| Cover
story: 25 Dec |
Vol.
24 No. 24 |
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Saraburi is one of the provinces in Thailand
that have high potential for tourism, due to its wonderful
natural attractions, rich diversity of arts and culture,
and a wide range of activities. Thanks to its easy access
from Bangkok, a one day trip in Saraburi is popular
among tourists. However, many people opt for staying
overnight to enjoy more activities and attractions.
 Preparing
for
Travelling |
Recommended periods for travelling in Saraburi depend
on the types of your trip. If you love nature, you
should go there at the beginning of the cool season
(early November) because during this time waterfalls
will still be full of water and flowers including
sunflowers will be in full bloom.
But if you love cultural tourism, you can visit Saraburi
all year round. For the year 2008, the province has
made a travel calendar to promote tourism in the area.
Please find lists of events and activities at the
end of this article.
Attractions
Some major attractions are briefly described below. |
Muang County
Phra Phutthachai National Park is one
of the nearest forests from Bangkok. This 44.57-sq.km.-
park features waterfalls where you can swim to your
heart's content, and trails along which you can study
nature and birds.
Phra Phutthachai National
Park |
Wat Phra Phutthachai The name means
the outline of a Buddha image. It is believed to be
discovered in the reign of King Songtham (reigning 1610-1628)
in the Ayutthaya Period. Phra Phutthachai appears as
an outline of a standing Buddha in the fading reddish
colour. The height is about five metres. A Buddha's
right footprint is enshrined in a mondop (which
is a square pavilion with a many-tiered roof that shelters
some valuable objects) here.
Wat Phra Phutthachai |
Adison Cavalry Camp This government-operated
camp provides you with many services and facilities,
including a cavalry museum, a health park, a shooting
range, a 18-hole-golf course, a swimming pool, a race
course and a gymnesium. In addition, there are four
special activities -- camping, rock climbing, a walk
rally and activities to test the stamina of mind and
body.
Saohai County
Saohai County is an area suitable for those who love
cultural tourism. It is where the Thai Yuan people
have lived since they migrated from Chiang Saen in
around1782. You should go to see Sino-Thai arts that
predominate over Wat Samuha Pradittharam
and see mural paintings at Wat Chanthaburi.
 |
Wat Samuha Pradittharam |
A must visit attraction of Saohai County is the Takian
Thong log at Wat Sung. This log is the origin
of the name Saohai (a crying log). Legend has it that
at the beginning of the construction of Bangkok (in
1782), this Takian Thong log was dispatched to Bangkok
by floating along the Pa-sak River to be used in the
construction.
A detail of the mural paintings
at Wat Samuha Pradittharam
|
Horse riding is one of the services
provided by Adison Cavalry Camp.
|
Unfortunately, it was rejected due to its curved end
and was sent back. On its way back it sunk at Ban Phailom
Noi Village in Saraburi. After that the villagers frequently
heard a woman crying at night. They believed that the
cry came from a goddess in this log. Since then, the
county has been called Saohai. Later, the log was ritually
housed at Wat Sung. The Thai Yuan Cultural Hall
by the Pa-sak River is where visitors will learn the
Thai Yuan's ways of life in ancient times and see their
household utensils.
The Thai Yuan Cultural
Hall |
Phra Phutthabat County
The most famous attraction is of course Wat
Phra Phutthabat (the Temple of the Buddha's Footprint)
where the holy Buddha's footprint is enshrined. It was
held that paying homage to the Buddha's footprint would
bring about a great merit to the worshippers.
 |
Wat Phra Phutthabat |
That's why the Thai Buddhists including several kings
have come to pay homage to it since the Ayutthaya Period
even though the journey was full of difficulties and
took a long time. Religious constructions, especially
the mondop of the footprint, are the masterpiece
created by Thai masters of arts. |
Kaeng Khoi County
Annually from November to January, along Highway 3224
passing through this county, travellers will see fields
of blooming golden sunflowers along both sides of the
road. The photogenic sunflowers and the scenery are
so charming that you can't wait to take photographs
of them. At these fields, local products such as sunflower
seeds, grape juice and handmade items are on sale. Don't
miss to buy them because they are freshly made every
day.
