Tha Ruea is a district (amphoe) in northeastern part of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, central Thailand.

History

The original name of the district was Nakhon Noi. In 1917, it was renamed Tha Ruea to commemorate an important event within the district. When the hunter Bun found the Buddha's footprint in Sara Buri province, King Songtham travelled by royal barge along the Pa Sak River to worship. He moored his royal barge in the district, and continued his travel overland. His route has since become a royal tradition, as later kings always travelled by this way to worship Buddha's footprint in Wat Phra Phutthabat. The Thai word "tha ruea" means "port" or "pier". In 1965, Tha Ruea was the scene of a major robbery by three gangs, totaling 17 people. The robberies were a wet market and a police station. The robbers brazenly shot at the police station, as if they had no fear of the law. Eventually, the robbers were caught, some of them were extrajudicially executed, and six were sentenced to public firing squads the following year. The event inspired the 2004 film Siames Outlaws.

Geography

Neighbouring districts are (from the north clockwise) Don Phut, Ban Mo, Sao Hai, Nong Saeng of Saraburi province, and Phachi and Nakhon Luang of Ayutthaya Province.

Administration

Provincial government

The district is divided into 10 subdistricts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 84 villages (mubans).

Local government

As of 31 December 2018 there are two subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon) in the district. The non-municipal areas are administered by nine Subdistrict Administrative Organizations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).

Transportation