Phet Township and the neighbouring region
is not large. Tourist spots are close to each other, so a
walking tour is an interesting alternative for seeing the local
way of living. Visitors arriving by car also park in most temple
compounds and walk to nearby destinations. Visitors can have a
look at some magnificent stucco work created by Phet masters of
various periods. The fine craft man ship is the evidence of the
cultural continuity, from ancient masters regarded as Chang
Thewada, great master of divine skill, down to younger artists
who both imitated and developed the art from, making Phetchaburi
a unique school of stucco work.
See the magnificient artistic work Wat
Mahathat was built according to the old precept of having a temple in
the middle of the town to enshrine Buddha relics. The construction is
believed to have been taken place built during the time when khmer
kingdom was still powerful in this region about 800 years ago. The
temple has a collection of artistic and historical artifacts of various
periods, including stone wheel of the Dharma and the attired main Buddha
image in stucco work in the posture of subduing mara “Phra Buddha
Thewarit”, of Ayutthaya period, in the royal hall or wihan Luang; red
stone Bai Sema of Dvaravati-Lop Buri period, around Phra Ubosot, and
other work of Phetchaburi school of arts in Rattanakosin era. Mural
paintings in Wihan Luang depict the last previous life of Buddha “Maha
Vessandorn Jataka”, and Buddha in the posture of subduing mara on the
front wall. The old laterrite Phra Prang Ha Yot, the middle and tallest
stupa is 42 meters high surrounded by 4 smaller stupas.The royal hall
enshrines the three major and sacred Buddha images in Phetchaburi: Luang
Pho Wat Mahathat, Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem and Luang Pho Wat Khao Takhrao.
This temple of late Ayutthaya period is
the center of superb wood-caved works by artists of the
Pattanakosin era, such as the door panels of ubosot the main
prayer hall. Visitors can also see the museam of Namg Yai Shadow
plays, where nearly 40 pieces are what is left from more than
300 pieces made by Luang Pho Rit, a former abbot, about 100
years ago.
This temple was built in the late
Ayutthaya period. The foundation of the ubosot with a ship-galley curvy
base, a typical style of that time. The ubosot’s murals depict the ten
previous lives of the Lord Buddha. The mural opposite the main Buddha
image depicts the image is defeat of mara scene. The wooden panelled
wall of its exterior-wall or Fa Prakon is regarded as the most beautiful
in Thailamd. Sala Kanparian, the pavilion, has a superbly-carved wooden
pulpit by the river is called Sala Mahesuan.
The house beautifully decorated by wooden scrollwork, the very
last house of its kind left nowadays, belongs to the goldsmith,
Mrs. Nueang Faengsikham, the National Artist in 988.
Several shops of delicious inexpensive desserts, most of them
beginning in business for many years. Up the street near Aunt
Nueang’s house, a sign leads to Mae Samli’s in a small lane,
selling Khanom Mo Kaeng, Thong Yot, Thong Yip, Foi Thong, Khanom
Phing.
Walk across the Street and into Soi 2 Tha
Chong, Khun Pong shop sells Khanom A-lua. Walk straight further
until you reach Matayawong Road, there are two more shops:
Suan Lamai selling fragrant pandan Kalamae, and Sor. Rungrueang
selling sugar bolied puree from banana Kluai Kaun and many other
fruits.
Muang Phets market expensively lines from Chomklao Bridge to Yai
lines from Chomklao Bridge to Yai Bridge and Phanit Charoen
Road, including all lanes off this street.
The morning market starts early at 3 am. and ends at 9 am. Fresh
food, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and all local food and
desserts are just some of the products you will find on show.
Food stalls sell various eats from Khao Chae, Khanom Mo Kaeng,
Khanom Kluai, Thai custard Sangkhaya
The afternoon market is in the back of Phanit Charoen RD.
selling fresh food, and dried food such as fried shrimps, shrimp
paste, good-quality salted fish at cheap prices.
This temple is a must to admire the murals by great masters of
Ayutthaya period. Painting on the wall in the ubosot depicts the
gathering of angles in 5 lines and the most charming angle in
the posture of subduing mara and a cast figure of the former
Supreme Patriarch Taeng-mo.
The gable is the magnificient stucco work also by great masters
of the late Ayutthaya period, the pattern looks so alive as if
flapping in the wind.
Sala Kanparian or the pavilion is believed to have been former
residence of King Suea of Ayutthaya, dismantled to dedicate to
the former Supreme Patriarch Taeng-mo.
An old temple built in the Ayutthaya period, the stucco work
appears on the exterior wall of the chapel, depicting the scene
of pilgrimage to Buddha’s footprint on Sumanakut Hill in Sri
Lanka, the scene of a pavilion, a cliff and tree. The superb
craftsmanship is the model to be studied by younger artists
(the temple is
now deserted).
