Saraburi Thailand Hotels & Resorts, Holidays & Travel Information Saraburi Thailand

Saraburi, a province in the upper central region of Thailand is rich in tourist attraction resources including natural sites, artifacts, festivals, temples as well as historical sites. Located 108 kilometers from Bangkok and 65 kilometers from Ayutthaya it is conveniently commutable within a day.

Topographically the southern and western parts of Saraburi are plateaus 2 meters above sea level. Ranging from plains to plateaus of 8 to10 meters high above sea level broken by mounds and hills, the land gradually rises to the north and the northeast.

Saraburi is on the one very important river: the Pasak River which flows through Amphoe Muak - lek, Kaengkhoi, Muang Saraburi and Saohai and meets the Chao Phraya River at Ayutthaya.
It s length is 105 kilometers. Important canals are Raphiphat,Roeng - rang Wihandaeng, Phrieo etc.

Saraburi extends over an area of 3,576.48 square kilometers and is administratively divided into 11 districts (Amphoe): Muang Saraburi, Kaengkhoi, Nongkhae, Nongsaeng, Banmo, Saohai, Phra Phutthabat,Wihandaeng, Muak-lek, Nongdon, Donphut and Wangmuang.

Attractions:

Wat Phra Phutthabat
Located in Amphoe Phra Phutthabat; 28 kms. north of the town along Highway No.1; it is one of the most beautiful religious sites in Thailand. The temple houses the footprint of Lord Buddha found on a stone panel near Suwan Banpot Hill. The footprint was found in the reign of King Songtham of Ayutthaya. A cone-shaped structure or mondop was built to cover the footprint. The beautiful mondop; which is a square building has a seven-level castle roof. Each level is decorated with an arch supported by wood and decorated with gold and coloured glass.

The external walls are also decorated with gold and coloured glass in the shapes of mythological gods and rice offering ceremonies. The pearl inlay artwork on the mondop doors is one of the best samples of this type of craftsmanship in the country. A five headed Naga, mythical serpent, cast in bronze flanks the stairs to the stairs to the mondop entrance. The mondop is surrounded by bells used by visitors to make merit for other people. A museum in the temple displays many ancient objects including King Songtham's attire, old weapons, bronzeware and ceramics. Annual fairs celebrating the footprint are held twice a year, in February and March.

Wat Phra Phutthachai
At Km. 102 or Km. 104 before arriving in the town, there is a 5 km access road leading to this temple which is situated on a hillside. The main attraction is a picture of Lord Buddha appearing on a cliff wall. A Wihara has been built to cover it. The surroundings are very pleasant and shady.

Khao Sam Lan National Park
This is the nearest national park where tourists can take a short journey form Bangkok. It is 4 kms. beyond Wat Phra Phutthachai. The park offers many small waterfalls, some of which can be reached by short hiking trails. The best time to visit the falls is the late rainy season when water is plentiful.

Tham Krabok
This place is known for its treatment provided against narcotics addiction. It is located at Tambon Khun Khlon, Amphoe Phra Phutthabat, 25 kms. north of the town along Highway No. 1.

Muak Lek Food Market
This is located on Mitraphap Road (Highway No. 2), halfway form Saraburi to Pak Chong. This place is a centre for various kinds of local food including curry puffs, sweet meat, fresh vegetables and fruits, and dairy and meat products.

Muak Lek Arboretum
This is an intermediate forested area between Muak Lek and Pak Chong Districts, 37 kms. from Saraburi on Highway No. 2. The entrance is near the Muak Lek Food Market. The area is shady and very pleasant with stream where visitors can enjoy swimming.

Namtok Chet Sao Noi
This waterfall is 9 kms. beyond the Muak Lek Arboretum. There are many resorts on the route to the waterfall. The waterfall has many levels and offers a spacious shady swimming area.

Tham Phra Phothisat
This cave houses a bas-relief Buddha image of the Dvaravati period as well as beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations. It is located at Tambon Thap Kwang, Amphoe Kaeng Khoi, 15 kms. from the town along Highway No. 2 and 11 kms. along an access road.

Tham Phrathat Charoentham
This is another beautiful cave, which is full of stalactites and stalagmites. It is located at Tambon Song Khon, Amphoe Kaeng Khoi 22 kms. from Saraburi along highway No. 2.

Pa Sak River trip
The Pa Sak River, which runs through the area of Amphoe Kaeng Khoi, offers beautiful scenery of forests and high cliffs along the riverside. Boat trip are operated by some riverside resorts such as the Supalai Pasak Resort, 13 kms. beyond Kaeng Khoi market.

Major Events:
Tak Bat Dok Mai (Merit-Making Festival)
This impressive merit-making ceremony coincides with the start of the annual three-month Rains retreat (around June-July), when Buddhist monks must remain in their temples. Devotees offer flowers and incense to a procession of monks who then ascend to the Shrine of the Holy Footprint where they present the offering as a tribute to Buddha.

Local Products:
Marble Products Marble manufacturers are found at Tambon Na Phra Lan on the way to Amphoe Phra Phutthabat. The products are noted for their diversity and used for construction materials, interior decoration, down to small pieces of gifts, all crafted in fine workmanship.

Sao Hai Handwoven Fabrics
The weaving of the Sao Hai materials is an art handed down from the past by the Chiang Saen people who migrated from the north. While retaining the traditional way of hand looming the villagers have also been trained by the Department of Industrial Promotion in both designs and types of material which now include Madmi Pha Khao Ma, blankets, Pha Thung (native skirts) and satchels.

How To Get There:
Transportation between Saraburi and Bangkok or other Province is very convenient. There are various types of transportation available:

By-Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road) to Saraburi.The total distance is 108 kilometers
From Ayutthaya, take Highway No. 309 (Ayutthaya- Wangnoi) and turn left onto Highway No.1 (Phahonyothin) until you reach Sararburi City. The total distance is approximately 65 kilometers.

By-Bus
Air-conditioned buses leave the Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit) from 05.00 to 20.30 and leave Saraburi Bus Terminal from 05.00 a.m. to 08.10 p.m. The bus leaves every 15 minutes. The trip takes approximately 2 hours. The fare is 24 Baht. For further information, please contact Tel.(02)9361972, 9362841
By non - air-conditioned bus non- air-conditioned buses leave Saraburi Bus Terminal from 06.00 to 18.00 and leave Ayutthaya (Cho Phrom Market ) From 06.00 a.m. to 05.30 p.m. The bus leaves every 30 minutes. The trip takes approximately 2.20 hours and the fare is 18 Baht.

By-Train
From Bangkok Railway Station (HuaLumphong), there are many trains to Saraburi. The trip takes 2 hours. Moreover, there is a rail service touring Chedsaonoi Waterfall and Kusuma Farm Resort on a one-day excursion operated by State Railway of Thailand. The fare is 160 Baht for an adult and 125 Baht for a child. For further information, you may contact, State Railway of Thailand, Tel. (02) 2237010,2237020 or Kusuma Farm Resort Office, Tel. (02) 5614363, 5791591. Transportation between Ayutthaya and Saraburi is at follows: Northeastern trains go back and for the everyday.

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