Ратчабури, Таиланд
Ratchaburi, a glorious town during the
Dvaravati period, is located on the bank of the Mae Klong River. The provincial
area abounds in natural attractions and historical sites. It is located 80 kms.
west of Bangkok and borders on Myanmar to the west having the Tanaosi Range as a
borderline. Ratchaburi occupies an area of 5,196 square kilometers.
Ratchaburi is administratively divided into nine districts:
Muang Ratchaburi, Photharam, Damnoen Saduak, Pak Tho, Chom Bung, Bang Phae, Wat
Phleng, Suan Phung and Ban Pong.
Attractions
Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat This ancient temple, locally called Wat Na Phra
That, is located on the west bank of the Mae Klong River in the town. lts
elegant prang or pagoda remains in good condition and was probably copied from
Cambodia's Angkor Wat. The prang made of bricks and stones stands on a
rectangular base with pathways around the cloisters. The outer stucco designs
were made in the reign of King Borommarkot of Ayutthaya. Buddha images of
Dvaravati, Lop Buri and Ayutthaya periods are placed around the pagoda. Two kms.
west of Wat Na Phra That on the route to Khao Ngu is Wat Aranyik with a
prang identical to that of Wat Na Phra That but smaller in size.
Ratchaburi National Museum This is located on Woradet Road near the
river. The edifice was formerly the town hall, built in 1922. Established as a
museum in 1988, it displays art and ancient items of different periods found in
the local area, and exhibits the history of Ratchaburi, as well as its folk art
and geology. The museum is open daily from 9.00 a.m. - 4.00 a.m. except Mondays
and Tuesdays. Admission fee is 30 baht.
Khao Wang This hill is 44 metres high and was originally called "Khao
Sattanat". It is located 2 kms. west of the town. King Rama V had commanded a
palace to be built on the hill and made a royal visit to receive the Portuguese
minister in the year 1887. The palace area was donated by King Rama VII to be
used as a monastery, which was later called "Wat Khao Wang".
Khao Kaen Chan At the foot of this mount, 2 kms. from the town along
Phetchakasem Road, there is a statue of King Rama I erected as a memorial for
the fighting between Thailand and Burma at Ban Bang Kaeo. Continue for 1.6 kms.
up to the peak, visitors can see a clear view of Ratchaburi. A temple on the top
houses a metal Buddha image, namely Phra Phuttha Niraro-Khantarai Chaiwat
Chaturathit, which was presented by King Rama IX
Khu Bua Ancient City This archaeological site is where ruins and ancient
objects of Dvaravati period, mostly reflecting Buddhist influence, has been
discovered at Tambon Khu Bua, 5kms. south of the Ratchaburi Town. Visitors
should visit the Ratchaburi National Museum where a lot of archaeological
evidence as well as the history of this ancient city are exhibited.
Tham Rusi Khao Ngu This famous attraction of Ratchaburi is 8 kms. from
the town along the road to Amphoe Chom Bung (Route No. 3078). The cave houses a
bas-relief Buddha image, considered the oldest archaeological evidence of the
Dvaravati period found in Ratchaburi. The figure is 2.5 metres high in the
attitude of giving the first sermon.
Tham Khao Bin This is the most beautiful cave in Ratchaburi. It is
located 20 kms. from the town along the route to Amphoe Chom Bung and 2 kms.
along an access road.The cave extends 300 metres from the mouth and offers truly
amazing scenes of plentiful stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Tham Chomphon This cave is 30 kms. west of the town in the vicinity of
Amphoe Chom Bung. It was originally called Tham Mutchalin. In 1895, King Rama IV
and Queen Si Phatcharin made a royal visit and were fond of its beauty, thus
giving it a new name according to the shape of the stalactites which look like
the epaulette of a field marshal. The cave also houses a medium-sized reclining
Buddha. A nearby aboretum provides shady areas suitable for relaxation.
