Saraburi
Saraburi General Information
Saraburi, the province of historical sites, the holy footprint, the beauty of nature, and famous food, is located some 108 kilometres from Bangkok. Travelling to and around Saraburi could be made in one day. The province is administratively divided into 13 districts: Muang Saraburi, Nong Saeng, Sao Hai, Ban Mo, Phra Phutthabat, Nong Don, Kaeng Khoi, Muak Lek, Wang Muang, Wihan Daeng, Nong Khae, Don Phut, and Chaloem Phra Kiat.
Saraburi Festival Information
- Chao Pho Khao Tok Festival
Chao Pho Khao Tok Festival or Chao Pho Khao Tok Procession is an annual festival. The event features the supernatural power performances of Chao Pho Khao Tok and walking on fire, Lo Ko dragon parade, and Chinese opera. Mostly Chinese people, especially the pupils of Chao Pho Khao Tok, will come to join the festival. The event is held from the first day of the waxing moon in the fourth month of the lunar calendar for 4 days at Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan in Phra Phutthabat district.
- Hae Phra Khiao Kaeo
Hae Phra Khiao Kaeo, or Celebrations of Lord Buddha's Tooth. Buddhists believe that Phra Khiao Kaeo is the tooth of Lord Buddha. The festival is held on the first day of the waxing moon in the fourth month of the lunar calendar. The people of Amphoe Phra Phutthabat will present the tooth that is to be taken from Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan Museum and bear it in a procession around the town. They believe that if the procession is held, they will live in wealth and happiness.
- Kam Fa Festival
Kam Fa Festival is held on the second day of the waxing moon in the third month of the lunar calendar. The festival features folk entertainments and activities including a pitch and toss game, cockfighting, toasting rice in bamboo, etc. On the third day of waxing moon in the third month of the lunar calendar, people perform merit making and attend sermons, cook and tell stories about ancestors. The festival takes place annually at Tambon Phai Lio, Don Phut district.
- Pa Sak Boat Racing Festival
Pa Sak Boat Racing Festival is a major annual regatta that takes place in front of Sao Hai district offices pier on the last Saturday or Sunday of September. Famous boats from all over the country join in the race. This festival preserves local tradition.
- Phra Phutthabat Homage-paying Festival
Phra Phutthabat Homage-paying Festival Stems from the time when Lord Buddha's Footprint was found in the reign of King Songtham of Ayutthaya. The mondop was built to cover the footprint. At present, the footprint is situated at Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan, Tambon Khun Khon. A large number of Thais and foreigners come to Phra Phutthabat during the event. The event is held twice a year: from the first day till the fifteenth day of the waxing moon in the third month of the lunar calendar totaling 15 days; and from the eighth day until the fifteenth day of the waxing moon in the fourth month of the lunar calendar for 8 days.
- Songkran Song Nam Sao Nang Takian Wat Sung
Songkran Song Nam Sao Nang Takian Wat Sung is held annually on April 23 in front of Wat Sung's chapel, Sao Hai district. People perform merit making by pouring water to the elders and to Nang Takian pillar.
- Tak Bat Dok Mai
Tak Bat Dok Mai, the Food Offering Festival, is an important event of Phra Phutthabat district. This impressive merit-making ceremony is held to coincide with the start of the annual three-month Buddhist Lent (around June-July) when Buddhist monks must stay in their temples. In the morning, the people will offer food and candles to Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahawihan, Tambon Khun Khon, Phra Phutthabat district. They will go to collect a kind of flower called The Flower of Buddhist Lent, to offer to the monks for merit. The herb-like flower has yellow or white colors and is found at a hillside only during the Buddhist Lent period in Saraburi. While the monks come along the passage to bring the flowers to pay homage to Lord Buddha's Footprint, people will wait at the stairs with a bowl of clean water floating Mimusops. They will pour the water onto the feet of the monks and the novices as a means of cleaning ones mind.
Saraburi Attactions Information
- Tham Phra Phothisat
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
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).
- Namtok Chet Sao Noi
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.
- Khao Khrok
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)
- Khao Sam Lan National Park
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
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.
- World War II Memorial of the Japanese Army (Khao Daeng)
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.
- Wat Phra Phutthabat
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 (mythical serpents) 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 Songthams 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.
- Sunflower Fields
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.
**Information Reference : tourismthailand.org
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