Khon Kaen
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| Khon Kaen ขอนแก่น |
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 Khon Kaen
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| Coordinates: 16°26′N 102°50′E / 16.433°N 102.833°ECoordinates: 16°26′N 102°50′E / 16.433°N 102.833°E | |||
| Country | Thailand | ||
| Province | Khon Kaen | ||
| Amphoe | Muang Khon Kaen | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | City municipality | ||
| • Mayor | Peerapon Pattabapeeradech | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 46 km2 (18 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 113,754 | ||
| • Density | 2,500/km2 (6,400/sq mi) | ||
| Registered residents only | |||
| Time zone | Thailand (UTC+7) | ||
| Website | www.kkmuni.go.th/ | ||
Khon Kaen (Thai: ขอนแก่น, pronounced [kʰɔ̌ːn kɛ̀n] or [kʰɔ̌n kɛ̀n]) is a city in Isan, Thailand. It is also the capital of Khon Kaen province and the Khon Kaen district.
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[edit] Geography and demography
Khon Kaen is located in the Khorat Plateau, in the central-northwestern area of Isaan. Its geographical location is 16°26′N 102°50′E / 16.433°N 102.833°E. The city has a population of 113,754
| Climate data for Khon Kaen (1961-1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30.3 (86.5) |
32.7 (90.9) |
35.2 (95.4) |
36.4 (97.5) |
34.5 (94.1) |
33.2 (91.8) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.0 (89.6) |
31.6 (88.9) |
31.4 (88.5) |
30.7 (87.3) |
29.7 (85.5) |
32.53 (90.56) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 16.2 (61.2) |
19.3 (66.7) |
22.3 (72.1) |
24.5 (76.1) |
24.8 (76.6) |
24.8 (76.6) |
24.4 (75.9) |
24.2 (75.6) |
23.7 (74.7) |
22.5 (72.5) |
19.6 (67.3) |
16.4 (61.5) |
21.89 (71.41) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 4.4 (0.173) |
14.7 (0.579) |
34.7 (1.366) |
66.4 (2.614) |
173.6 (6.835) |
179.5 (7.067) |
165.8 (6.528) |
196.0 (7.717) |
246.1 (9.689) |
107.3 (4.224) |
55.8 (2.197) |
3.3 (0.13) |
1,247.6 (49.118) |
| Avg. rainy days | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 108 |
| [citation needed] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Regional importance
Khon Kaen is a regional center for education, financial institutions, government offices and transportation. The city is also an industrial center, especially for the region's silk trade, as well as an agricultural hub.[1] Khon Kaen has played host to a number of regional conferences, such as the Asean Regional Forum and United Nations meetings.[2] The Lao People's Democratic Republic maintains the office of Consulate-General on Phothisan Road, not to forget the Numwanshop at Fairy Plaza in Nai Muangrd.
Presently Khon Kaen is one of the major cities under Thailand's National Economic and Social Plan, along with Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chonburi. It is also the home of Rajamangala University and Khon Kaen University—the largest university in the Northeast, with a student population of around 25,000.
Strategically important for the Isan region's infrastructure, Khon Kaen Airport was raised to international standards in 2005 with the opening of a new terminal. However despite efforts to expand services as of April 2010 only two airlines use the airport. Thai Airways operate three flights a day to Bangkok with an Airbus and Nok Air run a twice weekly service to Chiang Mai using an ATR turboprop.
The city is bisected by the Mithraphap Road — also known as 'Friendship Highway'or Highway 2, the road linking Bangkok to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. A modern, multi-lane by-pass enables through traffic to avoid the city centre to the west and connects to the airport and to the main roads to Kalasin and Mahasarakham in the east and Udon Thani in the north.
The city can be easily navigated by driving along either of the two north-south main roads—Na Muang and Klang Muang, which are located East and parallel to the Friendship Highway. In addition, there are two main east-west roads—Srichan Road and Prachasamosorn Road, leading East to the city of Kalasin, and West to the airport, as well as to other small villages.
[edit] Tourism and recreation
Khon Kaen has some noteworthy Buddhist temples. On the south side of the city and East of the Friendship highway, lake—Bueng Kaen Nakhon with a diverse range of recreation areas and facilities.
The Khon Kaen National Museum [3] (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติ ขอนแก่น), was opened by His Majesty King Bhumiphol Adulyadej on the 20th of December, 1972. It has a diverse selection of antiques, precious art pieces and archaeological finds from the region. The exhibits range from the pre-historic to historical periods, including ancient relics and a skeleton of the 'New Stone Age' man with tools from that period, most of the archaeology being conducted at Muang Fa Daet Song Yang excavation site and Ban Chiang.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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