| 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.
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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.
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Damnoen Saduak is a ‘must-see’
destination and probably visited by nine out of every ten tourists who
visit Thailand. Every morning, hundreds of boats crowd the market area.
Most of them are paddled by women with picturesque straw hats. Visitors
can find everything from vegetables and fruits to freshly-cooked noodle
and souvenirs at this lively market.
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Siam Cultural Park situates in Wangyen sub - district the district of
Bangpae close to the famous Dumnurnsaduak Floating Market just a
kilometer from Bangpae intersection on Petkasem road.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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This is located 2 kms. from Amphoe Suan
Pung. Two Thai style houses in a pleasant garden displays
a collection of ancient artifacts.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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