Saraburi

Saraburi (Thai : สระบุรี), 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.


Festivals

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 ricein 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 office’s 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 totalling 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 one’s mind.

Phetchaburi

Phetchaburi (Thai : เพชรบุรี) locally known by Thais as Mueang Phetch, is located 160 kilometers south of Bangkok. One of Thailand’s central region provinces, Phetchaburi is situated on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand with an overall area of approximately 6,225 square kilometers. Its terrains throughout the western border, where Tanaosri Range lies as a natural border between Thailand and Myanmar, are mountainous dense jungles. In the east, there is an 80-kilometer long coastline towards the Gulf of Thailand.

A very old city which used to be an important royal fort town, Phetchaburi had been given several names such as, Phripphri, Phripphli or Phetchaphli. Some historians have gone as far as to say that Phetchaburi could have been named in Indian style, as the Indian influence in those days day was strong. Others put forward the idea that the name Phetchaburi might have originated from Maenam Phetch – the most important river of the town.

Whatever the assumptions are, the fact that Phetchaburi is an ancient city with a very long history is undeniable. This has been proven by many archaeological findings which could be dated back to the Dvaravati Period.

During Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Kingdoms, Phetchaburi was a strategic royal fort in the west. Only a lineage of Kings had the rights to rule this historical city. That is why Phetchaburi has been called by some scholars as the "Living Ayutthaya" as the town shares many similar things to the City of Ayutthaya. The prosperity of the Ayutthaya Kingdom can be seen and appreciated in Phetchaburi’s wealth of fine old temples.

In the Rattanakosin Era, Phetchaburi has changed its character to a town of charming beauty, with peaceful seaside resorts and superb natural reserves. The three Kings of the Rattanakosin Period, King Rama IV, V, and VI established their retreats here. They built the three palaces namely Phranakhonkhiri, Phraramrajanivet, Phrarajnivesmarugadayawan in Phetchaburi thus, Phetchaburi is also known as Mueang Sam Wang (the city of the three Palaces). The province is also well known for its splendid historical park, ancient temples, wonderful beaches and caves, as well as a great variety of local and fresh seafood. Phetchaburi also has a popular resort town, “Cha-am” which is the premier beach resort in the province.

The majority of the local residents are engaged in agricultural activities including rice farming, upland crop farming, fruit farming, palm sugar production, animal husbandry and sea and fresh water fisheries.

There are three important Maenam in Phetchaburi including "Maenam Phetchaburi” with an overall length of 227 kilometers, "Maenam Bang Kloy", with an overall length of 44 kilometers, and "Maenam Bang Tabun", with an overall length of 18 kilometers.