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Travel Information |
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City attractions |
Khao Khrok |
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The park has mountains of various
sizes and plains in the valley. The highest peak is Khao
Khrok which is some 329 metres high. Visitors can see a
clear view of the town and neighbouring districts from here. The
park is also home to pheasants, jungle fowls, barking deer,
monkeys, wild boars, and birds of various species, especially
Princess Sirindhorn Bird or the White-eyed River Martin.
Khao Sam Lan National Park offers several waterfalls: Sam Lan
waterfall is a wide stone plateau that falls down 3
levels and is similar to stairs. Pho Hin Dat waterfall
is 300 metres from the park office and has a wide stone
plateau and a single-level waterfall which is suitable for
swimming. Ton Rak Sai waterfall is some 300 metres from
the park office and 500 metres from Pho Hin Dat waterfall,
and originates from the same stream as Pho Hin Dat waterfall.
The lively stream flows through Pho Hin Dat waterfall before
running into Ton Rak Sai waterfall, a 7-metre one-level
waterfall. Touring around these attractive waterfalls can be
made within 2-3 hours on walking trails where visitors will not
have to use the same trail on their return.
In addition, there are other splendid
waterfalls that can be reached by walking for some distance from
the park office: Khao Daeng waterfall (800 ms.), Kuak Ma
waterfall (2 kilometres), Krok I Wo waterfall (3
kilometres), and Nang Chon waterfall (6 kilometres)
The park offers camping
sites for eighty persons (visitors must bring sleeping bags by
themselves). For visitors who bring their own tents, the park
accommodates campsites. Call the National Park Division, Royal
Forestry Department, Bang Khen at
0-2561-4292 ext. 724-725, 0-2579-5734 and 0-2579-7223. |
Khao Sam Lan National Park |
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The Khao Sam Lan National Park
covers 4 districts: Mueang, Kaeng Khoi, Nong Khae, and Wihan
Daeng and occupies an area of 44 square kilometers. It was
declared a national park on June 2, 1981. October to January
(winter season in Thailand) is the best time to visit. Located
16 kilometres south of the town along the Bangkok-Saraburi route
Highway No. 1 (Mittraphap Road), it is accessible by routes
along Km. 102 or Km. 104. The National Park can also be reached
by taking the bus to Saraburi town, and then renting a van or a
local truck to the park. |
Phu Khae Botanical Garden
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This Botanical Garden is
located in Phu Khae district, 17 kilometres from town along the
Saraburi-Lop Buri route (Phahonyothin Road). It collects various
kinds of plants for study and breeding. The vast expanse of
garden and the flowing stream are suitable places for
relaxation. The garden is open daily from 08.00-18.00. |
Tham Si Wilai |
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This cave is in Wat Tham Si Wilai
at Tambon Na Phra Lan, some 22 kilometres from Saraburi town.
The cave houses Phra Phutthanaowarat, a Buddha image of the
Chiang Saen period as well as beautiful stalactite and
stalagmite formations. From here, visitors could appreciate
scenic views of mountain ranges. |
Wat Phra Phutthachai |
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Wat Phra Phutthachai is on Khao
Patthawi in Tambon Nong Pla Lai. It can be reached by taking the
same route as Khao Sam Lan National Park. At Km. 102, there is a
5-km. access road and then follow the road sign. It enshrines
Phra Phutthachai or the picture of Lord Buddha
appearing on a cliff wall. A cone-shaped structure or Mondop was
built to cover the picture. Stairs were built from the temple
area to the Mondop and go onward to the cliff that is over the
Mondop. There are interesting prehistoric paintings on the
cliff: behind the door area, there are drawings of animals
(deer). Beside the door, there are pictures of hands and
symbols. The west of Phra Phutthachai is the Ascetic Cave, where
there are paintings of chickens, Buddha images and symbols. The
Cho Po Ro cliff wall has large, sophisticated
drawings like the paintings of the prehistoric period that were
found at Pha Taem in Ubon Ratchathani. The drawings were
painted with wood oil, dating from 3,000 years ago. They
represent the communication symbols of the same group and
presumably were ritual mediums and reflect the beliefs of people
of those times. |
World War II Memorial of the Japanese Army (Khao Daeng) |
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This is
located in Khao Sam Lan National Park, next to the south of Wat
Phra Phutthachai. There are bomb craters from made by Japanese
forces in World War II.
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Sao Hai |
Sao Ronghai |
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Sao Ronghai is in Chao
Mae Takhian Tong Shrine at Wat Sung, Tambon Sao Hai. It is
located 500 meters from Sao Hai District Office. It is a
large pillar, which is believed to be a female spirit
because offerings people give to this pillar are all female
items. According to legend, when Bangkok was built as the
capital, there was a decree that the most beautiful pillars
from all over the country would be taken to Bangkok for
selection to find the City Pillar.
Saraburi sent a nearly perfect pillar by floating it down
the Pa Sak River. However, it arrived just after the
selection of another pillar was made and it was designated
as a secondary pillar instead. If it had arrived in time, it
would have been chosen as the city pillar because of its
large size and unmatched beauty. The pillar became very sad
and floated itself back to Saraburi where it later sank.
Afterwards, villagers would report hearing crying sounds.
Hence, the name of the Tambon as Tambon Sao Ronghai
and its subsequent name of “Amphoe Sao Hai.”
