# Tha Wang Pha district

Tha Wang Pha (Thai: ท่าวังผา, pronounced) is a district (amphoe) in the central part of Nan province, northern Thailand.

## History

The minor district (king amphoe) Tha Wang Pha was established on 1 October 1962 with area split off from Pua district. It was upgraded to a full district on 28 July 1965.

## Geography

Neighboring districts are, from the north clockwise, Song Khwae, Chiang Klang, Pua, Santi Suk and Mueang Nan of Nan Province, and Pong of Phayao province.

## Climate

Climate data for Tha Wang Pha (1991–2020, extremes 1970-present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.8 (94.6) | 37.6 (99.7) | 40.2 (104.4) | 42.5 (108.5) | 41.4 (106.5) | 39.5 (103.1) | 37.3 (99.1) | 36.7 (98.1) | 34.9 (94.8) | 35.9 (96.6) | 34.3 (93.7) | 33.8 (92.8) | 42.5 (108.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.4 (84.9) | 32.5 (90.5) | 35.4 (95.7) | 36.2 (97.2) | 34.7 (94.5) | 33.1 (91.6) | 31.8 (89.2) | 31.3 (88.3) | 32.2 (90.0) | 31.9 (89.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 28.7 (83.7) | 32.3 (90.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 20.8 (69.4) | 22.7 (72.9) | 26.1 (79.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.1 (82.6) | 27.4 (81.3) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.1 (79.0) | 23.7 (74.7) | 20.9 (69.6) | 25.6 (78.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) | 15.1 (59.2) | 18.7 (65.7) | 22.3 (72.1) | 23.9 (75.0) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.7 (74.7) | 22.1 (71.8) | 18.6 (65.5) | 15.1 (59.2) | 20.6 (69.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.9 (35.4) | 5.4 (41.7) | 7.2 (45.0) | 15.3 (59.5) | 18.4 (65.1) | 19.6 (67.3) | 19.7 (67.5) | 19.8 (67.6) | 18.0 (64.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 6.2 (43.2) | 1.7 (35.1) | 1.7 (35.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 15.0 (0.59) | 7.7 (0.30) | 38.9 (1.53) | 97.2 (3.83) | 175.7 (6.92) | 177.5 (6.99) | 285.4 (11.24) | 329.5 (12.97) | 219.9 (8.66) | 75.1 (2.96) | 23.1 (0.91) | 18.0 (0.71) | 1,463 (57.6) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 1.3 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 7.1 | 13.2 | 14.1 | 17.9 | 20.1 | 13.7 | 6.9 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 101.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79.2 | 73.0 | 68.8 | 71.0 | 77.7 | 81.0 | 84.0 | 86.0 | 84.9 | 83.2 | 81.2 | 80.1 | 79.2 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 288.3 | 271.2 | 313.1 | 243.0 | 198.4 | 117.0 | 120.9 | 58.9 | 144.0 | 198.4 | 249.0 | 269.7 | 2,471.9 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 9.3 | 9.6 | 10.1 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 4.8 | 6.4 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 6.8 |
| Source 1: World Meteorological Organization ||||||||||||||
| Source 2: Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010)(extremes) ||||||||||||||

## Administration

The district is divided into 10 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 91 villages (mubans). Tha Wang Pha is a township (thesaban tambon) covering parts of the same-named tambon. There are a further nine tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Pop. |
| 1. | Rim | ริม | 6 | 4,325 |
| 2. | Pa Kha | ป่าคา | 7 | 5,117 |
| 3. | Pha To | ผาตอ | 7 | 5,120 |
| 4. | Yom | ยม | 10 | 4,900 |
| 5. | Tan Chum | ตาลชุม | 14 | 6,672 |
| 6. | Si Phum | ศรีภูมิ | 12 | 6,766 |
| 7. | Chom Phra | จอมพระ | 11 | 5,465 |
| 8. | Saen Thong | แสนทอง | 8 | 3,948 |
| 9. | Tha Wang Pha | ท่าวังผา | 8 | 5,663 |
| 10. | Pha Thong | ผาทอง | 8 | 4,074 |

## Economy

Ban Fai Mun village in the district is known for its fine knives. Nan and Phrae Provinces were settled by Tai Phuan people who migrated to northern Thailand in 1834 from Laos. The people of Ban Fai Mun brought with them a distinctive dialect, way of life, and a knife making tradition. About 10% of the population of 1,134 make their living by making knives.

## Gallery

* Wat Nong Bua, Tha Wang Pha
* Wat Nong Bua, Tha Wang Pha
* 19th century temple murals in Thai Lue style, Wat Nong Bua
* A young boy becomes a monk, Wat Nong Bua
* Thai Lue Buddha statue, Wat Nong Bua
* Eastern flank of the Phi Pan Nam Range