Provinces in Central Thailand

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AYUTTHAYA

BANGKOK

KANCHANABURI

LOPBURI

SAMUT PRAKAN

AROUND BANGKOK

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
Within walking distance of the Grand Palace, across the Pramane Ground, is one of the largest and most comprehensive museums in Southeast Asia. The National Museum houses over one thousand artifacts ranging from neolithic times to present Bangkok period. The complex, begun in 1782, consists of several old but beautiful buildings of colorful Thai architectural design. The museum is open everyday, except Mondays Tuesdays and public from 9:00 - 16:00. Admission fee is 20 Baht. Guided tours are provided in the morning: commence at 9:30 am. From the ticket desk.

WAD PHO
This world famous temple is located right next to the Grand Palace, on the south side. It is one of Bangkok’s oldest and largest temples. Wat Pho was build by King Rama I nearly 200 years ago and houses the colossal gold-plated Reclining Buddha. This unique image is 46 meters in length and 15 meters high with beautifully inlaid mother-of-pearl soles. Wat Pho is also regarded as the first center of public education and is sometimes called “Thailand’s First University.” The building housing the Reclining Buddha is open daily from 9:00 - 17:00.

WAT TRAIMIT (Temple of the Golden Buddha)
At the end of the Yaowarat Road, near Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station, is a temple situated on Traimit Road. This temple is known for its famous Golden Buddha, constructed during the Sukhothai period. The image, of solid gold, is three meters high and weighs five and a half tons. The building housing this Buddha image is open to the public everyday from 9:00 - 17:00.

AYUTTHAYA

The ancient city of Ayutthaya, Thailand's capital for 417 years, is one of Thailand’s major tourist attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen in the city that was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, when the Thais were forced Southwards by their warring northern neighbors. During the period which Ayutthaya was capital, 33 kings of different dynasties ruled the Kingdom until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Ayutthaya boasts numerous magnificent ruins. Such ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one of Indo-China’s most prosperous cities. The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, a vast stretch of historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage since December 13, 1991. Ayutthaya is 72 kms north of Bangkok and administratively divided into 16 Amphoes.

ATTRACTIONS IN AYUTTHAYA

WAT PHRA SI SANPHET
This is the most important temple within the Royal Palace compound and corresponds to the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok’s Grand Palace. In 1500, a 16-meter high standing Buddha was cast by King Ramathipodi II. The image was covered with gold weighing some 170 kilograms. In 1767, the Burmese set fire to the image to melt off the gold, completely destroying the image and the temple. Nearby are three Ceylonese-style chedis build during the 15th Century to enshrine the ashes of three Ayutthaya King. These were renovated in 1956.

WAT PHRA MAHATHAT
This temple is on the corner of Chi Kun Road and Naresuan Road. It was built by King Ramesuan in 1384. The major construction was the high pagoda, or prang, which was destroyed by Burmese invaders. When the government undertook to restore all Ayutthaya ruins in 1956, the Fine Arts Department excavated the pagoda and found a buried treasure chest containing many valuables. Among the objects discovered were a relic of Lord Buddha, placed inside a golden casket, several golden Buddha images in different sizes, and many other objects in gold, ruby and crystal. These are now housed in Bangkok’s National Museum.

WAT YAI CHAI MONGKHON
This temple is also called “Wat Chao Phraya Thai.” It is located a few minutes outside of Ayutthaya. It was built by King U-Thong in 1357 for meditation. In 1592, when King Naresuan defeated Burmese by killing the Burmese Crown Prince in single-handed combat on elephants, he constructed the temple’s large pagoda to match the high pagoda at Chedi Phu Khao Thong which had purportedly been built by the Burmese. This massive pagoda, in ruinous state at the present, is visible from a great distance.

WAT PHANANCHOENG
This monastery, located south of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, has no record as to its date of construction or the person initiating its construction. It existed before Ayutthaya was founded as the capital. The principal image in the Wihan, called “Phrachao Phananchoeng” was built in 1325 A.D., is a golden Buddha 19 meters high made of stucco in the medition posture of Subduing Evil. Considered very beautiful, it is the most revered Buddha image to the inhabitants of Ayutthaya.

KANCHANABURI	.
Kanchanaburi is one of most beautiful provinces of Thailand, possessing a very delightful landscape. It is already well-known among World War II historians and movie-buffs as the site of the notorious “Death Railway” and the “Bridge over the River Kwai,” and among archaeologists for its neolithic burial grounds. Yet, the province also has numerous other places of interest for the nature-loving visitor who wants to spend more time here. Kanchanaburi is about 128 kms northwest of Bangkok, approximately 2.5 hours by road. It is administratively divided into 11 Amphoes and 2 khing-amphoes. The town of Kanchanaburi is located at the point where two tributaries, the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai (which have their source in the Ta-Nao-Si Range) meet and form the Mae Khlong River. The present provincial capital is relatively new town built by King Rama III in 1833. The old town is 18 kms away.
ATTRACTIONS IN KANCHANBURI	.
BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI This famous bridge is located on the bank of Kwai Yai River. It was brought from Java by the Japanese Army and was assembled at the River Kwai by the World War II prisoners during captivity. Bombed several times in 1945, it was re-built after the war again. The curved spans of the bridge are the original sections. An estimated 16,000 war prisoners and 49,000 forced laborers died during the construction of the bridge and Death-Railway line that leads to Burma. KANCHANABURI WAR CEMETERY This cemetery contains the remains of 6,982 World War II prisoners who lost their lives during captivity under the Japanese Forces, who forced them build the Bridge over River Kwai and the Death Railway. The Japanese Army brought British, Dutch, Australian and American war prisoners to Thailand and forced them to build the bridge and railway. JEATH WAR MUSEUM JEATH stands for Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The museum is a reconstructed P.O.W. (prisoners of war) thatched detention hut. Living quarters inside comprises raised bamboo bunks running the length of the hut. Visitors can how each POW was alloted a scrimping living space on the bunks. Posted on the walls of the huts are actual photos and illustrations of the atrocities against the prisoner. The museum is on the bank the Mae Khlong River inside Wat Chai Chumphon.