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Phra
Phutthabat |
Wat Phra
Phutthabat
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This temple is
located in Tambon Khun Khlon, 28 kilometres
north of the town, turn left 1 km. before
arriving in Phra Phutthabat district. The
important historical site here is “Lord
Buddha’s Footprint " that was found on
a stone panel near Suwan Banpot Hill or
Satchaphanthakhiri Hill. Lord Buddha’s
Footprint measures 21 inches wide, 5 feet
long, and 11 inches deep. The footprint was
discovered during the reign of King Songtham
of Ayutthaya. The footprint had 108
religious aspects, so he commanded a
temporary Mondop be built to cover the
footprint and it has been refurbished
several times.
The Mondop is a square building, has a
seven-tier castle roof and each is roofed
with green glazed tiles. Each level is
decorated with an arch supported by wood,
gold and colored glasses. The external walls
are also decorated with gold and coloured
glasses in the shapes of mythological gods
and lotus top. The pearl inlaid artwork on
the Mondop doors represents one of the best
craftsmanship in the country. The Mondop
entrance has three Naga (mythicalserpents)
stairs, each conveying the meaning of
silver, gold, and glass stairs that stretch
from the heavens. A five-headed Naga cast in
bronze flanks the stairs. The Mondop is
surrounded by bells, which visitors can rap
to make merit. The surrounding ubosot and
vihara were built according to the
architecture of the Ayutthaya and early
Rattanakosin periods.
In the temple compound there is the Phra
Phutthabat National Museum which
displays various precious artifacts
including King Songtham’s attire, ceramics,
bronzeware, old weapons, a replica of Lord
Buddha’s footprint, an old Mondop top, “Phat
Yot” (ecclesiastical fans) from various
periods, and the pipe dating from the King
Narai period. The Phra Phutthabat Festival
is held twice a year, during the eighth day
of the waxing moon until the first day of
the waning moon in the third month and the
fourth month of the lunar calendar.
Bo Phran Lang Nuea is a small
stone well near the temple. At the mouth of
the well are knee prints. There are stone
slopes and a deep hole the size of a milk
can near the well. The water that flows from
the hole is believed to be holy water.
According to legend, Bun, a hunter who found
Lord Buddha’s Footprint, washed game meat at
this well by kneeling down and the small
hole was made from his spear which was stuck
into the ground. There is a continuous flow
of water from the well. |
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Kaeng Khoi |
Cruising Along the Pa Sak River The Pa Sak River |
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The Pa Sak River,
which runs through the area of Kaeng Khoi district,
offers beautiful scenery of forests and mountains
along the river, hills and high cliffs, which have
animal shapes. Boat trips are operated by some
riverside resorts such as the Suphalai Pasak
Resort tel. 0-3630-6270-2 and Bangkok 0-2260-2223-6. |
Tham Phra Phothisat
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This
cave is located in the compound of Wat Tham Phra
Phothisat, Tambon Thap Kwang, 32 kilometres from
Saraburi town, 15 kilometres along Highway No. 2
(Mittraphap Road) to Nakhon Ratchasima and 11
kilometres along the access road following the road
sign. The cave is situated in the middle of Khao Nam
Phu. It houses a bas-relief Buddha image on the
wall, a Lankan pagoda of the Dvaravati period as
well as monumental stalactites and stalagmites. The
cave is teeming with various kinds of trees. Tham
Thammathat, Tham Lumphini, Tham Sangat Chedi and a
stone garden can be seen in the area. |
Tham Phra That Charoen Tham |
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This cave is accessed
via 2 routes: Drive for 12 kilometres from the town
along Mittraphap Road and turn left to Kaeng Khoi
district through the market and 8 kilometres over
the Adireksan Bridge (which was built over Pa Sak
River). Alternatively, drive for 15 kilometres from
the town along Highway No. 1 (Lop Buri route) to Phu
Khae Witthaya School and then drive for 10
kilometres from the Phu Khae-Kaeng Khoi Road
(opposite the Phu Khae Witthaya School).
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Muak Lek |
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Muak Lek Arboretum |
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This arboretum is 37
kilometres from Saraburi town along Mittraphap Road.
The entrance is on the left side and opposite the
store of the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of
Thailand .It covers an area of 150 acres and is an
intermediate forested area between Muak Lek
district, Saraburi and Pak Chong district, Nakhon
Ratchasima. The lively stream originates from the
tributaries in Khao Yai National Park that flow into
Pa Sak River that is the border between the two
provinces. The stream has rock slopes and a small
beautiful cascade. Along the stream are bridges and
various kinds of plants and flowers. |
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Namtok Chet Sao Noi |
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Namtok Chet Sao Noi is a small waterfall at
Tambon Muak Lek, on the same route as Namtok Muak Lek and
continue on for another 9 kilometres on an asphalt road. The
waterfall flows along a stream and has 7 levels. The height
of each level is 4 metres and offers a spacious shady
swimming area. |
Tham Dao Khao Kaeo |
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This cave is at Tambon Phaya
Klang, 35 kilometres from Muak Lek district or 75 kilometres
from Saraburi town. To visit the cave, visitors must climb
the stairs from the foot of the hill to the mouth of the
cave about 100 metres up. When the light shines on the
cave’s cell, it will sparkle like beautiful red, black and
brown stars. The beautiful stalactite and stalagmite
formations are on the cell and the wall.
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Wang Muang |
Sunflower Fields |
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Sunflower Fields are found
between Lop Buri and Saraburi along the Phatthana
Nikhom-Wang Muang route. From December to January (Thai
winter season), the sunflowers along the road attract all
passersby when they are in full bloom. |
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