Uthai Thani Province

Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.
Uthai Thani is the sitiated in the lower part of Northern region. Recent excavations have indicated that this area was inhabited by prehistoric people. There are several tourist attractions and places of interest but because the township area is far from the main highway few visitors make the trip to this interesting province.
Uthai Thani occupies a total area of 6,730 square kilometers located 219 kms. from Bangkok.

Tourist Attractions

  • The Old City of Uthai Thai
    The Old City of Uthai Thai now at Ban Uthai Thani Kao, Amphoe Nong Chang, the city flourished during Ayutthaya period. Ruins of many old Wats still can be seen, for example, Wat Chaeng with its main Prang and a Bot (a rite hall) of late Ayutthaya period, and Wat Hua Muang with ruins of a Bot and a Chedi.

    • Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri
      This temple is situated at the foot of Khao Sakae Krang. The very beautiful Buddha dates from the Sukhothai period named "Phra Mongkhon Saksit" is housed here. This Buddha image is cast of bronze in the attitude of Subduring Evil. It is one of the most sacred Buddha images and is highly revered by Uthai Thani inhabitan. Crowds of Buddhists assemble for "Tak Bat Thewo" (Merit Making Festival) at this temple every year on Ok Phansa Day.

      • The Ancient City of Bung Khok Chang
        The Ancient City of Bung Khok Chang, located at Tarnbon Phai Khieo, Amphoe Sawang Arom, the city is discovered in almost perfect condition with ruins and various kinds of artifacts such as pottery, grinding stones, iron tools, yellow beads and an inscription. Some other ancient communities are also discovered within the province, though not in similar condition, for example, the Ancient City of Ban Tai, Amphoe Muang.

        • Mural Painting at Wat Nong Khun Chat
          This monastery is located at Tambon Nong Suang, Amphoe Nong Chang. The mural paintings dating from the reign of King Rama V on the walls of the main shrine hall are the scenes from the life of the Lord Buddha. There is a mondop covering the Buddha Footprints located in the area of the monastery.

          • Khao Sakae Krang Buddha Footprints
            The Footprints are enshrined on the 120 meters summit of Khao Sakae Krang near Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri. The mondop covering the Footprints was built in the year 1905 and renovated in the year 1968. A Fair celebration the Footprints is held during the third day through the eighth day of the waxing moon in the fourth lunar month of each year.

            • Monument of Somdet Phra Pathom Borom Maha Chanok
              The father of King Phra Buddha Yotfa Chulalok, (Rama I of the present Chakri Dynasty), Somdet Phra Pathom was born in the town of Sakae Krang. A monument of him is located near the Khao Sakae Krang Buddha Footprints and was inaugurated by their Majesties the King and the Queen on April 5, 1979.

              • Mural Paintings at Wat Ubosatharam
                This monastery is situated on Ko Thepho opposite to Uthai Thani Province Market, commonly called by the residents as "Wat Bot". The early Rattanakosin period mural paintings on the walls of the main shrine hall are regarded as very beautiful. Paintings of divine being are on the upper part while scenes from the life of the Lord Buddha decorate the lower part of the wall.

                • Wat Mani Sathit Kapittharam
                  This monastery is commonly called "Wat Thung Kaeo" and there is a large Khmer style pagoda (prang) located inside. The Prang is 8 meters wide at the base with a height of 16 meters. It houses some of the Buddha's relics. A bronze image of Luang Pho Yaem, the founder of this monastery, is enshrined here, and there is a large pond of holy water surrounding a rocky slab inscribed with some holy letters. The lustral water from this pond was used in the coronation ceremonies of King Rama VI and Rama VII, and it is one of the most important monasteries of Uthai Thani.

                  • Wat Chantharam or Wat Tha Sung
                    This monastery is located about 10 kms. from the Provincial Hall (Sala Klang). It is a famous meditation wat with instruction in the style of meditation master Luang Pho Pan. Luang Pho Rusi Ling Dam, a famous meditation monk, used to reside here.

                    • History and Local Culture Museum
                      located at Uthai Thani Non-Formal Education Center, the museum puts on exhibition pre-historic human skeletons, local costumes, governor's costumes, etc.

                      • Khao Pathawi
                        This mountain is situated at Tambon Talukdu, Amphoe Thapthan, 38 kms. from township area. It resembles the picturesque mountains depicted on Chinese porcelains, having a cool ample space with shady trees and inhabited by groups of monkeys. There are many caves inside the mountain including the Tham Prathun, Tham Rusi or Hermit Cave, with many beautiful stalagmites and stalactites.

                        • Tham Khao Phraya Phai Rua
                          This cave is newly discovered, situated in Amphoe Lan Sak, 60 kms. from the township area Viewed from a distance, the hill resembles a Chinese junk surrounded at the base by a natural moat of about 12 meters in width. The sides of the mountain are covered with many species of trees and inside the mountain there are many caves such as Tham Kaeo, Tham Si Chomphu, Tham Thong Phra Rong, Tham Buddha Sathan, Tham Ang Nam Mon, each having their own particular beauties. Some of them are adorned with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. A visit to the caves will require some 4-5 hours to see all the interesting sights. There is electricity for illumination in the caves, but the authorities should be contacted in advance to light the caves and payment must be made for the cost of the electricity.

