Saraphi () is a district (amphoe) of Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. Old Mon inscriptions have been recovered in the district.
Etymology Saraphi is the Thai name for a tree, Mammea siamensis.
Geography Saraphi borders the districts (from west clockwise) Hang Dong, Mueang Chiang Mai, San Kamphaeng of Chiang Mai province, and Mueang Lamphun of Lamphun province.
History Two Old Mon votive images, registered 23/2523 and 24/2523, were recovered in the district and are now in the National Museum, Lopburi. An unregistered tablet thought to come from the same site is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Christian Bauer listed all three among five Old Mon inscriptions from Chiang Mai province that are absent from H. L. Shorto's dictionary of the Mon inscriptions.
The district was established in 1891, then named Yang Noeng (ยางเนิ้ง). In 1927 it was renamed Saraphi.
Tourism Wiang Kum Kam is at the site of an old city in the Tha Wang Tan sub-district. Mangrai lived there for ten years before the founding of Chiang Mai. The site includes many ruined temples, often visited from Chiang Mai.
Administration The district is divided into 12 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 105 villages (mubans). Yang Noeng is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambons Yang Noeng, Saraphi, and Nong Phueng. The township Saraphi covers parts of tambon Saraphi. There are a further 10 tambon administrative organizations (TAO). No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.1.Yang Noengยางเนิ้ง78,9642.Saraphiสารภี96,9593.Chom Phuชมภู96,8734.Chai Sathanไชยสถาน84,5675.Khua Mungขัวมุง105,5106.Nong Faekหนองแฝก95,2717.Nong Phuengหนองผึ้ง811,4298.Tha Kwangท่ากว้าง72,8569.Don Kaeoดอนแก้ว73,91310.Tha Wang Tanท่าวังตาล139,29911.San Saiสันทราย125,63512.Pa Bongป่าบง63,506
See also Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area
References
External links amphoe.com