Prince of Chumphon Shrine

December 18, 2023

Prince of Chumphon Shrine - Tha Hin, Sawi

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/z2Q4EEBQWgWwkw6e7

Tha Hin Sawi Viewpoint is at the The Prince Chumphon Veterans Memorial and is 58km south of Chumphon Town. Take Highway 41 from Chumphon town for some 45km til you reach the junction for the 4189, signposted to Ban Ao Mamuang. Follow this road for 5km till the junction for the 4011.

Turn left onto the 4011 and the road up to the Shrine can be found after 4Km.

The shrine to the Prince of Chumphon (Abhakara Kiartivongse) is contained within this ornate building.

The Prince of Chumphon was Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, also known as Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak or Sadet Tia. He played a pivotal role in Thai history, especially regarding the Royal Thai Navy. Key facts -

Born in 1880, Abhakara was the 28th child of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).
He showed a keen interest in the navy from a young age and received naval training in England.
Upon returning to Thailand, he spearheaded the modernization and reorganization of the Siamese Navy, which later became the Royal Thai Navy.
His accomplishments include establishing naval schools, acquiring modern warships, and developing naval strategies.
He earned the honorific title "The Father of the Royal Thai Navy" in 1993, and numerous shrines and memorials stand in his honor across Thailand such as the one here at Tha Hin.
Prince Abhakara was also a skilled physician and interested in traditional medicine.
He established hospitals and promoted herbal remedies for public health.
He even earned the nickname "Mor Phon" (Doctor Phon) from the people.
His compassion and dedication to social well-being extended to supporting education and agriculture.
Prince Abhakara passed away on May 19, 1923, at the age of 42. His death was attributed to influenza, which he contracted after being exposed to cold rain while at Hat Sai Ri beach.

The shrine is high up on the side of a coastal hill which offers nice views out to sea. Here looking south across to the islands of Ko Sup and Ko Maphrao (the larger).

Further south down the coast can be seen the lovely islands of Ko Yo and Ko Muk. Our visit to these islands is recorded here - Islands off Tambon Dan Sawi 2.

If you look straight out to sea you can see the islands of Ko Khang Suea (on the left) and Ko Rang Ha.

Looking north up the coast you get a nice view down upon a small fishing village.

Beyond the fishing village you can see three islands. The larger, on the right, is Ko Mat Wai Yai.

And the other two are Ko Thong Kaeo with Ko Mat Wai Noi (the larger).

In the construction of the memorial and remedial measures taken after a landslide the whole of the top of an adjacent hill was removed for fill material, which you can see in the top photo. Here they have put stuff for that Instagram moment.