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Chai Nat Bird Park

Chainat Province Chainat is one of the central provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Nakhon Sawan, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri and Uthai Thani. Geography Chai Nat is located in the flat river plain of central Thailand's Chao Phraya River valley. In the south of the province the Chao Phraya (formerly Chai Nat) Dam impounds the Chao Phraya river, both for flood control as well as to divert water into the country's largest irrigation system for the irrigation of rice paddies in the lower river valley. The dam, part of the Greater Chao Phraya Project, was finished in 1957 and was the first dam constructed in Thailand. History Originally the city was located at Sankhaburi. In the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) the main settlement of the province was moved to its present-day location. During the wars with the Burmese it was an important military base to confront with the Burmese arms. As all these confrontations were successful the city gained the name Chai Nat, which means place of victory. Symbols The provincial seal shows the Buddhist wheel, the Dhammajakra. In the background is a mountain (Khao Phlong) and a river (Chao Phraya River). The wheel symbolizes the faith of the residents. The provincial tree is the Bael Fruit Tree (Aegle marmelos), and the provincial flower the Rainbow Shower Tree (Cassia javanica). The slogan of the province is Venerable Luangpu Suk, Renowned Chao Phraya Dam, Famous Bird Park and Tasty Khao Taengkwa Pomelo.

The temple enshrines Luangpho Thammachak, a standing Buddha image in a posture of persuading relatives not to quarrel, with a lotus-shaped base. Another attraction is the boundary marker, which is made from red sandstone in the Ayutthayan style, around the ordination hall or Phra Ubosot. Wat Thammamun Worawihan - As the main temple of Chainat since Ayutthaya period, Wat Thammamun Worawihan is located on the Thammamun hill slope, on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, Tambon Thammamun, which is about 8 kilometers from Amphoe Mueang. It is situated along Highway No. 1 at Km. 288 - 289 and is entered via Thunmanukun School. The temple enshrines Luangpho Thammachak, a standing Buddha image in a posture of persuading relatives not to quarrel, with a lotus-shaped base. The Buddha image is a mixture of the late Chiang Saen period to early Sukhothai and Ayutthaya styles. At the center of Luangpho Thammachak’s right palm features Dharmachakra or Wheel of Doctrine. It is believed that the sculptor at that time intended to create a Buddha image with lakkhana Mahapurisa (The 32 marks of the Great Man, according to the Indian belief, such as wheel marks on the soles, netlike lines on the palms and soles, conch-like ankles, a chin like a lion's, etc). Another attraction is the boundary marker, which is made from red sandstone in the Ayutthayan style, around the ordination hall or Phra Ubosot. Two fairs to worship the image are held twice a year during the 4th – 8th day of the waxing moon of the sixth lunar month and 4th – 8th day of the waning moon of the eleventh lunar month.

Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan

There is an old pagoda in the U Thong style housing Lord Buddha's relics highly worshipped by people from Chai Nat and other neighbouring provinces. The annual fair to worship the Lord Buddha's relics are held during the full moon day of the sixth lunar month.

Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan - Located at Ban Thai Mueang, Tambon Chainat, Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan is a 2nd class royal temple. It has been a national treasure since the early Ayutthaya period. There is an old pagoda in the U Thong style housing Lord Buddha's relics highly worshipped by people from Chai Nat and other neighboring provinces. The annual fair to worship the Lord Buddha's relics are held during the full moon day of the sixth lunar month. Located 4 kilometers from the provincial town of Chainat, it is accessible from Amphoe Mueang by Highway No. 340 and switch to Highway No. 3183 at the intersection. Proceed another 1 kilometer. It is also accessible by taking the Bangkok-Wat Sing bus.

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Chainat Muni National Museum This archaeological museum is a 2-storey adapted Thai-style building. Downstairs displays celadon Buddha images, tools, and ornaments from the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin period. While upstairs displays various Buddhist votive tablets from the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin period.

Chainat Muni National Museum, tel. 0 5641 1467. Located within the temple grounds of Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan, this archaeological museum is a 2-story adapted Thai-style building. Downstairs displays celadon Buddha images, tools, and ornaments from the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin period. Most of these displayed artifacts were given by Venerable Phra Chai Nat Muni (Nuam) Suthatto, former Ecclesiastical Provincial Governor of Chainat, who was the collector and had handed them over to the Fine Arts Department. While upstairs displays various Buddhist votive tablets from the Dvaravati to Rattanakosin period. The museum service hours are Wednesday – Sunday from 9.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Closed on Monday, Tuesday, and national holidays. The admission fee is 10 Baht. To get there, proceed along the same route as Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan.

Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao or Wat Luangpu Suk This shady temple offers pleasant scenery and is famous for Buddha amulets. Other attractions are Luangpu Suk’s traditional Thai style residence, as well as, the mural paintings depicting the story of the Lord Buddha made by H.R.H. the Prince of Chumphon and his entourage. Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao (or Wat Luangpu Suk). Located at Mu 1, Tambon Makham Thao, this temple is at the mouth of the Makham Thao (Tha Chin River) waterway, where it branches off the Chao Phraya River. Legend has it that there was an old tamarind (or Makham Thao tree in Thai) in front of the temple on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. That was how Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao got its name. This shady temple offers pleasant scenery and is famous for Buddha amulets. The highly revered senior Buddhist monk Luangpu Suk of this temple issued Buddha amulets known as the Luangpu Suk of Wat Makham Thao amulets. They are purchased and regarded as sacred objects by devotees. Other attractions are Luangpu Suk’s traditional Thai style residence, as well as, the mural paintings depicting the story of the Lord Buddha made by H.R.H. the Prince of Chumphon and his entourage. The lettering of the captions of the paintings is in ancient Khmer script. The wall on the southern end sees paintings which stated that they were written in the year 1890. It is located some 25 kilometers from the provincial town of Chainat. Proceed via the Amphoe Wat Sing route, through Highway No. 3183 at Km. 36-37.

Luangpu Suk

Wasan Crocodile Farm It is located at No. 121, Mu 3, Tambon Makham Thao. There are different kinds of animals such as crocodiles, tigers, rays, and various bird species.

Wat Intharam This century-old temple features outstanding attractions like the twin belfries, century-old Chinese pavilion, and an 8 x 9-metre Thai-architectural scripture hall built in the middle of a pond.

Wat Intharam (Amphoe Sapphaya). Located on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River, Tambon Taluk, this century-old temple features outstanding attractions like the twin belfries, century-old Chinese pavilion, and an 8 x 9-metre Thai-architectural scripture hall built in the middle of a pond. This hall has magnificent coloured glass-inlaid decorations on the wooden wall, eaves, hornlike finials on the roof ridge, and gables. The scripture hall houses a collection of the Tipitaka scriptures written in ancient Khmer script inscribed on palm leaves. It is located some 12 kilometers from the provincial town of Chainat. Proceed along Highway No. 311, turn left and keep driving parallel with Khlong Chon Prathan at Km. 48.

Chao Phraya Dam is The nation’s first large dam. Water is released from the Northern region to the Central lower basin and the Gulf of Thailand for the purposes of irrigation, agriculture, conservation of marine animals, and generating hydroelectric power for the province.

Chao Phraya Dam (Amphoe Sapphaya), Mu 3, Tambon Bang Luang, tel. 0 56411559 ext. 210. The nation’s first large dam is located at the bend of the Bang Krabian River. With a total length of 237.5 metres and a height of 16.5 meters, this reinforced concrete dam is built across flowing water and consists of 16 spillways. There is a 14-meter-wide water gate, where small or big marine craft can pass through. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit presided over the opening ceremony on 7 February 1957. Chao Phraya Dam is beautiful and during January - February, the reservoir over the dam site is the habitat to thousands of waterfowl. Water is released from the Northern region to the Central lower basin and the Gulf of Thailand for the purposes of irrigation, agriculture, conservation of marine animals, and generating hydroelectric power for the province. Chao Phraya Dam provides accommodation of 19 rooms at a rate of 600 Baht. From Amphoe Mueang, travel along Highway No. 304. Turn left for Amphoe Sapphaya and proceed another 6 kilometres. It is also accessible via the Bangkok-Amphoe Wat Sing bus, which passes the Chao Phraya Dam, bus No. 1061 Chainat-Pho Nang Tam, and bus No. 110 Sing Buri-Chainat.

Wat Karuna This temple houses Chai Nat’s largest sandstone Buddha image named Phra Phutthamaha Sila or Luangpho Hin Yai , which is highly revered by the local people.

Khun San Statue Khun San or Hero of the Noi River is one of the Bang Rachan folk leaders who fought courageously 7 times against the Burmese. He was the first volunteer from Amphoe Sankhaburi dating back 223 years ago.

Wat Phra Mahathat is the royal temple of Mueang Phraek or Mueang San. The temple houses a distinguished prang with a fluted spire like the shape of a star fruit. The prang housing Lord Buddha’s relics is made from brick on a square shaped base (a plinth) in the Lop Buri style.

