Takua Pa (ตะกั่วป่า) is a district (Amphoe) in the province Phang Nga in the south of Thailand.
Geography
The district is located at the coast to the Andaman Sea. To the north of the district is the Si Phang-nga National Park. The southern part of the district is covered by the Khao Lak-Lam Ru National Park, which includes the popular beach resort of Khao Lak, devastated by the tsunami resulting from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
Neighboring districts are Khura Buri to the north, Phanom of Surat Thani Province and Kapong to the east, and Thai Mueang to the south.
History
Originally named Takola (Thai:ตะโกลา), the town was one of the historic city states (mueang) dating back to Srivijaya times in the 13th century. It was also known as Takkolam (Tamil:தக்கொலம்) which is the Tamil word for “piper cuveba’ and “calyptranthes jambalana. There is also a place in the Tamil country which up to now carries the same name Takkolam. Takuapa could have been either abounded by the spices “calyptranthese jambalana” and “piper cubeba” or it could have been occupied by settlers from the Takkolam of the Tamil country, or both. Takuapa is said to have been the finest harbor on the west coast of the peninsula for trade between the Malay kingdom of Sri Vijaya and the early South Indian Tamil kingdoms of the Cholas and Pallavas during different times in history. It was later renamed to Takua Pa due to the rich ores near the town - Takua is the Thai word for lead, even though tin was the most important ore found there.
The town was long administrated by Nakhon Si Thammarat. In 1892 it was converted to a province, administered within the Monthon Phuket. This province was merged into Phang Nga province in 1931. The district Talad Yai (big market, ตลาดใหญ่) was then renamed to Takua Pa.
Administration
The district Takua Pa is subdivided into 8 subdistricts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 51 villages (muban). Takua Pa itself has town (thesaban mueang) status and covers the complete tambon Takua Pa. There are 6 tambon administrative organizations TAO - tambon Takua Pa is administrated by the town council, and Tam Tua by a neighboring TAO.
See also
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