|
In 1200 A.D., the area was known as
Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal cities that had a monkey as the town symbol.
During this period of time, Krabi was under the rule of the Kingdom of Ligor, a
city better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.
During the reign of King Rama V
(1868-1910), the community was known as Pakasai Sub-county and remained under
the direct jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
Around 1872, King Rama V elevated
Pakasai Sub-county to Krabi Province with the provincial administration office
situated at Krabi-yai Sub-county (currently, the office is located near the
estuary at Pak Nam Sub-district) and in 1875, ordered the separation of Krabi
Province from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.
During the present reign, the corps of
civil servants, merchants, and the people of Krabi and nearby provinces have
collectively organized the construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak
Cape which is thirty kilometers west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast to be
presented to His Majesty the King.
Origin of the name
Krabi
There are two legends
concerning the origin of the name "Krabi". The first is that villagers presented
a large ancient sword (or krabi) that was discovered by chance to the governor.
Later when a smaller, on discovering a smaller one, it was also presented to the
governor. Regarded as sacred and auspicious, the governor decided to keep them
in the province. As the process for the establishment of the province was still
in progress, the swords were placed crossing each other in Khao Khanap Nam cave.
Since then, the crossed swords have remained a part of the provincial
seal.
The second legend is that "Krabi" was
derived from the name of a local tree known as "Lumphi". The Malay and Chinese
merchants mispronunciation of the name to "Ka-lu-bi" or "Kho-lo-bi" finally
resulted in "Krabi" (or sword). | 
