Phra Pathom Chedi, the
largest pagoda in Thailand. Phra Pathom Chedi is the
official provincial symbol of Nakhon Pathom.
The present Phra Pathom Chedi was
built during the reign of King Rama IV in 1853, under
his royal command, the new Chedi was constructed to
cover the former Chedi of which the shape was of an
upside down bell shape with a Prang top. It is assumed
that the former Chedi dates back to the year 539 AD due
to the fact that the upside down bell shaped Chedi has a
similar style to the Sanchi Chedi in India which was
built in the reign of King Asoka. The construction of
the new huge Chedi was completed in the reign of King
Rama V in 1870 AD. In all, it took 17 years to build.
The completed Chedi is a circular one that features an
upside down bell shape Chedi (Lankan style). The height
from ground to a top crown is some 120.45 metres, and a
total diameter at the base is 233.50 metres. The sacred
Chedi houses Lord Buddha’s relics. During the reign of
King Rama VI, Wat Phra Pathom was renovated and later
the temple became the royal temple of King Rama VI.
Within the monastery compound, there are various
interesting historical items, including the Phra
Ruang Rodjanarith ,an image of Buddha bestowing
pardon, is enshrined in a vihara located to the North
and in front of Phra Pathom Chedi. The casting of this
Buddha image was casted during the reign of King Rama
VI: the image’s head, hand, and feet were brought from
Muang Srisatchanalai, Sukhothai.
Under royal command, a wax sculpture of the Buddha image
was moulded. The casting process was held at Wat Phra
Chettuphon in 1913. Later, the Buddha image was
enshrined in the vihara, located on the north side at
the top of a huge staircase. The King granted the name
of “Phra Rung Rodjanarith Sri-intharathit Thammamopas
Mahavachiravuth Rachpuchaniyabopitr” to this Buddha
image. At its base, the relics of King Rama VI are
housed. Additionally, there are:
Wat Phra Pathom Chedi Museum The museum is
located at a lower level in the east of the church. It
houses artefacts and historical remains which were
discovered during the excavations in Nakhon Pathom
including the coffin and funeral ritual set that were
used in Ya-Lei’s cremation ceremony. Ya-Lei was a dog
very dear to King Rama VI, that was shot and died. The
King was much saddened and commanded to building of a
monument for Ya-Lei as a token of his grief. The museum
is open daily from 09.00-16.30 except Monday and
Tuesday.
Then there is the
National Museum of Phra Pathom Chedi This is
also worth a visit. The National Museum of Phra Pathom
Chedi is located to the south of the Pathom Chedi
compound. It is a 2 storey modern Thai building that
houses artefacts and historical remains, most of which
dates back to Dvaravati period and were found during
excavations in Nakhon Pathom. For more information,
contact Khun Sunthorn, Pali Union Education Foundation
tel: 257-745 or Khun Panom Taeng On, Phra Pathom Chedi
Treasury and Preservation Office tel: 242-143. The
museum is open daily from 09.00-16.00 except Monday,
Tuesday and National Gazette holidays.
Another
historical site located in Wat Phra Prathon Chedi
temple, Tambon Phra Prathon. It is located 2 Kms. to
the east of Phra Pathom Chedi down Petchakasem Road.
The former shape of Phra Prathon Chedi was an upside
down bell like other Chedi that was built in
Dvaravati period. As Wat Phra Prathon Chedi is
located in the middle of the ancient city of Nakhon
Chaisi thus several artefacts were discovered during
excavations. Some of the discovered items include
Buddha images, heads of Buddha images and Buddha
images in terra cotta, as well as a bronze figure of
a garuda gripping naga under it’s claws, which is
the official symbol of King Rama VI.
Located
at Km.31 of Bormratchonnani Road, the museum houses
life-like sculptures created by a group of Thai
artists. These breathtaking human figures with
various characteristics and the replicas of
important people are displayed in many sections such
as the Great Buddhist Monks, Former Kings of Chakri
Dynasty, and One Side of Thai Life. The museum is
open to the public from 9.00 am.-5.30 pm. Call 0
3433 2607 for more information
This is an old religious site built by
the government and the people to commemorate th
2500th year of the existence of Buddhism.
Accessible by Phutthamonthon 4 Road, it occupies a
large area with beautiful landscape and contains
many interesting structures. A huge standing
Buddha image cast in bronze gold measuring 15.8
metres marks the centre of the area. It is
surrounded by four commemoratives sites concerning
Lord Buddha's birth enlightenment, the first
preaching sermon, and Nirvana (death). Other
interesting places include a Buddhist museum, a hall
keeping marble Pali canon and meditation halls.
