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.
