# Ongkharak district

Ongkharak (Thai: องครักษ์, pronounced) is a district (amphoe) in the western part of Nakhon Nayok province, central Thailand.
Once King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) visited Mueang Nakhon Nayok. When he and his company arrived in the area of Ongkharak District, one of the royal guard fell ill and died. The king ordered a shrine built to commemorate his servant. Ongkharak means 'royal guard'.

## History

The old district office of Ongkharak was in Tambon Bang O (now in Ban Na district). In 1889 King Chulalongkorn ordered the construction of the Rangsit Canal, a canal that links the Chao Phraya and Nakhon Nayok Rivers. The water gate in the Chao Phraya River was named Chulalongkorn Water Gate (ประตูน้ำจุฬาลงกรณ์), and its corresponding gate in the Nakhon Nayok River was named Saovabha Bhongsi Water Gate (ประตูน้ำเสาวภาผ่องศรี). The district office was moved near the 16th Khlong of Khlong Rangsit. Twenty years later, the office moved to a place next to the Saovabha Bhongsi Water Gate. Now the district office is behind Saovabha Market, 500 m from the old office. Originally, Ongkharak district was divided into seven subdistricts (tambons). In 1968, Pho Thaen (no.4) was separated from Bang Pla Kot (no.7). In 1969, Bang Sombun (no.5) was separated from Bang Luk Suea (no.8). In 1984, Chumphon (no.10) was separated from Bueng San (no.2). In 1990, Khlong Yai (no.11) was separated from Ongkharak (no.9).

## Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the northeast clockwise): Ban Na and Mueang Nakhon Nayok of Nakhon Nayok Province; Ban Sang of Prachinburi province; Bang Nam Priao of Chachoengsao province; Lam Luk Ka, Thanyaburi, and Nong Suea of Pathum Thani province.
The important water resources are the Nakhon Nayok River and Khlong Rangsit.

## Religion

There are 32 active temples, where Theravada Buddhism is pratised by local residents. In Phra Achan and Chumphon subdistricts have Muslims their eleven mosques.

## Administration
### Provincial government

The district is divided into eleven subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 116 villages (mubans).
| No. | Subdistricts | Thai | Villages | Pop. |
| 1. | Phra Achan | พระอาจารย์ | 13 | 6,571 |
| 2. | Bueng San | บึงศาล | 9 | 6,231 |
| 3. | Sisa Krabue | ศีรษะกระบือ | 13 | 7,045 |
| 4. | Pho Thaen | โพธิ์แทน | 9 | 4,606 |
| 5. | Bang Sombun | บางสมบูรณ์ | 13 | 3,933 |
| 6. | Sai Mun | ทรายมูล | 11 | 5,779 |
| 7. | Bang Pla Kot | บางปลากด | 11 | 8,065 |
| 8. | Bang Luk Suea | บางลูกเสือ | 12 | 3,601 |
| 9. | Ongkharak | องครักษ์ | 7 | 7,135 |
| 10. | Chumphon | ชุมพล | 8 | 5,981 |
| 11. | Khlong Yai | คลองใหญ่ | 10 | 6,441 |
| | | Yotal | 116 | 62,823 |

### Local government

As of December 2023 there is : Ongkharak subd. municipality (thesaban tambon) and covers parts of Ongkharak and Sai Mun subdistricts. There are further eleven subdistricts administrative organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon - o bo toh).
| Ongkharak subd. municipality | Pop. | website |
| Ongkharak | 2,160 | ongkarak.go.th |
| Sai Mun | 405 | |
| Total | 2,565 | |
| Subdistrict adm.org.-SAO | Pop. | website |
| Bang Pla Kot | 8,065 | bangplakod.go.th |
| Sisa Krabue | 7,045 | sites.google.com/view/srisakrabue |
| Phra Achan | 6,571 | phra-arjan.go.th |
| Bueng San | 6,231 | buengsan.go.th |
| Khlong Yai | 6,441 | saoklongyai.go.th |
| Chumphon | 5,981 | chumphon-sao.go.th |
| Sai Mun | 5,374 | saimoon-nyk.com |
| Ongkharak | 4,975 | sao-ongkarak.go.th |
| Pho Thaen | 4,606 | photan.go.th |
| Bang Sombun | 3,933 | bangsomboon.go.th |
| Bang Luk Suea | 3,601 | bangluksuea.go.th |

## Education
### Higher education

* Srinakharinwirot University's, Ongkharak campus is in the district.
* St.Theresa International University.

### Primary/secondary education

There are 36 primary and 2 secondary schools in the district.

## Healthcare
### Government hospitals

There are two hospitals in Ongkharak district.
* Ongkharak Hospital with 31 beds
* HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center with 500 beds is the teaching hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Srinakharinwirot University.

### Health-promoting hospitals

There are total 15 health-promoting hospitals in the districts, of which; one in Bueng San, Pho Thaen, Bang Pla Kot, Bang Luk Suea and Chumphon and two in Phra Achan, Sisa Krabue, Bang Sombun, Sai Mun and Khlong Yai.