Chumphon (ชุมพร)

The small capital of Chumphon province (map) with just around 15,000 inhabitants, situated on the peninsular east coast near the Gulf of Thailand, 463 kms South of Bangkok. Chumphon is the most northern province of the South Thailand region (map) and here the one road from the North to the South forks to Ranong and Surat Thani. Chumphon's name is probably derived from its location at this crossroad, a meeting place or place were ‘gather’, as chumphon (with a slightly different spelling in Thai) means ‘gathering of troops’, a reference also to the presence of an earlier army camp in town where warriors from the region gathered before going into battle, as the area was a frontier city in the wars against Burma. Another source suggest the name might come from the Ficus glomerata, a local fig tree found abundant in the province and in Thai called madeua chumphon. This province has eight amphur, 70 tambon and 674 villages or mu ban. Among the places of interest is the Prince of Chumphon Shrine and Battle Ship Museum (map - fig.). See also Chumphon data file. 回