Kantharawichai (, ; , ) is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Maha Sarakham province, northeastern Thailand.
Geography Neighboring districts are (from the south clockwise): Mueang Maha Sarakham, Kosum Phisai, and Chiang Yuen of Maha Sarakham Province; Yang Talat and Khong Chai of Kalasin province.
History Early period Kantharawichai is the site of a small moated and ramparted mound 20 km west of Muang Fa Daet. In 1972 the Fine Arts Department uncovered there the brick and laterite foundations of an early Buddhist ordination hall, or ubosoth, about 37 by 10 m, with Dvaravati-style ceramics and terracotta votive tablets in quantity. Beneath the hall's main Buddha image a small terracotta bowl held sixty-six silver repoussé plaques, most about 5 by 10 cm. They show Buddha images, divine or royal figures, stupas and dharmacakras, with stupa types resembling those of central Thai Dvaravati sites such as Nakhon Pathom. One plaque shows the Buddha descending from Tavatimsa Heaven, a scene also carved on one of the Muang Fa Daet sema. Subhadradis Diskul read their style as the late Dvaravati of the tenth and eleventh centuries, noting one square face that resembles Khmer work and local elements present.
Modern history The district dates back to the Mueang Kanthang (กันทาง), which was founded in 1785 under the name Khanthathirat (คันธาธิราช). In 1874 it was renamed Mueang Kantharawichai.
The mueang was converted to a district in 1900. In 1913 it was transferred from Kalasin to Maha Sarakham Province, and in 1915 the district office in Ban Khok Phra was opened. In 1917 the district was renamed Khok Phra accordingly, but the historic name was restored in 1939.
Administration The district is divided into 10 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 183 villages (mubans). Khok Phra is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambon Khok Phra. There are a further 10 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
+ Subdistrict population No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.1.Khok Phraโคกพระ159,3812.Khanthararatคันธารราษฎร์114,5293.Makhaมะค่า155,3914.Tha Khon Yangท่าขอนยาง157,7755.Na Si Nuanนาสีนวน2710,1356.Kham Riangขามเรียง2312,4967.Khwao Yaiเขวาใหญ่217,7148.Si Sukศรีสุข2410,0889.Kut Sai Choกุดใส้จ่อ114,56110.Kham Thao Phatthanaขามเฒ่าพัฒนา218,180
References
External links amphoe.com