Muak Lek ( Thai : มวกเหล็ก , pronounced [mûak lèk] ) is a district ( amphoe ) of Saraburi province , Thailand . It occupies the province's easternmost part, in the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains which divide the central and northeastern regions. Originally a formidable jungle, much of the forest cover was cleared in the 20th century, though several forested hills remain, with natural features serving as tourist destinations—parts of Khao Yai and Namtok Chet Sao Noi national parks are within the district area. Dairy farming is an important industry in the district, having been introduced to the country here in 1962.
30-486: Up through the 19th century, the area of Muak Lek district, together with Pak Chong district to its east, was covered by the thick jungle of Dong Phaya Fai (later renamed Dong Phaya Yen), through which passed an important though harshly inhospitable route through the mountains into the Khorat plateau from Saraburi . The Northeastern Railway was built through the pass in 1898, with a station at Muak Lek town. Conditions during
60-650: A new district named Muak Lek. The new district started operation on 21 January 1969. On 7 May 1970 the permanent district office building was opened. In 1988 the northwestern area was split off from the district to form the new Wang Muang district . Muak Lek, in the east of the province, is the second-largest district of Saraburi by area. Neighbouring districts are from the north clockwise: Phatthana Nikhom , Tha Luang , and Lam Sonthi of Lopburi province ; Sikhio and Pak Chong of Nakhon Ratchasima province ; Mueang Nakhon Nayok of Nakhon Nayok province ; and Kaeng Khoi and Wang Muang of Saraburi. The district lies in
90-406: A spread-out resort area. The town of Klang Dong—meaning 'middle of the jungle'—lies southwest of Pak Chong town along the road and railway, to the district's west. The majority of the population of Pak Chong district as well as Pak Chong town are employed in agriculture, with maize being the main produce, followed by cassava. Cattle rearing forms an important industry in the district, which is one of
120-433: A tourist destination, especially in the 2000s to 2010s. The local government of Pak Chong town was first established as a sanitary district ( sukhaphiban ) in 1956. It was established as a subdistrict municipality ( thesaban tambon ) in 1981 and became a town municipality ( thesaban mueang ) in 2005. Pak Chong is the biggest district of Nakhon Ratchasima by area, at 1,825.17 square kilometres (704.70 sq mi). It
150-568: Is a major driver of real estate development in the Khao Yai area. The Royal Thai Army 's special combat training camp is in Nong Taku, Khanong Phra subdistrict. It trains five classes of 300 soldiers each per year in the 56-day training course. Mittraphap Road , designated National Highway 2, is the primary highway that carries traffic between Bangkok and the entire Isan region. It links Pak Chong westward to Muak Lek and northeastward to Sikhio. While
180-545: Is bordered by Nakhon Ratchasima's districts of Sikhio to the northeast and Sung Noen , Pak Thong Chai and Wang Nam Khiao to the east, Prachantakham district of Prachin Buri province and Pak Phli and Mueang Nakhon Nayok districts of Nakhon Nayok province to the south, and Muak Lek of Saraburi province to the west and northwest. The district lies within the hills of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains, which form
210-579: Is elevated over Mittraphap Road as it runs along the edge of the Lam Takhong Reservoir . The project was conceived in 1997 as part of the national highway network master plan (and one of three segments serving the northeast region), but construction only began in 2016. It was originally scheduled for completion in 2020, and construction was reported to be 96 percent complete by then, but the project faced delays due to outdated information from surveys conducted since 2008, necessitating modifications to
240-662: The Bang Pa-in Interchange in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province north of Bangkok, and leads northeast through Saraburi Province , passing through the Dong Phaya Yen pass before entering the Khorat Plateau and terminating at Nakhon Ratchasima Bypass Road (Highway 204). It runs a distance of 196 kilometres (122 mi), with elevated sections as it passes through the mountains, including one where it
270-465: The Muak Lek Waterfall in its vicinity. The Chet Sao Noi Waterfalls lie downstream to the north, and the eponymous national park covers forested hill areas in the vicinity. The majority of Muak Lek district's population practice agriculture, with maize being the most common crop. Dairy farming is an important component of Muak Lek's economy, the district being a major centre of dairy production in