Don Wai Market ,situated
in Tambon Bang Kratuek. Behind the Don Wai temple is
a market that still retains an appearance of a
market dating back to King Rama VI period. The old
building is made of wood and located on the banks of
the Tha Chin River. Food vendors travel by boats to
sell their goods here. Agricultural produce are sold
daily from 07.00-18.00. Boats are available for rent
for scenic river trips.
Getting there: you can
get there via two routes:
from Bangkok,
take the old Petkasem Road route, the entrance
to Don Whai market is opposite the Elephant Show
ground and Sam Phran Crocodile Farm. Take the
route to Wat Rai Khing, when you reach the Wat
Rai Khing, go on for another 10 Kms. passing
also Wat Tha Put. Don Wai temple will be seen on
the left.
From Pinklao-Nakhon
Chaisi route (new route), take the
Buddhamonthon V Road, there is a road sign to
Wat Rai Khing, take that road, keep on going for
another 4 Kms., you’ll see the second sign to
Wat Rai Khing, turn right here and go on for
another 4.5 Kms, then take a left turn at the
T-intersection that leads to Don Whai Market, it
will on your left-hand side.
Cruising along the Tha
Chin River is available at Don Wai Market by
riding a converted cargo boat and a passenger
boat. There are 2 cruise lines: 1) from
Wat Don Wai passing Wat Rai Khing, and Wang Pla.
2)
from Wat Don Wai passing Wat Rai Khing, Wang
Pla, Wat Sanphet, Wat Decha, the police cadet
academy, and the Rose Garden
Samphran Elephant Ground
& Zoo, located on the Phetkasem Road at Km.30
marker, 1 Km. before the Rose Garden. It occupies an
area of 62 Rais (about 24.8 acres). There are
various kinds of animals on display and show. There
are daily elephant shows, elephant ride around the
compound, elephant musical shows,
crocodile-wrestling shows, and magic shows. It is
open daily from 08.30-17.00. Admission for adult is
300 Baht, child fee is 200 Baht. For more
information call 0 2284 0273, 0 2284 1873, 0 2295
2938-9.
Crocodile wrestling shows
commence at 12.45 and 14.20 (Monday-Saturday),
additional show times for Sunday are 10.30 and
12.05.
Magic shows commence at 13.15,
15.00 (Monday-Saturday), additional show- time for
Sunday is 11.00.
Elephant musical shows commence
at 13.45 and 15.30 (Monday-Saturday), additional
show time for Sunday is 11.30.
Getting there: you can get
there in 2 ways:
By Car:
drive on Phetkasem Road to km.32, the Samphran
Elephant Ground & Zoo sign will be on the left:
By Bus:
take a regular bus line number 123 from Tha Chang, get
off at the Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo or take a
bus from the Southern Bus Terminal (old route)
on Petchakasem Road (Bangkok-Aom Yai-Sam
Phran-Nakhon Pathom) or take a 2nd class
air-conditioned bus of Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom,
Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Bang Li lines or take
the non air-conditioned buses of Bangkok-Nakhon
Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Suphanburi
lines.
This tourist attraction
is located on Petchakasem Road 32 Kms. from Bangkok.
It is located adjacent to the Nakhon Chaisi River
and occupies an area of 137.5 Rais (about 55 acres).
There are a multitude of beautiful floral displays
of great variety. AThai-style houses; parts of the
area are hotel, lodges, and golf course. It also
features an attractive Thai cultural show that
commences daily in the afternoon. It is open daily
from 08.00-18.00. An entrance fee to the garden is
10 Baht. Admission as well as shows’ fee cost 300
Baht for all. For more information call 0 2295
3261-4.
Getting there: there are
two ways:
By Car: take Phetkasem
Road, drive to Km.32 marker, a sign of the garden
will be on the left;
By Bus:
take a non-air conditioned bus line number 123 from
Tha Chang, get off at the Rose Garden or take a bus
from the Southern Bus Terminal (old route) on
Petchakasem Road (Bangkok-Aom Yai-Sam Phran-Nakhon
Pathom) or take a 2nd class
air-conditioned bus of Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom,
Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Bang Li lines or take a
non air-conditioned bus of Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom,
Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Suphan Buri lines.
Wat Rai Khing is located
in Tambon Rai Khing 32 Kms. from Bangkok. It is a
civilian monastery built in 1791. Somdej Phra
Phuttha Chan (Pook) named this temple after the
district. When construction was completed, the
Buddha image was brought from Wat Sala Poon and
enshrined here, later the locals named the image “Luang
Pho Wat Rai Khing”. The Buddha image is in the
attitude of Buddha Subduing Mara. The Buddha image
is of Chiang Saen style and is assumed to have been
built by Lanna Thai and Lan Chang craftsmen.