Wat Phra Mahathat (Amphoe Sankhaburi). It is located at Mu 8, Tambon Phraek Si Racha. Previously called Wat Phrathat or Wat Hua Mueang, Wat Phra Mahathat is the royal temple of Mueang Phraek or Mueang San. In 1901, King Rama V paid a royal visit and granted his royal initials. The temple houses a distinguished prang with a fluted spire like the shape of a star fruit. The prang housing Lord Buddha’s relics is made from brick on a square shaped base (a plinth) in the Lop Buri style. The Fine Arts Department restored it in 1983. Also, there are Buddha images in the Lop Buri and early Ayutthaya styles, as well as, a museum, which houses various artifacts. It is located some 20 kilometers from the provincial town of Chai Nat. From Amphoe Mueang, proceed along Highway No. 340 and at the intersection, proceed to Amphoe Sankhaburi. From Sankhaburi District Office, proceed 500 meters further from the clock tower.

Wat Song Phi Nong Legend has it that Chao Sam, one of the three siblings, incited the other two siblings named Chao Ai and Chao Yi against each other for the throne. Both Chao Ai and Chao Yi died and Chao Sam became the ruler. Chao Sam then built one prang and one chedi for his late brothers.

Wat Song Phi Nong . It is located 300 meters from Wat Phra Mahathat. Legend has it that Chao Sam, one of the three siblings, incited the other two siblings named Chao Ai and Chao Yi against each other for the throne. Both Chao Ai and Chao Yi died and Chao Sam became the ruler. Chao Sam then built one prang and one chedi for his late brothers. Both are presumed to have been built 600 years before the establishment of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Wat Phra Kaeo Wat Phra Kaeo is another ancient temple housing a beautiful square-based stupa. In front of the stupa stands a Buddha image hall known as Wihan Luangpho Chai, where a delicately carved sandstone lintel was found at the back of the image. Wat Phra Kaeo. Situated at Mu 10, Tambon Phraek Si Racha, which is about 23 kilometers off the provincial town of Chai Nat, Wat Phra Kaeo is another ancient temple housing a beautiful square-based stupa. Within the temple ground also houses a high stupa in a harmonious blend of the Lawo and late Dvaravati styles, as well as a relic chamber with a recessed base in the Sukhothai and Sri Vijaya styles. In front of the stupa stands a Buddha image hall known as Wihan Luangpho Chai, where a delicately carved sandstone lintel was found at the back of the image. This lintel depicts an image of the God Indra riding the elephant named Erawan inside a stylized shelter in a distinctive Khmer style, which dates back to more than 1,000 years ago. It is believed that at the decline of the Khmer empire, someone must have taken this artefact from somewhere and carved the Buddha image out of it. However, the head of the elephant is overturned, its trunk pointing upward, as a riddle that in order to be enlightened like the Lord Buddha “one must overcome greed, hatred, and ignorance to find true happiness.”

Monkey Park

Monkey Park. Located in the temple ground of Wat Thammikawat (Wat Khangkhao), Tambon Pho Ngam, this monkey park is 16 kilometres from Amphoe Sankhaburi’s district office. Proceed via the Sing Buri - Chai Nat route, along Khlong Chon Prathan (Sai Nai) onto the intersection about 500 metres, before reaching Wat Thammikawat’s entrance. The temple houses rubber plantations and is home to a number of monkeys. Its pleasant area next to the Noi River houses a much revered Luangpho Thao Buddha image.

The temple houses rubber plantations and is home to a number of monkeys. Its pleasant area next to the Noi River houses a much revered Luangpho Thao Buddha image.

Wat Klai Kangwon or Khao Saraphat Si Charoen Tham (à¢ÒÊÒþѴÈÃÕà¨ÃÔ­¸ÃÃÁ)

On top of the hill sees ruins of an ordination hall and the Lord Buddha’s footprints, as well as, a panoramic view of the area. There is the annual Tak Bat Devo ceremony, which literally means offering of food to Buddhist monks.

Wat Klai Kangwon or Khao Saraphat Si Charoen Tham (à¢ÒÊÒþѴÈÃÕà¨ÃÔ­¸ÃÃÁ). It is located at Tambon Ban Chian, 48 kilometres from the provincial town of Chai Nat. Proceed via Highway No. 3211 onto Hankha Intersection. Take a left turn for another 4 kilometres and the temple is on the right hand side. Turn right about 1.7 kilometers further and you will come across a concrete fence measuring 5,000 metres in length enclosing the temple. An ancient temple dated back to the Lop Buri period, Wat Klai Kangwon was deserted for sometime but has later undergone major restoration in 1967. On top of the hill sees ruins of an ordination hall and the Lord Buddha’s footprints, as well as, a panoramic view of the area. There is the annual Tak Bat Devo ceremony, which literally means offering of food to Buddhist monks. The celebration is an imitation of Lord Buddha’s descent from heaven, and takes place after the Buddhist Rains Retreat.