The biggest and oldest historical site, Wat Kamphaeng Laeng
provides evidence of Phetchaburi as a great settlement from 12th
– 13th centuries. The prasat of three late rite tall
stupas Prang is the architecture influenced by the Khamer of
Bayon period It is surrounded by kamphaeng laeng or a laterite
wall with some intact arched doors called Khopura. On the stone
walls appeared the Dvaravati stucco mouldings such as the
pattern of Naga or serpant gripped in the mouth of dragon and
the columns. This is the masterpiece artists who create their
own artistic work.
Contemporary work on the mondop’s gable by Master Chaloem
Phuengtaeng tell the Ramakien, the Thai version of Indian
Ramayana. Tosakan was caught by Phra Rama, with assistance of
Hanuman
The main chapel displays the stucco work by some contemporary
artists such as Master Thongruang Em’Oath, Master Sombat
Phunkoet, Master Chaloem Phuengtaeng and Master Soi Sinlapakop.
The wood-carved pulpit in Sala Kanparian is made in the pattern
of Pleo Kanok, so supple as if flapping in the wind.
The temple was built in Ayutthaya period. The main ubosot is
decorated with masterpiece stucco work especially the one
portraying a Garuda that looks do alive facing sideways in the
middle of the Phum pattern of which each tip flapping like
frames and the running scroll design with coiled stems.
Apart from the historical ruins, Khao Bandai it, the highest
line-stone hill of 120 meters in the township, has some
beautiful caves worth visiting. The first of the 3 important
caves is Tham Prathun of about 30 meters deep. The walls are
lined with as many as 40 Buddha images. The next cave, Tham Phra
Chao Suea, according to the legend is so called as Phra Chao
Suea had once come to see Phra Saeng and gave him an Buddha
image in the posture of pacifying the ocean enshined here. A few
meters further, Tham Phra Phuttha Saiyat, enshrines a big
reclining Buddha.
This temple or Wat Phra Non in another name, stands at the foot of Khao
Wang. The temple houses the beautiful reclining Buddha image or Phra
Phuttha Buddha image or Phra Phuttha Saiyat in stucco and brick work,
lacquered and covered with gold foil. One of the 4 largest reclining
Buddha in Thailand, and is believed to date back to the middle of the
Ayutthaya period. The status, presently enshrined in Phra Wihan
(formerlylaid outdoor)
contains inside many Dvaravati and U-thong Buddha images.
The stucco work at the main ubosot was done by artists of Ayutthaya
period. The base of the stucco Bai Sema, stones
(scared boundary stones)
on 4 sides, depicts demons and human beings of nations carrying the Bai
Sema. Above the base, the second level lines with Garuda and the third
level is the ancient Krachang pattern. The fourth level is a lotus
pattern and on the top stands the big and graceful double Bai Sema.
The temple or Wat Khao Wang stands at the foot of Khao Wang. Inside the
main ubosot, the murals are the work of a group of disciples of Master
Khua In Khong, the famous artist during the reign of King Rama IV. The
paintings still in clear colours depict the pilgrimage four stages of
life: birth, aging, sickness and death.
The cave is located at about 3 kilometers, away from the township inside
Khao Luang. Visitors can easily walk up to the see colourful stalagmite
and stalactities in the cave aerates a beautiful sun beam down a hall
below and makes the cave airy. This big hall houses a lot of religious
objects.
From the edge of the cave, visitors go down a slightly steep stairway
about 10 meters long to the large hall full of old Buddha images, stupas
and chedis. These historical objects built by the pilgrims of great
faith include one 6 –meters reclining image of Buddha and a large image
in the posture of subduing mara. ect. At the base of a statue inscribed
the royal emblems of King Rama IV. Some images were built and many were
restored by the royal remarks of King Rama IV.
There are yet several other caves on khao Luang and the whole area is
cool and shady by ancient frangipani. The yard is lively with vendors
selling fruits to visitors to feed monkeys which live on the hill.
Situated 6 kilometers before the entrance to Khao Yoi Office,
the old temple’s ubosot is wholly made of teak, in the size of 7
rooms long and 3 rooms wide, the balcony of 1 room wide, with
extending verandas. The exterior wall panels caved in bas-re
life depict the previous lives of Buddha in continuance. The
inner rear wall is notably different from other places, that is
the carving depicts the story of Sai aio. This superb work was
crated by a Chinese master called Chek Hong.
The center gathers complete information on Song’s tradition and way of
life. The exhibition building is the model of Song’s traditional house
displaying tools and utensils in daily life and traditional weaving,
demonstrating model traditions and performances and a souvenir shop,
Desides, home-stay accommodation can also be arranged for visitors, 5
persons per house
(see details on page 37).
