Amphoe Vibhavadi

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Vibhavadi
thai=วิภาวดี
province=Surat Thani
coordinates=coord|9|14|20|N|98|58|44|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
area=543.5
population=12,791
population_as_of=2005
density=23.4
postal_code=84180
location=
geocode=8419

Vibhavadi is a district ("Amphoe") in the west of Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Tha Chang, Phunphin, Khiri Rat Nikhom and Ban Ta Khun.

The district is located in the hills of the Phuket mountain range, with part of the district being protected in the Khlong Yan Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kaeng Krung National Park.

History

The minor district ("King Amphoe") was created on April 22 1992 by splitting off two "tambon" from Khiri Rat Nikhom district. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=109|issue=53 ง special issue |pages=19|title=ประกาศกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แบ่งเขตท้องที่อำเภอคีรีรัฐนิคม จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี ตั้งเป็นกิ่งอำเภอวิภาวดี|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2535/D/053/19.PDF|date=April 22 1992|language=Thai] It is named after princess Vibhavadi Rangsit, who was killed in 1977 when rebels shot down her helicopter in the east of Surat Thani province.

Following a decision of the Thai government on May 15 2007, all of the 81 minor districts were to be upgraded to full districts. [cite news|url=http://www.manager.co.th/Politics/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9500000055625|publisher=Manager Online|title=แถลงผลการประชุม ครม. ประจำวันที่ 15 พ.ค. 2550|language=Thai] With the publishing in the Royal Gazette on August 24 the upgrade became official. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=124|issue=46 ก|pages=14–21|title=พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอฆ้องชัย...และอำเภอเหล่าเสือโก้ก พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๐|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2550/A/046/14.PDF|date=August 24 2007|language=Thai]

Temples

There are three buddhist temples in the district, all of the Mahayana branch. [http://www.geocities.com/suratculture/temple/vipavadee.htm (in Thai)]
#Pho Noi (โพธิ์น้อย)
#Aran Ya Ram (อรัญญาราม)
#Vibhavadi Wana Ram (วิภาวดีวนาราม)

Administration

The district is subdivided into two subdistricts ("tambon"). These are further subdivided into 31 villages ("muban"). There are no municipal ("thesaban") areas. The "tambon" are each administrated by a tambon administrative organization (TAO).

References

External links

* [http://www.amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=716&pv=66 amphoe.com]