Phetchaburi Province in Central Thailand
Phetchaburi is an old city and used to be an important fort town of Thailand long ago. It was formerly called by many names such as Muang Phribphli and Muang Petchphli. Phetchaburi occupies an area of 6,225.1 square kilometers and is divided into eight Amphoes: Muang, Cha-am, Khao Yoi, Tha Yang, Ban Lat, Ban Laem, Nong Ya Plong and Kaeng Krachan.
What to see and what to do in Phetchaburi?
Tham Khao Yoi cave is located on Khao Yoi Hill, Amphoe Khao Yoi, 22 Kilometers from the town. Buddha images of various attitudes are housed here. Khao Yoi Cave was the place where King Mongkut practiced meditation while he was in the monkhood.
Khao Wang in Amphoe Muang is 92 meters high. King Mongkut was very fond of Khao Wang so he commanded a vacation palace built on top of it in 1860. He named it Phra Nakhon Khiri. However, Phetchaburi inhabitants have call it "Khao Wang".
At present, Khao Wang is established as Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, open everyday from 8.:30-16:30 hrs. Some parts of the complex on the western mountaintop have been converted into Phra Nakhon Khiri National Museum which is open to the public from 9:00-16:00 hrs. everyday except Monday and Tuesday. To go up Khao Wang, one can either walk or take a cable car.
Khao Wang Palace, Phetchaburi
Khao Bandai It is a rather small hill 121 meters high located two kilometers from Khao Wang. An ancient monastery built in the Ayutthaya period is named Wat Khao Bandai It. There are several caves in this hill such as Tham Prathun, Tham Phra Chao Sua and Tham Phra Puttha Saiyat.
Tham Khao Luang cave is located on Khao Luang Hill which is only 92 meters high, and five kilometers from Khao Wang. Khao Lunag Cave is regarded as the most important cave of Phetchaburi because it houses a dressing Buddha image which was cast by the royal command of King Chulalongkon as the dedication to King Nang Klao and King Mongkut.
On the right of Khao Luang Access Road at the foot of the hill there is a large monastery called "Wat Tham Klaep" or Wat Bunthawi. It has a very large multipurpose hall, The Sala Kanparien and the wooden door panels of the Ubosot are beautifully carved.
Hat Chao Samran beach, 15 kilometers from the Phetchaburi Provincial market, used to be a famous seaside resort in the old days. Legend says that King Naresuan the Great and King Eka Thotsarot used to make royal visits here. They enjoyed the beauty of this beach so very much that they spent many nights there causing the villagers to call it the "Beach of Royal Leisure"
Four kilometers from Hat Chao Samran is Laem Luang Beach, a white sandy beach two kilometers in long. Seven kilometers from Hat Chao Samran to the south is Hat Puktian which is another popular beach in Phetchaburi.
Hat Cha-am beach is located 41 kilometers from the town. The access road to the beach is two kilometers long. It is a very beautiful beach.
Kaeng Krachan National Park is the most extensive national park of Thailand occupying an area of 2,915 square kilometers. It was declared a national park on June 12, 1981 with clearly defined areas for reservoir and the jungle to the north of the dam in the park area. Its main characteristic is a year round green jungle originating many rivers. Within the mountainous forest are beautiful peaks offering scenic views and the Thothip Waterfall which has 18 levels. Kaeng Krachan National Park is located some 60 kilometers from the provincial capital. Visitors may travel by regular buses from Phetchaburi and transfer to mini buses at the entrance of the road leading to Kaeng Krachan Dam. The national park office is located beside the dam reservoir.
Marukkhathayawan Palace is located between Cha-am and Hau Hin on the beachside with a two kilometers access road. King Rama VI used it as a vacational accommodation during the summer. The palace is noted for three two-storeyed wooden pavilions facing the sea and is referred to as "the palace of love and hope". Now the palace is taken care of by the Patrol Police Headquarters.
Poi Sang Long Precession is a celebration of novice ordination which the Thai Yai tribe people hold to be a highly meritorious occasion. Offerings for monks are carried through the town in a gala procession. It is usually held during March and May before the Buddhist Rain Retreat period.