Local Foods

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Phetchaburi is well known as a province that produces several kinds of delicious desserts such as

khanom mo kaeng (semilar to pudding, made of crushed steamed mong bean, egg, cocount milk and sugar which is, after well mixed, baked under the charcoal fire)

khao kriap (dried pastry sheet having coconut, sugar and sesame as ingredients and has to be grilled on a charcoal fire before serving)

honey baked banana fruits toffee kluai khai (small banana having sweeter flavour) etc.

Visitors can buy those local product both in town and long Phetch Kasem road side and Khao Wang area for consumption and/or as souvenir. Phetchaburi is also famous for its fruits especially rose-apples and Iamuts (sapodillas) besides, there are mangoes, tamarinds oranges and kluai khai (small bananas having sweeter flavour).

Tham Khao Luang

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This cave is located approximately five kilometers from khao Wang. From the foot hill, there are concrete stair cases leading to the cave entrance. Khao Luang is a small-sized hill having a height of 92 meters at the peak. However, Khao Luang Cave is regarded as the Largest and most important cave of Phetchaburi province because the important ornamented Buddha image built by King Rama V and dedicated to King Rama III and IV is enshrined here.

This cave had been a royal picnic site since the King Rama IV period. He was very fond of this place so that he commanded the renovation of several old Buddha images in the cave. On the right hand side of the entrance at Khao Luang foot hill, there is a big beautiful monastery called by Phetchaburi folks Wat Tham Klaep which is now Wat Bun Thawi.

There are some interesting items to be seen in this monastery such as a hude multipurpose pavilion, and beautiful wood carved door panels of the main shrine hall which was designed and constructed by the Lord Abbot who was a famous artisan. The old legend told by Phetchaburi folks for centuries is that the entrance of the cave at this monastery is the entrance of a twilight zone town where inhabitants are only young maidens.
 

    
Tham Khao Yoi

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This cave is located on Khao Yoi Hill, 22 kilometers prior to arriving at Amphoe Muang Phetchaburi. The Hill is outstanding on the edge of Highway No.4 the cave is in the east part of the hill which is located behind the railway station.

There are many Buddha images of several size and attitudes enshrined in the cave like those of Khao Luang Cave or Khao Bandai It Cave. According to the history, those Buddha images were enshrined long ago before the place was renovated by Phra Khru On of Wat Thai Talat. The legend also says that when King Mongkut was in the monkhood he once made a pilgrimane and stayed overnight for several nights, firstly in front of the hill and lately moved in to the cave, for meditation practice.
 

 
Khao Bandai It

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This is a small hill having a height of 121 meters at he peak. It is located two kilometers from Khao Wang. On the hill there is a very old monastery called Wat Khao Bandai It, and built in the Ayutthaya era. It is a famous school for meditation practice where King Sua of the late Ayutthaya era used to apply himself a student of the Lord Abbot Saeng. Besides Wat Khao Bandai It, there are several caves which are huge in size and are located underneath the hill.

The first cave is called “Tham Prathun” which has buddha images enshrined along both walls of the cave. If one goes further inside the can reach another cave called “Tham Phra Chao Sua”. The name was give to the cave because King Sua came here to visit his teacher, Lord Abbot Saeng, who was offered a two-meter standing Buddha statue this statue is in the attitude of calming the ocean and has been enshrined in that cave over since then.

Another cave located deeper inside is “Tham Phraphuttha Saiyat” which literally means the “Reclining Buddha Cave”. Such name is given to the cave because a seclining Buddha is enshried inthat cave. Besides the Buddha image, there is also (in the cave too) a very old wooden boat roof which was offered to the Lord Abbot Saeng by King Sua. In addition, there are several more caves such as Phra Athit Cave, Phra Chan Cave, Duke Cave (the name given to the cave after a visit made by Duke Johan Albert), Sawang Arom Cave, and Chang Phuak Cave, which may satisfy cave visitors to a high degree.

