History of Bang Saphan, Ban Krut and Prachuap

Published 2026-10-26 · Last checked 2026-10-26 · Independent guide, no bookings

Bang Saphan looks like a sleepy coastal district today, but its story goes back centuries. Its gold was once famous, its name changed more than once and the railway reshaped the map. Here is a short, plain-English history of Bang Saphan, Ban Krut and the province around them.

Colourful wooden fishing boats moored at a pier below a white temple and green hills — Fishing boats, Thai Gulf coast. Photo: Siamways Individualreisen / Unsplash

Ayutthaya and Thonburi roots

Bang Saphan dates back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. During the Thonburi period it was known as Mueang Kamnoed Nopphakhun. That old name lives on today in Kamnoet Nopphakhun, one of the district's subdistricts and townships.

From town to district

King Rama III made Bang Saphan a fourth-class town under the Kalahom ministry. Under King Rama V it became a district. In 1915, King Rama VI dropped the word 'Mueang' from its name, and the district was later renamed Bang Saphan.

The birth of Prachuap Khiri Khan

After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, the nearby town of Muang Na Rang was rebuilt. Under King Rama II a new town grew at the mouth of the I Rom canal, called Muang Bang Nang Rom. King Mongkut (Rama IV) later merged the people of Bang Nang Rom, Kui Buri and Khlong Wan, and in 1855 the town was renamed Prachuap Khiri Khan, 'the town among the mountains'.

The railway and Bang Saphan Noi

The Southern Line railway changed the area. Bang Saphan Noi takes its name, 'small bridge village', from the railway station built there, which became the district centre. It split from Bang Saphan as a minor district on 10 June 1974 and became a full district on 13 July 1981. Ban Krut also has its own station, about 360 km down the line from Thon Buri.

Ban Krut: the lime-tree village

Ban Krut's name comes from the makrut (kaffir) lime trees that once grew along its shore. For most of its history it was a fishing village. The large chedi and Buddha on Khao Thong Chai, built in the 1990s, gave it a landmark seen from far out at sea.

Bang Saphan today

Bang Saphan district now has seven subdistricts and 71 villages, with about 76,000 people as of January 2025. Fishing, farming, local crafts such as rattan weaving, and quiet beach tourism shape daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What does Prachuap Khiri Khan mean?

Roughly 'the town among the mountains'. The name dates from 1855.

When did Bang Saphan Noi become a district?

It split from Bang Saphan as a minor district in 1974 and became a full district in 1981.

What does ban krut mean

It refers to makrut (kaffir) lime trees, which once grew along the shore.

We give no fixed prices or timetables, because they change. Check the official source (for trains, the State Railway of Thailand at railway.co.th) before you travel.

Sources

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