According to legend, this Buddha image was found
floating in the river, so the townspeople lifted the
Buddha image out of the water and enshrined the
image at Wat Sala Poon.
Prince Vachirayan Varoros granted
temple the name of “Wat Mongkol Chinda Ram”
(with the words “Rai Khing” in parenthesis after the
name) but the locals call the temple Wat Mongkol
Chinda Ram Rai Khing, later it was shorten to
Wat Rai Khing. The temple is well known among Thais,
faithful Buddhists frequently pay a visit to Wat Rai
Khing to pay homage to the sacred Buddha image.
Every Saturdays and Sundays, food and fruits are
sold in front of the temple. This temple is also
renowned for its natural fish sanctuary, a habitat
of hundreds of thousands of Sawai fish (big
catfish-like freshwater fishes). Visitors can buy
bread here to feed the fish.
Additionally, there is a museum
that collects and displays various kinds of
artefacts including ancient bowls, mural paintings,
and old books, all of which were donated by the
townspeople.
Getting there:
there are 3 ways: from the intersection in front of
Pho Kaew Police Station, from the intersection in
front of the Rose Garden, and from the intersection
at Buddhamonthon 5 Road.
For more information on the museum, contact tel: 0
3431 1384, 0 3432 3056.
Kasetsart University,
Kamphaeng Saen Campus (Botanical Garden), located on
Malaimaen route or 21 Kms. from Nakhon Pathom town.
In the university compound, there are number of
projects to educate farmers and the general public
that include scaled-down projects such as an
agricultural technology project, an irrigation
system initiated along with the Royal project, an
Entomological Park where various species of
butterflies are housed, a pilot vegetable plantation
plot, and Suan Saen Palm (garden of a hundred
thousand palms), which collects various kinds of
ornamental palms. For more information contact
Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon
Pathom tel: 0 2942 8010 ext. 3104.
Wat Lamphaya Floating
Market , situated in front of Lamphaya temple, on the
Tha Chin River. The floating market was initiated by the
Tambon Lamphaya Cultural Council and Lamphaya temple. It
is a centre of trade for fruits and vegetables as well
as agricultural produces including rattan ware, woven
cotton, dyed cotton, and inexpensive food. Local food
like noodles with beef, Thai desserts, and steamed
curried fish patty, are sold by local vendors who do
their trade in their boats. In front of the temple is
another haven for the various species of fish including
big catfish-like fresh water fishes, black ear, and
giant gourami. The cruise services along Tha Cheen River
are also available. Several types of boats cater to the
needs of the visitors, which include:
Ancient rowing boat : cruising
along Tha Chin River: leaving from Wat Lamphaya, paying
homage to Chao Mae Thapthim Shrine, the most revered
shrine of Tambon Lamphaya. The trip costs 20
Baht/person. It takes around 30 minutes;
Towed boat: a round trip along
Tha Chin River: departing from Wat Lamphaya to Wat
Sukvatanaram. Feeding fish can be done in front of Wat
Lamphaya. The trip costs 50 Baht/adult and 20
Baht/child.
Passenger boat: leaving from
Wat Lampaya to Wat Bang Phra (Wat Luang Pho Poen). The
trip takes two and a half hours. An adult fee is 50
Baht, a child fee is 20 Baht.
This floating market is open only on
Saturdays and Sundays, from 06.00-15.00.
Getting there: the market can
be reached several ways:
By Car: 1) take the
Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisi route, turn right onto a bridge
that leads to Salaya, continue driving, passing Mahidol
University, then take a left turn in front of
Buddhamonthon District Office, and then take a right
turn at Buddhamonthon Police Station for another 24 Kms.
Wat Lampaya is on the left. The trip takes around 45
minutes;
2) taking the Bang Bua Thong route,
keep going for about 10 Kms., look for a sign that
points to Bang Len, take a left turn there and proceed
for 20 Kms., at the next intersection (before reaching
the bridge crossing the Tha Chin River), take a left
turn and keep going for another 9 Kms. Wat Lamphaya will
be seen on the right.
By Bus: the Transport Company
operates a Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom bus. Get off at Nakhon
Pathom Market and then take a Song Thaeo (public pick-up
truck) of Nakhon Pathom-Lamphaya line, and get off at
Wat Lampaya. Take a Song Thaeo, route
Lamphaya-Thung-Noi, from a market in Nakhon Pathom town
and get off at Wat Lamphaya.
There are also
mini-van services available from the Southern Bus
Terminal, near Kung Luang Restaurant. The van leaves
every 30 minutes, from 05.00-18.00. A one-way fare is 40
Baht. For more information contact Wat Lamphaya, Tambon
Lamphaya Cultural Council tel:
0 3439 1626, 0 3439 1985, 0 3439 2022.