300-405: The area. Most of the land became dedicated to agriculture, particularly plantations of maize and cassava, following government incentives. Only scattered forested hills remain, leading up to Khao Yai National Park on the district's southern edge, which was established as the country's first national park in 1962. Proximity to the national park would later contribute to the district's development as
330-476: The construction were harsh, with many workers perishing to disease. Knud Lyne Rahbek (1878–1897), a Danish assistant railway surveyor and the son of chief engineer Knud Rahbek, died here and is buried in a prominent grave near the station. The forests of Dong Phaya Yen were rapidly cleared following the construction of Mittraphap Road in 1955, which vastly opened up access to the area. When the Thai government pushed for
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#1733085931488360-626: The country as it is home to the headquarters of the state enterprise the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO), in Mittraphap Sub-district. Tourism also contributes to the district's economy, its natural attractions, agritourism and outdoor activities attracting visitors who usually visit along with further attractions in Pak Chong district's Khao Yai area . Several resorts and Scout camps are located in
390-400: The country's top dairy producers, along with neighbouring Muak Lek. Several factories in diverse industries including sack-weaving, electronics, rock-crushing and livestock feed production serve as a major source of employment. Tourism is also a large contributor to the economy, with tourists coming to visit Khao Yai National Park as well as other attractions in the wider Khao Yai area to
420-508: The development of a dairy industry with Danish assistance in 1960s, Muak Lek was chosen as the site of the Thai–Danish Dairy Farm and its training centre, which opened in 1962. Muak Lek district used to be a subdistrict ( tambon ) under Saraburi province's Kaeng Khoi district . It was created as a district on 27 December 1968, when the area of the former Tambon Muak Lek was split into three tambon containing 33 villages, and formed
450-545: The district with stations at Klang Dong, Pang Asok, Bandai Ma, Pak Chong, Sap Muang, Chanthuek and Khlong Khanan Chit, Pak Chong railway station being the only class 1 station. As of 2022, the railway is being upgraded to double-track , along with construction of the Bangkok–Nong Khai high-speed railway , which will have a station at Pak Chong. Some long-distance trains from Bangkok to Udon Thani or Nong Khai and all trains to Ubon Ratchathani stop at Pak Chong, as well as
480-625: The district, passing through Pak Chong town and emptying into the Lam Takhong Dam reservoir in the district's northeast. Pak Chong district is the main entry point into Isan from the central region , as the primary routes of both road and rail traverse the district from west to northeast through the Dong Phaya Yen pass. Pak Chong town lies slightly north of the district's physical centre, while its southern area, abutting Khao Yai National Park and generally also known as Khao Yai, has developed into
510-534: The district. The campus of Asia-Pacific International University is also in Muak Lek, just west of the town, as is the new campus of the Royal Thai Air Force Academy . Some quarries of the cement factories in neighbouring Kaeng Khoi district also extend into Muak Lek's area. The district is crossed by Mittraphap Road —designated National Highway 2—and the northeastern railway line on their way through
540-655: The district: Motorway 6 (Thailand) Motorway 6 or the Bang Pa-in–Nakhon Ratchasima Motorway is an under-construction controlled-access highway , part of the Thai motorway network . It will serve as the arterial link from the capital city of Bangkok to the city of Nakhon Ratchasima , which serves as the gateway to the entire northeastern region . The motorway begins with links from Kanchanaphisek Road (Motorway 9) and Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1), near
570-432: The hills and into Isan. The under-construction (as of 2022) Motorway 6 , with an access ramp serving Muak Lek, is expected to supplant Mittraphap as the most direct route from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima . As Khlong Muak Lek forms a valley between the surrounding hills, the original railway was forced to snake through the area in a large U shape as it passed the town to the east. As part of infrastructure work to upgrade
600-521: The hills of the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains , which separate central Thailand from the northeastern region ( Isan ). Khao Yai National Park occupies part of the district at its southern end. Khlong Muak Lek , a stream originating from Khao Yai, separates Muak Lek district from Pak Chong as it flows northwards to join the Pa Sak River . Muak Lek town lies on the western bank of the stream, with
