Amphoe
Muang
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
p.m. exept Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission fee is 30
baht.
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
This ancient temple, locally called Wat Na Phra That,
is located on the west bank 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. 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
Borommakot of Ayutthaya. Buddha images of Dvaravati,
Lop Buri and Ayutthaya periods are placed around the
pagoda.
2 kilometres 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.
Amphoe
Photharam
Khao Chong Phran
This hill is located in Tambon Tao Pun, Amphoe Photharam,
17 kilometres 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 kilometres 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 pupputs
are protrayed 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 Khongkharam
This 100 year old ethnic Mon temple is at Tambon Khlong
Ta Khot, Amphoe Photharam, some 22 kilometres 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
carving designs.
Amphoe
Damnoen Saduak
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
This is the best known destination in Ratchaburi where
the timeless lifestyle of native Thai people can be
observed along the canals. The Floating Market, approximately
400 metres from the Damnoen Saduak District Office,
operates every morning till noon. Boats can be hired
for surveying canalside villages together with a house
making coconut sugar.
Amphoe Chom Bueng
Tham Chomphon
This cave is 30 kilometres west of the town in the vicinity
of Amphoe Chom Bueng. 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.
Tham Khao Bin
This is the most beautiful cave in Ratchaburi. It is
located 20 kilometres from the town along the route
to Amphoe Chom Bueng and 2 kilometres along an access
road. The cave extends 300 metres from the mouth and
offers truly amazing scenes of plentiful stalactite
and stalagmite formations.
Tham Ruesi Khao Ngu
This famous attraction of Ratchaburi is 8 kilometres
from the town along the road to Amphoe Chom Bueng (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.
Amphoe
Suan Phueng
Bo Khlueng Hot Spring
Located 5 kilometres beyond Amphoe Suan Phueng and another
10 kilometres along an access road, the stream is full
of mineral water and is believed that it can be used
for skin treatment. The water flows all year round from
the Tanaosi Range. Its 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.
Phawothai Local Museum
This is located 2 kilometres from Suan Phueng district.
Two Thai style houses in a pleasant garden displays
a collection of ancient artefacts. The museum is open
only on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is 50 baht.
Call 0 3221 1189 for more information.
Pong Yup
5 kilometres before arriving at Amphoe Suan Phueng,
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.
Amphoe
Ban Pong
Wat Muang
This is a Mon temple situated in Tambon Ban Muang, west
of Amphoe Ban 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.
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