LOPBURI	.
Lopburi is an interesting town 153 kms north of Bangkok. It was one of the oldest capitals of the Khmers who expanded their power to the town of Lawo and Lop Buri at the beginning of the 10th Century. They ruled over the area until the middle of the 13th Century when the Thais, who had already migrated from the north and had settled down in this country, fought against them and declared the independence of the Thai. Since then, Lopburi has been ruled by the Thais. Many Monuments in Khmer style were constructed in Lopburi such as the Hindu Shrine, Phra Kan Shrine etc. These monuments still exist in abundance. In 1664, King Narai, a King of Ayutthaya, made Lopburi the second capital with the help of French architects. Therefore, the architectural style of Lopburi during the reign of King Narai was half Thai and half western as can be seen from the Royal Palace, the Royal Reception House, and so on. Lopburi covers an area of 6,199 sq.kms and is administratively divided into nine Amphoes and two khing-amphoes.
ATTRACTIONS IN LOPBURI	.
STATUE OF KING NARAI THE GREAT The Statue of King Narai the Great is situated at the entrance of the town. King Narai the great had Lopburi built as the second capital and made it prosperous. He also ordered his architects and his engineers to build Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, pavilions, fortifications and the Buddhist sanctuary. He was the first to bring modern technology into use in the observation and in laying terra-cotta pipes to supply water to the palace. Apart from this, for his foreign policy, King Narai was the First Thai Monarch to establish diplomatic ties with France and attribute friendly policy towards other foreigners especially the Europeans. SAN PHRA KAN San Phra Kan another Brahmanical shrine lying opposite Phra Prang Sam Yot consists of two sections. The old section dates back to the Khmer period and appears in the form of a laterite mound. The new section consists of a building constructed in 1951 containing a four-armed deity figure fixed with a Buddha’s head, which is now the project of worship. One of the most attractive sights for the tourists visiting San Phra Kan is the great number of tamed monkeys which feed themselves on food offered to the deity by worshippers.

SAMUT PRAKHAN	.
Samut Prakhan, also known as Pak Nam is situated at the end or mouth of the Chao Phraya River at the head of the Gulf of Thailand; it is popularly called by the people “Muang Pak Nam.” It occupies an area of 1,004 square kms, located only 25 kms from Bangkok. Samut Prakhan was established during the Ayutthaya period, with the original site at Amphoe Phra Pradaeng, also called Muang Phra Pradaeng. During the reign of King Rama II, Muang Samut Prakan was re-established at Tambon Pak Nam in the year 1819, which took three years to complete. Currently, Samut Prakhan Province is administratively divided into five amphoes.
ATTRACTIONS IN SAMUT PRAKHAN	.
CROCODILE FARM It is located in the vicinity of Tambon Thaiban, Three kilometers from the township. It is claimed to be the world’s largest crocodile farm reproducing crocodiles whose skins will be utilized for leather ware production while their flesh is exported to the market. Beside crocodiles of all stages of age, the farm also raises elephants, tigers, chimpanzees. Crocodile wrestling and feeding are demonstrated everyday. In addition, visitors will enjoy dinosaur museum, where more than 13 species of life-size creatures of dinosaurs and skeletons are on display and a slide multivision presenting stories on extinct animals and human being. PHRA SAMUT CHEDI This Pagoda is popularly called by the people “Phra Chedi Klang Nam” due to its original site on an island amidst the river. It is currently located close to the bank of the Chao Phraya River opposite the Provincial Hall. It was constructed during the reign of King Rama II in the year 1826 and completed during the reign of King Rama III. There is an annual fair celebrating the Pagoda for nine days and nine nights, commencing on the fifth waning moon day of the 11th lunar month. THE ANCIENT CITY This park, located in the vicinity of Tambon Bang Pu Mai, Amphoe Muang at km. 33.5 of Sukhumvit Road, houses replicas of important places of ancient religious worship of various provinces in Thailand. Some of those are miniaturized and some are actual sizes. It is also center of interesting folk arts and a cultural center. BANG PU SEASIDE RESORT This place is located in the vicinity of Tambon Ban Pu Mai, about 10 kms from Amphoe Muang. It is a rest and vacation place. A beautiful garden and restaurant inside the landscape makes it suitable for dining and viewing the pleasant scenery.

Information contained herein courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). For further information regarding Thailand, please send e-mail to info@travexnet.com .