630-452: The local trains connecting Kaeng Khoi Junction with Nakhon Ratchasima railway station and beyond. Pak Chong is divided into 12 sub-districts ( tambons ), which are further subdivided into 219 administrative villages ( mubans ). There is one town ( thesaban mueang ) in the district: There are four sub-district municipalities ( thesaban tambons ) in the district: There are nine sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) in
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#1733085931488660-466: The mountains that provided access into the Khorat plateau from the town of Sara Buri . The population centre of Pak Chong was originally a small village on the eastern fringe of the jungle, which, according to writings of Prince Damrong Rajanubhab , was the farthest point carts from Khorat could travel before needing to continue on foot through the rugged hills. When the Northeastern Railway
690-474: The original route passed through the town of Pak Chong and continues to serve as its main thoroughfare, the main highway now bypasses the town to the south. The under-construction Motorway 6 , which is scheduled to open in 2022, will feature an access ramp for Pak Chong and Khao Yai on Thanarat Road (Highway 2090), the main access road linking the town to the national park's main northern entrance. The State Railway of Thailand 's Northeastern Line passes through
720-650: The railway to double-track from 2016 to 2024, a 50-metre (160 ft)-high viaduct—the first of its kind in Thailand—was built to cross over the valley and the town altogether. A new station was built 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the original location. The district is divided into six sub-districts ( tambons ), which are further subdivided into 65 villages ( mubans ). Muak Lek itself has township status ( thesaban tambon ) and covers parts of tambons Muak Lek and Mittraphap. There are six tambon administrative organizations (TAO). The missing numbers 3, 6 and 8 were
750-476: The region. It is a popular tourist destination, especially among weekenders from Bangkok , and is home to many resorts and touristy attractions, in addition to the main entrance into Khao Yai National Park . Up until the mid-19th century, the area of Pak Chong district and Muak Lek to its west was covered by a thick jungle known as Dong Phaya Fai (later to become known as Dong Phaya Yen), through which passed an important though harshly inhospitable route through
780-491: The south of the district. Agritourism draws visitors to major farms and vineyards, Khao Yai being one of Thailand's two wine-producing regions along with Hua Hin . Numerous resorts, golf clubs, cafés, art galleries and shopping centres are scattered throughout the area, many of which feature novelty European-themed architectural styles and cater to domestic tourists, mainly the Bangkok middle-class. Development of holiday properties
810-641: The southwestern boundary of the Isan region (northeastern Thailand). The district is limited in the east by the Khorat Cuesta , which forms a ridge marking the edge of the Khorat Plateau , while the ridge of the Sankamphaeng Mountains , covered by Khao Yai National Park, forms its southern border. The stream Khlong Muak Lek , flowing northwards from the mountains, marks its western boundary. The Lam Takhong , also originating in Khao Yai, flows northwards through
840-428: The tambon which now forms Wang Muang. Pak Chong district Pak Chong ( Thai : ปากช่อง , pronounced [pàːk tɕʰɔ̂ŋ] ; Northeastern Thai : ปากช่อง , pronounced [pàːk sɔ̄ŋ] ) is the westernmost district ( amphoe ) of Nakhon Ratchasima province , northeastern Thailand , and the main point of entry into Isan as the main road and rail lines cross the Dong Phaya Yen Mountains into
870-404: Was built through the area in 1898 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), a cutting was made through the hills at the village, leading it to become known as Ban Pak Chong, meaning 'village at the mouth of the cutting'. At the time, the village was part of Tambon Khanong Phra of Amphoe Chan Thuek, which became renamed as Tambon Chanthuek of Amphoe Sikhio in 1939. In 1949, Ban Pak Chong
900-450: Was upgraded to subdistrict ( tambon ) status. It was upgraded to a minor district ( king amphoe ) effective 1 January 1957, consisting of the four subdistricts Pak Chong, Chanthuek, Klong Dan, and Mu Si. It was upgraded to a full district in July 1958. The forests of Dong Phaya Yen were rapidly cleared following the construction of Mittraphap Road in 1955, which vastly opened up access to
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