Central Literature Botanical Garden This is a hillside garden with all
kinds of trees mentioned in Thai literature. It is 20 kms. from the town along
the route to Amphoe Chom Bung.
Pong Yup 5 kms. before arriving at Amphoe Suan Phung, there is a 5-km.
branch road on the left leading to Pong Yup at Tambon Tha Khoei. This attracts
visitors with plenty of strange looking earthen pillars and cliffs naturally
created by soil erosion.
Phawothai Local Museum This is located 2 kms. from Amphoe Suan Pung. Two
Thai style houses in a pleasant garden displays a collection of ancient
artifacts.
Bo Khlung Hot Stream
Located 5 kms. beyond Amphoe Suan Phung and another 10 kms. along an
access road, the stream is full of mineral water and is believed that it can be
used year round from the Tanaosi Range. lts temperature ranges between 50-68
degrees Celsius.
On the route to the hot stream, a 3 km. branch
road leads to Namtok (waterfall) Kao Chon, which consists of 9 cascades. The
falls are plentiful during the late rainy season.
Wat Khongkharam This 100 year old ethnic Mon temple is at Tambon Khlong
Ta Khot, Amphoe Phontharam, some 22 kms. from Ratchaburi. The fine mural
paintings about Lord Buddha's life in the main shrine hall are full of detail
making them seem real. Completed in the early Bangkok period, they are very rare
and worth studying. The temple also houses a Thai style building entirely made
of teak with intricate carved designs.
Khao Chong Phran This hill is located in Tambon Tao Pun, Amphoe Photaram,
17 kms. north of Ratchaburi along the Khao Ngu - Boek Phrai route (Route No.
3089). The roadside hill has 2 interesting caves: Tham Phra Non housing more
than 100 Buddha images and Tham Khangkhao or Bat Cave, which is home to some
three million bats. As the sun sets over the horizon, they all disperse on their
search for food and the mountain looks like a volcano disgorging thick black
smoke.
Wat Khanon More than 300 Nang Yai puppets are well preserved at this
temple. some 10 kms. from Amphoe Photharam. Nang Yai is an old form of
entertainment which gathers many kinds of arts; for example, Thai sculpture and
classical performances. The intricate carved puppets are portrayed on the screen
by skilled male performers, and it can dance according to the music. The
performance is usually demonstrated on Saturday from 10.00 - 11.00 a. m.
Wat Muang This is a Mon temple situated in Tambon Ban Muang, west of
Amphoe Bang Pong along Route No. 3089 and a left turn after crossing the Mae
Klong River. Besides a Mon style pagoda, a well-managed folk museum has been
established as a research centre of history, way of life, and culture of this
Mon community.
Damonen Saduak Floating Market This is the best known destination in
Ratchaburi where timeless lifestyle of native Thai people can be observed along
the canals. The Floating Market, approximately 400 metres from the Damonen
Saduak District Office, operates every morning till noon. Boats can be hired for
surveying canal side villages together with a house making coconut sugar.
Distance from Amphoe Mueang to Other Districts :
|
Wat Phleng
Damnoen Saduak
Bang Phae
Photharam
Ban Pong
Chom Bueng
Suan Phueng
Pak Tho |
15 kilometres
50 kilometres
22 kilometres
26 kilometres
42 kilometres
30 kilometres
60 kilometres
22 kilometres |
How to get there :
By Car
a) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 4 (Phahonyothin Road) to
Ratchaburi via Bang Khae, Om Noi, Om Yai, Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom.
b) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 338 to Nakhon Chai Si via Buddhamonthon and
turn into Highway No. 4, then proceed to Ratchaburi.
By Bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus
Terminal daily. It takes 2 hour for the trip.
Contact Transport Co. Ltd. Call : 0 2435-1199-200 for more information.
By Train
Regular trains depart from both Hua Lamphong
Railway Station and Bangkok Noi Railway Station daily. Travelling time is 2
hours. Call 1690 for more information.
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