Ratchaburi

Located on the bank of the Mae Klong River, 80 kilometres from Bangkok, the provincial area abounds in natural attractions and historical sites.

Major Attractions

Wat Phra Si Rndna Mahatuat

Locally called Wat Na Phra That, this ancient temple is located on the west hank of the Mae Klong River in the town. Its elegant prang or pagoda remains in good condition and was probably copied from Cambodia's Angkor Wat.

Khao Wang

44 metres high and Originally called "Khao Sattanat." this hill is located 2 kilometres 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 l887. The palace area wasdonated to be used as a temple, which was later called "Wat Khao Wang."

Khao Kaen Chan

At the foot of this mount, 2 kilometres 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. 1.6 kilometres up to the peak, visitors can see a clear view of Ratchaburi.

Tham RMesi Khao Ngu

This famous attraction is 8 kilometres from town along Highway 3078. The cave houses a 2.5-metre-high bas-relief Buddha image in the attitude of giving the first sermon.

Ratchatori National Museum

It is located on Woradet Road near the river. The museum displays art and anclent items of different periods found in the local area, and exhibits the history of Ratchaburi, as well as its folk and geology. It is open daily except Mondays and Tuesdays from 9.00 a.m' - 5.00 p.m. Admission fee is 30 baht.

Tham Khao Bin

Considered the most beautiful cave in Ratchaburi, it is located 20 kilometres from town along the route to Amphoe Chom Bueng. The cave extends 300 metres from the mouth and offers. amazlng scenes of beautiful sta1actite and stalagmite formations.

Tham Chomphon

The cave is 30 kilometres west of the town in the vicinity of Amphoe Chom Bueng. It was named according to the shape of the stalactites which look like the epaulette of a field marshal. It also houses a medium-sized reclining Buddha.

Pong Yup

Located in Tambon Tha Khoei, this attracts visitors with plenty of strange looking earthen pillars and cliffS naturally created by soil eroslofl.

Phawothai Local Museum

It is located 2 kilometres from Amphoe Suan Phueng. Two Thai-style houses in a pleasant garden display a collection of ancient artefacts.

Bo Meng Hot Stream

Located 5 kilometres beyond Amphoe Suan Phueng and another l0 kilometres along an access road, the stream is full of mineral water and is believed that it can be used for skin treatment. The waterflows all year round with temperature ranges between 50-68 degrees Celsius.

On the route to the hot stream, a 3-kilometre branch road leads to Kao Chon Waterfall, which consists of 9 cascades. The falls are plentiful during the late rainy season.

Wat Khongkharam

This l00-year-old ethnic Mon temple is in Amphoe Photharam, some 22 kilo-metres from Ratchaburi. The fine mural paintings about Lord Buddha's life in the main shrine hall are full of detail making them seem real.

Khao Chong Phran

The hill is l7 kilometres north of Ratchahuri along Highway 3089. The roadside hill has 2 interesting caves. One houses more than l0O Buddha images, the other is home to some three million bats. As the sun sets, the bat all disperse on their search for food and the mountain looks like a volcano disgorging thick black smoke.

Wat Khanon

More than 300 Nang Yaishadow puppets are well preserved at this temple, some 10 kilometres from Amphoe Photharam. Nang Yai is an old form of enter-tainment which gathers many kinds of arts. The intricate carved puppets are portrayed on the screen by skilled male performers. The performance is usually demonstrated on Saturday. from 10.00 - 11.00 a.m.

Damnoen Saduak Floatins Market

Located some 80 kilometres southwest of Bangkok, this market sees the daily mornlng congregation of produce-laden boats as farmers and smallholders trade in agricultural produce. Boats can be hired for surveying canalside villages.

Local Products

Glazed Jars and Ceramicware

There are many ceramic factories in Ratchaburi which make old-designed water jars including the dragon design, as well as other small ceramlc souvenirs.

Pha Tin Jok

Wat Khae Sai, about 8 kilometres from town, is a centre of Tin Jok weaving fabrics. The villagers are descendants of settlers from Chiang Saen of the Lanna Thai kingdom some one hundred years ago.

Major Event

Damnocn Saduak Floating Market and Sweet Grape Wiek Fair

This fair features a beauty contest, a Thai cooking competition, agricultural exhibitions, and local product sales including fruits and Thai sweets.

How to Get There
Ratchaburi is best visited with tours operating from Bangkok. The Association of Thai Travel Agent (Tel:(66 2) 237-604 6-8) can provide details. Independent visitors can use aircon-ditioned buses that leave Bangkok's Southern Bus TerminaI (Tel: (66 2) 434-5558) throughout the day. The single fare for the 2-hour trip is 63 baht. Trains leave Bangkok's Hualam-phong Railway Station (Tel:(66 2) 223-7010, 223-7020), for Ratchaburi throughout the day. Fares and trip duration vary according to the type of train-ordinary, rapid, express or sprinter-and class (1st, 2nd or 3rd).