This is located on Woradet Road
near the river. The edifice was formerly the town hall, built in
1922. Established as a museum in 1988, it displays art and
ancient items of different periods found in the local area, and
exhibits the history of Ratchaburi, as well as its folk art and
geology. The museum is open daily from 9.00 a.m.- 4.00 p.m.
exept Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission fee is 30 baht.
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
This ancient temple, locally
called Wat Na Phra That, is located on the west bank of the Mae
Klong River in the town. Its elegant prang or pagoda remains in
good condition and was probably copied from Cambodia's Angkor
Wat. The prang made of bricks and stones stands on a rectangular
base with pathways around the cloisters. The outer stucco
designs were made in the reign of King Borommakot of Ayutthaya.
Buddha images of Dvaravati, Lop Buri and Ayutthaya periods are
placed around the pagoda.
2 kilometres west of Wat Na Phra
That on the route to Khao Ngu is Wat Aranyik with a prang
identical to that of Wat Na Phra That but smaller in size.
Photharam
Khao Chong Phran
This hill is located in Tambon
Tao Pun, Amphoe Photharam, 17 kilometres north of Ratchaburi
along the Khao Ngu-Boek Phrai route (Route No. 3089). The
roadside hill has 2 interesting caves; Tham Phra Non housing
more than 100 Buddha images and Tham Khangkhao or Bat Cave,
which is home to some three million bats. As the sun sets
over the horizon, they all disperse on their search for food
and the mountain looks like a volcano disgorging thick black
smoke.
Wat Khanon
More than 300 Nang Yai puppets
are well preserved at this temple, some 10 kilometres from
Amphoe Photharam. Nang Yai is an old form of entertainment
which gathers many kinds of arts; for example, Thai
sculpture and classical performances. The intricate carved
pupputs are protrayed on the screen by skilled male
performers, and it can dance according to the music. The
performance is usually demonstrated on Saturday from
10.00-11.00 a.m.
Wat Khongkharam
This
100 year old ethnic Mon temple is at Tambon Khlong Ta Khot,
Amphoe Photharam, some 22 kilometres from Ratchaburi. The
fine mural paintings about Lord Buddha's life in the main
shrine hall are full of detail making them seem real.
Completed in the early Bangkok period, they are very rare
and worth studying. The temple also houses a Thai style
building entirely made of teak with intricate carving
designs.
Damnoen
Saduak
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
This is the best known
destination in Ratchaburi where the timeless lifestyle of
native Thai people can be observed along the canals. The
Floating Market, approximately 400 metres from the Damnoen
Saduak District Office, operates every morning till noon.
Boats can be hired for surveying canalside villages together
with a house making coconut sugar.
Chom Bueng
Tham Chomphon
This cave is 30 kilometres
west of the town in the vicinity of Amphoe Chom Bueng. It
was originally called Tham Mutchalin. In 1895, King Rama IV
and Queen Si Phatcharin made a royal visit and were fond of
its beauty, thus giving it a new name according to the shape
of the stalactites which look like the epaulette of a field
marshal. The cave also houses a medium-sized reclining
Buddha. A nearby aboretum provides shady areas suitable for
relaxation.
Tham Khao Bin
This is the most beautiful
cave in Ratchaburi. It is located 20 kilometres from the
town along the route to Amphoe Chom Bueng and 2 kilometres
along an access road. The cave extends 300 metres from the
mouth and offers truly amazing scenes of plentiful
stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Tham Ruesi Khao
Ngu
This famous attraction of
Ratchaburi is 8 kilometres from the town along the road to
Amphoe Chom Bueng (Route No. 3078). The cave houses a
bas-relief Buddha image, considered the oldest
archaeological evidence of the Dvaravati period found in
Ratchaburi . The figure is 2.5 metres high in the attitude
of giving the first sermon.
Suan Phueng
Bo Khlueng Hot Spring
Located 5 kilometres beyond Amphoe Suan Phueng and another
10 kilometres along an access road, the stream is full of
mineral water and is believed that it can be used for skin
treatment. The water flows all year round from the Tanaosi
Range. Its temperature ranges between 50-68 degrees Celsius.
On the route to the hot
stream, a 3 km. branch road leads to Namtok
(waterfall) Kao Chon, which consists of 9
cascades. The falls are plentiful during the late rainy
season.
Phawothai Local Museum
This is located 2 kilometres from
Suan Phueng district. Two Thai style houses in a
pleasant garden displays a collection of ancient
artefacts. The museum is open only on Saturdays and
Sundays. Admission is 50 baht. Call 0 3221 1189 for
more information.
Pong Yup
5 kilometres before arriving at Amphoe Suan Phueng,
there is a 5-km. branch road on the left leading to
Pong Yup at Tambon Tha Khoei. This attracts visitors
with plenty of strange looking earthen pillars and
cliffs naturally created by soil erosion.
Ban Pong
Wat Muang
This is a Mon temple situated
in Tambon Ban Muang, west of Amphoe Ban Pong along Route No.
3089 and a left turn after crossing the Mae Klong River.
Besides a Mon style pagoda, a well-managed folk museum has
been established as a research centre of history, way of
life, and culture of this Mon community.
