Ratchaburi Province is a medium-sized province with an area of about. The eastern part of the province contains the flat river plains of the Mae Klong, crisscrossed by many khlongs. The most famous tourist spot in this area is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The west of the province is more mountainous, and includes the Tenasserim Hills. As the mountains are made mostly of limestone, there are several caves containing stalactites. Some caves are inhabited by large colonies of bats, and it is an impressive sight when they swarm out in the evening to feed. Other caves like the Khao Bin are accessible for visitors. The main river of the western part is the Phachi River. On the left bank of the Phachi is the Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park. The area of Ratchaburi Province is divided into three parts. First, the border in the west which is shared with Myanmar and is about long. The second contains the Tenasserim mountains and forests with an elevation of about 200–300 meters. The central area of the province is rich in wetlands due to river flow. Ratchaburi has important natural resources are forest which it have area about 38 percent of the province. Moreover, it has minerals such as tin, tantalum, feldspar, quartz, limestone, and marlstone.
History
The history of the city of Ratchaburi dates back to the Dvaravati period, when it was an important city of the Mon Kingdom. Of the city of Khu Bua nearby only ruins remains. According to legend it dates back to the mythical Suvannabhumi Kingdom predating Dvaravati. "Ratchaburi" means 'the land of the king'. Ratchaburi dates back to ancient times and was important during the Dvaravati period. The city of Ratchburi is on the banks of the Mae Klong River and was a town of the Suvarnabhumi Kingdom.
Demographics
, mostly Karen living near the Myanmar border, make up about one percent of the population. Some Mon, Lawa, Lao, Chinese and Khmer minorities live in the province. Ratchaburi is 98.3 percent Buddhist.
Symbols
The provincial seal shows the royal sword above the royal sandals on a phan, as the name Ratchaburi means 'city of the king'. The name derives from the fact that King Rama I was born here. The provincial slogan is "Beautiful women of Photharam, beautiful women of Baan Pong, the city of earthenware jars, shadow plays at Wat Khanon, magnificent caves, floating market at Damnoen, bats, delicious Yii Sok fish". The provincial flower is the Pink Shower Tree, and the provincial tree is Wrightia pubescens. Jullien's golden carp is a provincial fish, same as neighbouring province Kanchanaburi. Since it is a fish that has good taste and had abounding in the Mae Klong River in the past, but is now in a critically endangered.
The province is divided into 10 districts. The districts are further subdivided into 104 sub-districts and 935 villages.
Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Ratchaburi Provincial Administration Organisation and 34 municipal areas in the province. Ratchaburi, Ban Pong, Tha Pha and Photharam have town status. Further 30 subdistrict municipalities. The non-municipal areas are administered by 77 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO.