Wat Phichaiyanawat (Wat Ban Chian) The ordination hall or Phra Ubosot built in the middle of the pond enshrined the principle Buddha image of Luangpho To, which is in the posture of accepting offerings from an elephant and a monkey.

Wat Phichaiyanawat (ÇÑ´¾ÔªÑ¹ÒÇÒÊ), also known as Wat Ban Chian (ÇÑ´ºÑ¹àªÕè¹). It is an ancient temple located at Tambon Ban Chian, 38 kilometers from the provincial town of Chai Nat. Proceed via Highway No. 3211 to Km. 2 - 3. It is presumed to have been built in the mid-Ayutthaya period, dating back to at least 300 years ago. The ordination hall or Phra Ubosot built in the middle of the pond enshrined the principle Buddha image of Luangpho To, which is in the posture of accepting offerings from an elephant and a monkey. Made of stucco, the image is sitting in the European style and measures 4.54 metres in height. It is presumed that while creating Luangpho To’s image, the city was in turmoil from a war with the Burmese, who marched through this area. The annual gild ceremony or covering the Buddha image with gold leaf takes place during Magha Puja Day and the Loi Krathong Festival.

Local Products

Chai Nat’s handicraft products are unique, good quality, and value for money. Each district offers different products as follows:

Dakkhanon Mattress Stuffed with kapok, this mattress is made by the locals of Ban Dakkhanon, Tambon Thammamun.

Benjarong Pentachrome Ceramics These five-coloured ceramics are made in the finest and most sophisticated craftsmanship. Every piece of the ceramics is hand painted with a traditional Thai design. They come in plates, bowls, cups, jars, and tea sets

Reed Mat and Bamboo Weavivng Products Amphoe Manorom features beautifully good quality products from reed and bamboo such as reed mats, bags, baskets, shallow bamboo baskets, fruit trays, and fans.

Manorom’s Pomelo The most famous is the Khao Taengkwa variety with its sweet-crispy taste, large size, and is available throughout. The annual fair is held in August.

Water Hyacinth Woven Product By making good use of this local plant, water hyacinths are made into a variety of affordable and delicate handicraft products and household decorations such as bags, baskets, slippers, flower pots, trays in the shape of a chicken, and vases

Herbal Shampoo Products Made from kaffir limes, aloe, butterfly pea, turmeric, and soapberry, these renowned good quality herbal shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel, are products of the Tha Sai.

Pottery

These famous, durable, and stylishly designed pottery products such as flower pots, mugs, plates, watering utensils, and household decorations.

Huai Krot Sugar This palm sugar in soft cakes is derived from sugar palm trees, which are grown extensively in Tambon Huai Krot. Traditionally produced, Huai Krot Sugar is very sweet and aromatic, and an essential ingredient for making Thai desserts.

Brown Rice Brown rice is very nutritious because it is traditionally milled.

Artificial Flowers and Trees These are made from various materials such as plastic or sa paper.

Hand-woven Textile Utilizing their spare time from cultivation, local housewives produce the uniquely traditional hand-woven textile such as the tube skirt or pha sin with the decorative piece woven in discontinuous supplementary weft technique known as tin chok, which is the influence of Laotian ancestors, who previously migrated to Chai Nat.

Culture

Festivals

Straw Bird Fair, Chai Nat’s Product Fair and Red Cross Fair (§Ò¹ÁË¡ÃÃÁËØ蹿ҧ¹¡¹Ò¹ÒªÒµÔ §Ò¹¢Í§´Õ áÅЧҹ¡ÒªÒ´¨Ñ§ËÇÑ´ªÑ¹ҷ) This annual fair is organized by making good use of straw, a by-product in rice farming. Various species of huge straw birds will come perching on elaborately decorated floats during the straw bird procession and the competition is held in front of Chai Nat City Hall. The event is held annually during Chinese New Year in February.

Chai Nat Pomelo Fair (§Ò¹ÊéÁâͪѹҷ) Chai Nat is one of several provinces famous for producing exceptional pomelo. The best known are of the Khao Taengkwa variety having a well-rounded shape, smooth skin, thin peel, sweet-crispy taste and a little sour, but not bitter. The fair is held during late August - early September in front of Chai Nat City Hall and features many activities such as pomelo contest, varieties of exhibitions by provincial authorities, and young shoot and pomelo sales.

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Information

: Tourism Authority of Thailand Tourist Service Center : Hotel & Resorts in Thailand : Hotel & Resort in Bangkok

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