Phra Nakhon Kriri Historical Park or Khao Wang

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This hill originally called Khao Samana or Khao Khiri, is located in the vicinity of Amphoe Muang Phetchaburi. The peak is 92 meters high. King Mongkut, Rama IV of the present dynasty, saw this hill and was so fond of the location that he gave an order to Phraya Phet Nisai Sisawat, Chief Administrative Officer of Muang Phetchaburi , to carry out the construction of a palace which he could use during his picnic trip. The construction was completed in the year 1860. It was named by the royal command, Phra Nakhon Khiri, But folks of Phetchaburi commonly call it Khao Wang (Palace Hill) until now. Phra Nakhon Khiri comprises royal halls, palaces, wats, and groups of buildings. The complex which was constructed mostly of harmonious Western neoclassic and Chinese architecture tops the following 3 large mountains : Eastern mountaintop, location of a hillside temple called Wat Maha Samanaram within the rite hall of which there are mural paintings by Khrua In Khong, a renowned painter in Thai history. Middle mountaintop, location of a 40 meters high chedi called Phra That Chom Phet inside of which the Buddha’s relic had been placed. From here, a wide view of buildings on another 2 nearby mountaintops as well as Phetchaburi’s provincial city can be seen. Western mountaintop, location o froyal residence complex including Phra Thi Nang Phet Phum Phairot, Phra Thi Nang Pramot Mahaisawan, Phra Thi Nang Wetchayan Wichian Prasat, Phra Thi Nang Ratcha Tham Sapha, Ho Chatchawan Wiang Chai, Ho Phiman Phet Mahesuan, Tamnak Santhakhan Sathan, Ho Chatuwet Parit Phot and Sala Thatsana Nakkhataroek. There are also several other buildings which are typical of palaces within the complex such as garage, stable, Sala Mahat Lek (royal page hall), Sala Lukkhun (official hall), Sala Dan (post), Sala Yenchai (hall for relaxation), Thim Dap (bodyguard rooms), and kitchen.4 forts stand at the 4 corners of the complex, each was named in rhyme starting with Thatarot Pongpok in the east. Wirunhok borirak in the south, Wirupak Pongkan in the west, and Wetsuwan Raksa in the north. Some parts of the complex on this western mountaintop were altered into Phra nakhon Khiri National Museum where priceless antiques such as King Rame IV’s and King Rama V’s paraphernalia, bronze and brass sculptures used for decorative purposes in several rooms of various buildings, and ceramics from China, Japan, and Europe are put on exhibition. The museum is open daily between 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. except Monday and Tuesday. Admission Bt 5 each. Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park is open everyday between 8.30 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. Admission Bt20. The mountaintop palaces are accessible either o foot or by cable railway which charge Bt10 each for one-way and Bt15 each for round trip.

Wat Mahathat Worawihan

This is a very old monastery of Changwat Phetchaburi and there are clearly divided areas, i.e., the Phetchaburi or the temple area and the Sangkhawat or the monk’s living quarters, inside the monastery. The interesting construction of the monastery is the five-topped prang which was constructed in accordance with Mahayana concept as an offering to the five Thayani Buddhas. There is a replica of each on each top of the prang. It is presumed that this five-topped prang should have originally been a five-topped pagoda as same in Changwat Nakhon Si Thammarat and was then transformed into a five-topped prang later.

Wat Khao Takhrao

This monastery is located at Tambon Bang Khrok, Amphoe Ban Laem and is accessible by two routes, i.e., through a 15 kilometer left hand branching road not far from Phetchaburi township (coming from Bangkok) where one can recognize a clear sign board, and another route is going from Phetchaburi township to Ban Laem Where one has to continue the journey for another six kilometer distance.

This monastery houses a sitting Buddha images in the subding evil attitude having a height of 29 inches and a lap width of 21 inches it is called Luang Phao Khao Takhrao. There are a huge number of villagers and visitors who make a trip to pay homage and affix to the image, as an offering, gold leaf thus currently causing non clear vision of the original image’s characteristics. There is a legend saying that this luang pho is one of the three brother Buddha images and the other two are : Luang Pho Sothon of Changwat Chachoengsao and Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem of Changwat Samut Songkhram. Some other legends say this image is one of the five-brother images, i.e., to include Luang Pho Bang Phli Yai and Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing of Changwat Nakhon Pathom to the above three images.

However, the source of origin of this Buddha image is that during the fall of the Ayutthaya era, the villagers of Ban Laem migrated from Phetchaburi to the mouth of the Mae Klong River (the present Samut Songkhram folks descend from those people) just to be away from the Burmese troop marching route. One day a fisherman found two Buddha images through his usual trawling, in the bay area. One image is a standing buddha in the attitude of carrying an alms bowl, and another is a sitting Buddha in the attitude of subduing evil. Ban Laem folks enchrined the standing Buddha at Wat Ban Laem which is now Wat Phetch Samut Wiham in the heart of Samut Songkhram township while the rest was give to relative at Bang Tabun to be enshrined at Wat Khao Takhrao of Amphoe an Laem, Changwat Phetchaburi.
 

 
Wat Kuti

A temple at Tambon Bang Khem with a teak bot (a rite hall). Its outer surface of the walls is carved into scenes depicting the Ten Incarnations of the Buddha and the door panels in to openwork of inter twined sprays patterns, all with masterly craftsmanship.