A field of blooming sunflowers
|
You can see vendors roasting sunflower seeds and have
them packed in your presence. Other counties where you
can admire the blooming sunflowers
are Muak Lek, Wang Muang, Phra Phutthabat, Chaloem Phrakiat
and Nong Saeng.
Chetkhot-Pong Konsao Natural
Study and Eco-tourism Centre
|
Chetkhot-Pong Konsao Natural Study and Eco-tourism
Centre is an eco-tourist attraction adjacent
to Khao Yai National Park. There are more than ten beautiful
waterfalls but the star here is Krok I-dok waterfall,
the seven-leap waterfall with a height of 700 metres.
Other interesting falls are such as Krok Fa
Phanang, Khao Khaep, Chetkhot Yai, Chetkhot Klang, Chetkhot
Nua and Chetkhot Tai falls. Plants grow densely
in waterfall areas. Apart from tall trees, orchids and
plants with rhizomes thrive well there and attract a
lot of colourful butterflies.
The centre offers travellers accommodations amidst the
verdant mountains. For those who are fond of camping,
it also provides a camping area near the scenic Sap
Pa Wan Reservoir. If you would like to have a glimpse
of the panorama of Saraburi, you should go to the vantage
point of the centre.
Muak Lek County
Chet Saonoi Waterfall is a well-known
7-leap-waterfall suitable for swimming. Each leap is
2-5 metres high. Its water source is in Khao Yai National
Park. Chet Saonoi Waterfall will be most beautiful in
the early cool season (November).
Muak Lek Waterfall is another waterfall
having its source in Khao Yai National Park. The surroundings
are shady and inviting, thanks to tall trees and lovely
decorative plants. You should go there also at the beginning
of the cool season (November).
Thai-Danish Farm |
Agro-tourism at Thai-Danish Farm At this high-standard
farm, you will have a first-hand experience of life
on a dairy farm. You will learn about the whole milking
process with a chance to feed or hand-milk a cow. A
farm stay programme is available.
Chet Saonoi Waterfall
|
Visit
Saraburi
Year
2008 Calendar |
March:
- Paying Homage to the Buddha's Footprint at the Famous
Wat Phra Phutthabat in the 4th month of the Lunar
Calendar (8 days around Mar and Apr)*
- Taro and Phakwan Vegetable Fair (7-9 Mar)
- Saraburi Food and Souvenir Fair (28 Mar - 3 Apr)
- Producers and Consumers Fair (Last week of March)
Cowboy Night |
April:
- Saohai Songkran Festival (23 Apr)
- Saraburi Traditional New Year Festival (13-15 Apr)
May:
- Agricultural Fair (1-5 May)
- Visakha Puja Festival (13-19 May)
June:
- Muak Lek Family Adventure (28-29 Jun)
Tak Bat Dok Mai Festival
|
July:
- Tak Bat Dok Mai Festival (16-18 Jul)
- Producers and Consumers Fair (Last week of July)
August:
- OTOP Fair
September:
- H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn's Royal Cup Long-boat
Races (28-29 Sep)
October:
- Khaotom Lukyon Festival (15 Oct)
- H.R.H. Crown Prince Vachiralongkorn's Royal Cup
Long-boat Races (23 Oct)
November:
- Sunflower Festival (Nov-Jan)
- Cowboy Night (Last week of November)
December:
- Thai-Yuan Yi Peng Festival (12 Nov)
- Music in the Garden (Dec)
- Blooming Sunflower Festival (Dec)
- For more information, please contact the Tourism
Authority of Thailand Central Office Region 7 on tel:
+66 (0) 3642 2768 to 9.
Accessibility:
By car: Highway 1 (Phahon Yothin Road), 108
km from Bangkok (about 1.5 hours' drive).
By bus: Air-con buses daily leave the Northeastern
Bus Terminal (Mochit) in Bangkok for Saraburi. It
takes about two hours to reach there. The bus route
terminates at Saraburi Bus Terminal in Saraburi city.
By rail: Trains depart from Bangkok Railway
Station (Hua Lamphong) for Saraburi several times
daily. The first train leaves at 05.20 hrs. and the
last at 23.40 hrs. (The trip takes about 2 hours.)
*For dates depending on the Thai lunar calendar,
please check with TAT before travelling.
• Special thanks to TAT Central Office Region
7 for arranging a press tour to Saraburi.
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