Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok (Thai: นครนายก) is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Chachoengsao and Pathum Thani.

Nakhon Nayok is another tourist destination not far from Bangkok. The province comes alive during the holidays with tourists. Nakhon Nayok is renowned for its refreshing waterfalls and abundant varieties of fruits.

The city of Nakhon Nayok dates back to the Dvaravati kingdom, probably founded in the 11th century. Ruins from this time are visible at Mueang Boran Dong Lakhon south of the modern city. Originally named Mueang Lablae, the name Nakhon Nayok was assigned to it in 1350, when it became a garrison town of the Ayutthaya kingdom protecting the eastern boundary.

January 1st, 1943 the government downgraded Nakhon Nayok Province and combined it with Prachinburi Province, except Ban Na district which became part of Saraburi Province. On May 9th 1946 the province was re-established.

Nakhon Si Thammarat

Nakhon Si Thammarat (often in short Nakhon, Thai: นครศรีธรรมราช) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, at the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) Songkhla, Phatthalung, Trang, Krabi and Surat Thani.

The name of the province derives from its Pali-Sanskrit name Nagara Sri Dhammaraja (City of the Sacred Dharma King), or Bandar Sri Raja Dharma in Malay, which in Thai pronunciation becames Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The province is located on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand on the east side of the Malay Peninsula. The terrain is mostly rugged hilly forest area. It contains the highest elevation of southern Thailand, the Khao Luang with 1,835 m, now protected in the Khao Luang national park.

The area around Nakhon Si Thammarat was part of the Srivijaya kingdom from the 3rd century. The Ramkhamhaeng stele lists it among the areas within the realm of Sukhothai. After the fall of Sukhothai it fell it its successor, the Ayutthaya kingdom and was one of the tributary kingdoms or 1st class provinces.

With the thesaphiban administrative reforms the kingdom was more closely integrated into the Thai state and formed the Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat. With the abolishment of the monthon system in 1932, the province covering only the central parts of the former kingdom became the top-level administrative subdivision of Thailand.