                          • Khao Khong Chai
                            This is another large and beautiful mountain, located about 5 kms. from Amphoe Lan Sak where a road branches off on the right for the one kilometer distance to Khao Khong Chai. The foot hills are always cool and there are many beautiful caves such as Tham Thong Chai, Tham Maha Sombat, Tham Lom, etc. inside the mountain.

                            • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
                              This area, bordering Uthai Thani Province and Tat Province, was declared a wildlife preserve in 1972. The FAO is presently making a survey of the area and will open it as the most complete and biggest wildlife sanctuary in Southeast Asia. Generally, this area consists of virgin forests, clear forests, prairies and many streams, all suitable for wildlife breeding expansion. Here can be found many species of wild animals including rate and nearly extinct species.
                              Huai Kha Khaeng can be reached by taking Uthai Thai - Nong Chang - Lansak Route (Highway No.3438) to KM. 53 - 54, then turn left for another 14 kms. However, prior approval is necessary from the Wildlife Conservation Division, the Royal Forestry Department, Tel. 579-4847. Important considerations for the jungle trekker are : Tour guide, foodstuff and medicine.

                              Festival and Celebrations Manual in Uthai Thani




                              Tak Bat Devo, Uthai Thani Province
                              TAK BAT DEVO, October, At Uthai Thani
                              Tak Bat Devo is a modern Thai Buddhist ceremony reliving an event recounted in the ancient Buddhist scriptures. It is about the time when it is said the Lord Budda, that former Indian prince who had renounced his father's crown, his rank and caste, and his luxurious life in the palace for the hardships of a mendicant.
                              Once the former prince had learned what he could, had practiced the meditations he'd been taught in the forest, he had that experience we call today The Enlightenment. It is only from this that we properly term that ex-prince Budda, a word meaning Englightened One. And it is from then that he undertook his ministry, walking abroad in India ever teaching what has come down to us today as Buddhism. The teaching spread across the waters and deserts of Asia, and reached Siam many centuries ago.
                              Among the many tales of the Lord Buddha, one deals with his desire to teach his mother, but this lady had passed away only a week after the princeling's birth. Thus the Buddha determined to ascend into heaven to preach to her.
                              Buddhist heavens, carryovers of ancient Indian beliefs, were of several levels and while the Buddha's mother abode in one of the highest, the Buddha determined to use his time to advantage by instructing some of the heaven-bound gods as well. So instead of ascending solely to the highest heaven, he stayed at a lower level where he could address all the celestial beings. When he had finished, he descended again to the world of earthlings.
                              It is this the Buddhists of Thailand celebrate, with abundant sharing of their food with the monks -- and through them, the belief goes -- to the gods above. Tak Bat Devo literally means to fill the bowls of the gods.
                              While this is basically a monks' ceremony involving the laity mostly in an enlargement of their daily habitual practice of offering food to monks early in the mornings, in certain places in Thailand it takes on the character of an all our fair. Uthai Thani, north of Bangkok, is a place that celebrates Tak Bat Devo with unusual ceremonies, with the monks in the vicinity climbing to the top of a hill representing the Buddha's ascent, and then coming down to the massive offerings set out by the common folk, as the Buddha himself was believed to have done.
                              Other, extraneous elements have become mixed into this remembrance, as is typical of all ancient rites. In this case, a visitor will see an unusual display of elepant's tusks, some almost unbelievably huge, peacocks' tails spread out in colourful glory, ancient ceramicware, much of it from the days of imperial China and which remind the viewer that much of Thai culture derives from those two nearly-adjacent lands, India and China, and indeed may be better preserved in Thailand than it the original homelands.
                              This year, Tak Bat Devo will be celebrated in many neighbourhoods on the morning of October, and in Uthai Thani the traditional provincial ceremony will be reenacted, yet another link between the present and the remote past one so often finds in the lands of Asia.

                              Monks descend from a hilltop temple, to receive offerings from local people
                              It is this the Buddhists of Thailand celebrate, with abundant sharing of their food with the monks -- and through them, the belief goes -- to the gods above. Tak Bat Devo literally means to fill the bowls of the gods.
                              While this is basically a monks' ceremony involving the laity mostly in an enlargement of their daily habitual practice of offering food to monks early in the mornings, in certain places in Thailand it takes on the character of an all our fair. Uthai Thani, north of Bangkok, is a place that celebrates Tak Bat Devo with unusual ceremonies, with the monks in the vicinity climbing to the top of a hill representing the Buddha's ascent, and then coming down to the massive offerings set out by the common folk, as the Buddha himself was believed to have done.
                              Other, extraneous elements have become mixed into this remembrance, as is typical of all ancient rites. In this case, a visitor will see an unusual display of elepant's tusks, some almost unbelievably huge, peacocks' tails spread out in colourful glory, ancient ceramicware, much of it from the days of imperial China and which remind the viewer that much of Thai culture derives from those two nearly-adjacent lands, India and China, and indeed may be better preserved in Thailand than it the original homelands.
                              This year, Tak Bat Devo will be celebrated in many neighbourhoods on the morning of October, and in Uthai Thani the traditional provincial ceremony will be reenacted, yet another link between the present and the remote past one so often finds in the lands of Asia.