Hat Cha-Am

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This beach is located 41 kilometers from the township area where a two kilometers road branches off on the left to the beach. Cha-Am beach is the most beautiful beach of Chang Phetchaburi. Originally, Cha-Am was a tambon of Amphoe Nong Jok. After Hua Hin became popular , thus causing its land to become occupied by high rank and royal family members. They tried to locate a new resort location and under the leadership of HRH. Prince Narathip they recognized that Cha-Am beach was just as beautiful as Hua Hin Beach. Since then Cha-Am has become much more well known to the public. It was developed and promoted , and now has a district status. The State Railways of Thailand operates a special trip to Cha-Am on every holiday. Detailed information can be obtained from Travel service Section, Tel 2237-010, 2237020.
 
 

Kaeng Krachan National Park

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This is the most extensive national park of Thailand occupying an are of 2,915 square kilometers or 1.8 million rai. It was declared to be 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 general characteristic is that it is a year round green jungle originating many rivers.
 
PLACES OF INTEREST WITHIN THE PARK AREA :
The Lake : The lake occupies an approximate area of 45 square kilometers. It is generally called Kaeng Krachan Reservoir. A cruising trip is very popular with tourists visiting here.

Natural Pine Trees Hill : This Place is located nine kilometers from the park office along the topped dam road. On the hill top there are scenic spots, cliffs, and a rock garden.

There are several more tourist attractions in the park area but it is not yet developed. Therefore, those who are interested to visit such places have to make a foot trip. It is advised that a trekking trip should be made with the cooperation of Forest Department officials.
 

Phraram Ratchaniwet

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This palace, originally called Ban Pued Palace, was located at Tambon Ban Mo, Amphoe Muang Changwat Phetchaburi. King Chulachomklao, Rama V, desired to have it built as a rainy season palace with his own money. The plot of land was bought from a villager and the design was made by a German, Mr.Karl Deurring. Admiral HRH Prince Boriphat of Nakhonsawan HRH Prince Damrony were assigned to monitor the construction. The palace is of European design and construction began in 1909 and completed in 1916. The palace was named during the reign of king Rama VI as Son Phetch Prasat Palalce. The name was changed to be Phraram Raatchaniwet in the year 1918 when it was used as palace to welcome and accommodate state visitors.
 
During the reign of King Rama VII the Place was utilized, by the royal command, as Boy Scout Commanding School, Agricultural Teacher Training College, TamBon Public School, etc. In the year 1986, the Royal Thai Army requested the cooperation of the Fine Arts Department to renovate the palace spending the budget of the fine Arts Department to the amount of 2.8 million baht and the budget of the Royal Thai Army to the amount of 8.3 million baht. The renovation was completed in the year 1987. It is expected that this palace will be used as the Phetchaburi National Museum. To enter Phraram Ratchaniwet, a notifying letter must be delivered in advance to Commander of Military District, 3 rd Battalion, 11 Infantry, Amphoe Muang, Phetchaburi 76000.
 

    
Ma Ruk Ha Thai Ya Wan Palace

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This palace is a royal seaside resort. The construction materials were obtained from the demolished Hat Cho Samran Palace by th royal command of king Vaijravudh in the year 1923. Located at Tambon Huai Nua , Amphoe Cha-Am KM.216, it is a litte bit beyond Cha-Am Beach (going from Bangkok).

This palace is noted for three two – storeyed wooden pavilions facing the sea, and is referred to as “the palace of love and hope”. Series of halls are linked together throughout the palace. Residential halls of the royal consort members are located on the right wing. The central group of halls which is the royal residence consist of royal sitting and relaxing rooms, accommodations for close royal servants called Phisan Sakhon Hall, and the reading room.

In addition, Samoson Sewakamat Hall, a two-storey open pavilion, is used as a meeting place, and sometimes as a theater. Two important dramas were shown on this stage in 1941 : “Phra Ruang” and “Wiwah Phra Samut”. Chao Phraya Ramrakhop ordered a statue of King Vajiravudh, as a royal dedication, to be enshrined in the hall of Marukhathaiyawan Palace. An annual rite is conducted on November 25, the aniversary of King Vajiravudh’s death.

Phetchaburi is a very old town and used to be an important royal for a along period of time. There were so many names by which to call this town in the old days, such as, Phripphri, Phripphli or Phetchaphli. Some historians have said that the name Phetchaburi could be the original name because it is found on Stone Scrip-true No.1.

It could have been named after the Indian style, according to Indian influence during those day, like some other towns in Thailand, such as, Ayothaya, Kanchanaburi, Suwannaphum. In addition, it is also believed that the name Phetchaburi might have originated from the Phetch River which is an important river of this town.