Tha Chang, Nakhon Ratchasima


Tha Chang is a tambon in Chaloem Phra Kiat district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand.

Toponymy

The name Tha Chang literally translated as "elephant pier". Legendarily a herd of elephants comes down to drink water at the Mun river that runs through the area. Hence the name.

Geography

Tha Chang is part of Khorat Geopark, a plot of land at Lam Takhong river, part of cuesta. Fossils, especially primitive elephants were found, so it is an important international geopark. Khorat Geopark covers five districts of Nakhon Ratchasima, Sikhio, Sung Noen, Kham Thale So, Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaloem Phra Kiat. UNESCO certified it as the 2nd UNESCO Global Geoparks of Thailand and is the 4th place in the world in May 2023.
Fossils of 10 genera out of 55 genera of elephant ever discovered on earth were found here. Four-tusked elephant, shovel tusker and stegodon are part of them. In addition, some extinct mammals have also been discovered here, such as Merycopotamus thachangensis. It was named to honour the subdistrict.
Lam Takhong and Mun rivers are the lifeblood of the locals.
Tha Chang is about northeast of Bangkok.
Adjacent subdistricts are : Nong Ngu Lueam in its district, Lam Mun in Non Sung district, Chang Thong in its district, Si Lako in Chakkarat district, Nong Yang in its district, Si Suk in Chakkarat district, and Phra Phut in its district.

Administration

Tha Chang is regarded as the centre of Chaloem Phra Kiat district.
The subdistrict is governed by two local government bodies, Tha Chang Municipality and Tha Chang Subdistrict Administrative Organization.
The emblem of Tha Chang Subdistrict Municipality is a three-headed white elephant, also known as airavata.
Tha Chang also consists of 16 administrative muban.
No.NameThai
1.Ban Khamบ้านขาม
2.Ban Non Liapบ้านโนนเลียบ
3.Ban Nong Hoiบ้านหนองหอย
4.Ban Sam Kwaiบ้านสามแคว
5.Ban Nong Bua Riบ้านหนองบัวรี
6.Ban Dan Tha Daengบ้านด่านท่าแดง
7.Ban Non Sadaoบ้านโนนสะเดา
8.Ban Takut Khonบ้านตะกุดขอน
9.Ban Chong Koบ้านช่องโค
10.Ban Ma Danบ้านมะดัน
11.Ban Nong Buaบ้านหนองบัว
12.Ban Maiบ้านใหม่
13.Ban Tha Changบ้านท่าช้าง
14.Ban Talat Tha Changบ้านตลาดท่าช้าง
15.Ban Pi Manบ้านพิมาน
16.Ban Non Mai Daeng Nueaบ้านโนนไม้แดงเหนือ

Population

At the end of 2021, it had a total population of 8,168 in 3,014 households.

Transportation

Tha Chang is served by the Tha Chang railway station of the State Railway of Thailand, whose Northeastern Line runs through the area.

Places

  • Fossil Proboscidean Museum
  • Yang Dam
  • Railway Bridge Memorial
  • Sai Ngam

    Local products

  • Kai yang
  • Hand woven cotton fabric
  • Papyrus mat