Chaiyaphum (Thai ชัยภูมิ) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand.

The province is cut into two halves by the Phetchabun mountain range, with the highest elevation in the province at 1222 m. The east of the province belongs to the Khorat Plateau.

Three national parks are located in the province. The Tat Tohn National Park is in north-west of the province, featuring some scenic waterfalls and dry dipterocarp forests. The biggest attraction of the Sai Thong National Park in the west of the province is the Sai Thong waterfall, but also some fields of the Siam Tulip. Similar fields can be found in the Pa Hin Ngam National Park in the south-west, scheduled to be gazetted in the future. This park has its name from the strangely shaped rock formations found there (beautiful rock forest).

The history of the city of Chaiyaphum dates back to the Khmer Empire in the 12th century, when it was a small city on the route from Angkor to Prasat Singh (Kanchanaburi province). The Prang Ku still remains from this time. In 1817 the area was settled again by a group of Laotians. At first they settled in Baan Nam Khun Nong E Chan (Nakhon Ratchasima province), but soon moved to the current site of Chaiyaphum, then called Baan Luang. When the Lao King Anouvong declared war on Siam, the local ruler Jao Phraya Lae changed allegiance and supported the Siamese troops. In 1826 he was killed by Laotian troops, before these were defeated and all of Laos became part of Siam. Jao Phraya Lae was renamed by the Thais to Phraya Phakdi Chumpon and is still a local hero.

Most people in Chaiyaphum province are ethnically Lao. The Isaan (or Northeast) dialect of Thai (similar to Laotian) is the first language for most people in Chaiyaphum.

Chaiyaphum is a center for the Northeastern Thai musical styles Mor lam and Mor lam sing.

Principal crops in Chaiyaphum include rice, tapioca, sugar cane and taro root. Chaiyaphum is renowned as a center for the Thai silk industry.

The provincial seal shows a triangular flag, a symbol of victory in war.
The provincial tree is Siamese senna (Cassia siamea), and the provincial flower the Siam Tulip (Curcuma alismatifolia).

The provincial slogan เมืองโบราณ บ้านนักสู้ ภูเสียดฟ้า ป่าช้างหลาย ทุ่งไพรรก น้ำตกใส ผ้าไหมดี สตรีงาม แดนธรรมแดนทอง translates to Enchanted city, home to heroes, mountain peaks, elephant forests, waterfalls, beautiful silk, lovely ladies, conscientious Buddhists..

The province is subdivided into 15 districts (Amphoe) and one minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 124 communes (tambon) and 1393 villages (muban).

Extracted from Wikipedia: Chaiyaphum Province

here are a few pictures of chaiyaphum and the surrounding areas

The dirt road outside my father-in-laws school.

 P1010032.JPG ( 87.32K ) Number of downloads: 3


The main road in Chaiyaphum

 P1010053.JPG ( 85.37K ) Number of downloads: 5


The Honda Dealership where we bought the bike.

 P1010076.JPG ( 88.02K ) Number of downloads: 4


This post has been edited by William: Mar 1 2007, 11:43 PM

Interesting pics and report thanks guys.

That waterfall picture is incredible, does it have a name? How far is it from chaiyaphum, looks like it could be a fun hike.

That is a top report. 100%.

I second that, thanks for spending so much time providing this information

Thanks for the Pics, Very beautiful I am just learning about the Issan people.

Was recently in the province and was amazed at both the beauty and poverty of the province. Very humbling.

Thanks again...

Thanks for the post and info.wife loved the pics,but made her homesick.