khanap Nam cave. Since then,
the crossed swords have remained
a part of the provincial seal.
The second legend is that "Krabi"
was derived from the name of a local
tree known as "Lumphi". The Malay
and Chinese merchants mispronunciation
of the name to "Ka-lu-bi" or "Kho-lo-bi"
finally resulted in "Krabi" (or
sword).
Distances from Amphur Mueang
(Town) to Neighbouring Districts
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Ao Luek
Plai Phraya
Khao Phanom
Khlong Thom
Ko Lanta
Lam Thap
Nuea Khlong
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43
66
39
42
103
67
17
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kms.
kms.
kms.
kms.
kms.
kms.
kms.
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Krabi
Festivals
Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival
Krabi
Boek Fa Andaman Festival is annually
held to inaugurate the provinces
tourist season. The festival features
parades, local products contests,
sea Kayak competitions and boat
races.
Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival
Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival is a rare
festival on Ko Lanta of sea gypsies.
The festival is held annually, on
the full moon day in the sixth and
the eleventh months of the lunar
calendar. The sea gypsies on Ko
Lanta and from neighbouring areas
will gather at the beach near Ban
Sala Dan to float boats in the sea
in order to bring good luck. The
Rong Ngeng, a typical southern dance
as well as traditional music, will
be performed around the boats.
Source: Information by Tourism
Authority of Thailand
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