Wat Sangkat Rattanakhiri, at the foot of the Sakaekrang
Hill at the end of Tha Chang Road, houses a large, Sukhothai-style,
bronze Buddha statue in the Mara Vichaya posture, believed
to have been installed at the temple since the reign of
King Rama 1. Inside the head of the statue is enshrined
a Holy Relic. The head part and the rest of the body are
from different statues. It is believed that they were attached
together during a restoration before being brought to Uthai
Thani. The statue is called Phra Phutthamongkhon Saksit.
From the foot of the hill near the provincial sport stadium
is a road leading up to the hilltop, a distance of 4 kilometres
by car. Visitors can also walk up the steps from the temple
compound. From the hilltop can be seen a panoramic view
of the town. It is also where a replica of the Holy Footprint
is installed. A statue of the father of Rama I is also located
here. The view of the site is at its best during April when
the local Suphanika flowers are in full bloom painting the
entire hill a bright yellow.
Located on Sunthon Sathit Road in town is Wat Mani Sathit
Kapitharam built in the Rattanakosin Era. The 16 meter-tall
Prang with five turrets was erected in 1909 and houses a
Holy Relic. Water from a pond in the temple compound was
used as ceremonial water in the coronation of both King
Rama Vl and VII.
Built during early Rattanakosin Era, Wat Thammakhosok
is located on Si Uthai Road in town. It used to be the site
for the Oath of Allegiance Rituals for provincial officials
as well as the execution site for convicts in the past.
In the Ubosot are the finest wall murals of the town which
were made by the late Ayutthaya period artists. They portray
Buddhist history and likeness of celestial spirits alternating
with religious paraphernalia which are the handiworks of
later painters.
Within the Wihan are housed about twenty ancient Buddha
statues. Over the windows outside the building are plaster
relieves depicting the epic Ramayana. The door panels are
wood carved in floral designs. The small Kuti (monk's quarters)
next to the bot represents the delicate craftsmanship of
the early Rattanakosin Period.
Mae Nam Sakaekrang is a river flowing past Uthai.
Moored against both banks are scores of boat-houses reflecting
the simple and serene way of living of the local people.
The houses are erected over bamboo rafts. Most of the inhabitants
are fishermen and traps and creels containing various types
of fish can be seen tied to the rafts. Visitors may hire
boats to cruise along the river starting from the landing
at the municipal market.
Popularly referred to as Wat Bot, Wat Ubosatharam
is and old temple on the east bank of the Sakaekrang. Many
wall murals in the style of early Rattanakosin period can
be found inside the Ubosot and the Wihan, mostly depicting
Buddhist Chronicles. Over the outside wall of the Wihan
are portrayals of Buddha's funeral and of the local way
of life. Other interesting antiquities include Sema (stones
marking the limit of the Ubosot), cabinets with Thai patterns
containing scriptures, and the pearl-inlaid cover of begging
bowl given by Rama V. There are also several buildings in
old architectural style worth seeing.
The Uthai Thani Technology, Science and Environment
Centre is located in a 10 -year-old wooden building
at Benchama Rachuthit School. Exhibitions are mounted on
the history, arts and culture of the province. Other exhibits
include ancient tools and equipment and local woven products.
Open 9.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. on official working days. For
further information call (056) 511511, 511153
Wat Chantharam or Wat Tha Sung is located
in Tambon Nam Sum some five kilometres from town on the
way to Manorom district. Originally built since the Ayutthaya
Period, there are today many contemporary structures all
built with great care and splendid craftsmanship. The Ubosot
itself has been re-built with magnificent exteriors.
The Uthai Thani Old Town, at Nong Chang district,
had in fact been the site of the original town continuously
from the Sukhothai through to the Ayutthaya periods. The
community centre did not move to the present site on the
Sakaekrang until early Rattanakosin with the original town
downgrading to a district. Remains of the old town can still
be found at Wat Kuti but the surrounding areas are now open
field. The temple still in good condition today is Wat
Chaeng. Its Prang, or pagoda, first built in 1538, was
renovated in 1915 at he same time as the old Ayutthaya-style
Ubosot. The relieves on the Prang and the lintels over the
Ubosot are of the same type. Another temple is Wat Hua
Muang which still has the ruins of old bot of the Ayutthaya-style
and of small, ancient Chedi. |
Wat
Nong Phluang built in 1857 at Nong Kha Yang district
features a Ubosot decorated with lintels in plaster reliefs,
old glazed pottery and Sema (stones marking limits of the
Ubosot).
Wat Nong Khun
Chat, located in Nong Chang district, was built during
the current Rattanakosin Period. Inside the Ubosot are wall
murals painted by artists during the reign of King Rama
V depicting Buddhism-related chronicles. Significantly,
there are portrayals of individuals wearing Western-style
hats with brims.
Wat Thap Than,
19 kilometres from town and just one kilometre before the
Thap Than district office, features beautiful door panels
of the Rattanakosin style. Another pair of panels are of
design by local craftsmen.
The Thung
Yai Naresuan / Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary covers
area in three provinces in Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi and
Tak totaling 5,775 square kilometres. The largest continuous
tract of wildlife sanctuary in Thailand and in Southeast
Asia as well, it features a wide range of natural diversity
with both virgin and deciduous forests alternating with
grasslands. It is the habitat of diverse plantlife and wildlife,
including some near-extinct species. Because of its richness
in natural diversity, Thung Yai Naresuan / Huai Kha Khaeng
has been registered by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage
Site. As it is a preservation area at least a 15-day advance
application is required for study visits and staying overnight.
The application is to be submitted to the director of the
wildlife preservation unit of the Forestry Department in
Bangkok. Areas suitable for study tours are sites around
the park office which cover the Khao Hin Daeng Nature Study
Route running around the eastern perimeter. To reach the
site, proceed from the provincial town along Highway #333
passing Nong Chang district, turning right onto Highway
No. 3438 going past Lan Sak district. Then take the turn
into Thap Sa-lao Dam at which there is a laterite access
road. Continue on for a distance of 11 kilometres to reach
the site. Campers must provide their own equipment and provisions
and must strictly observe the regulations of the Sanctuary.
Some 60 kilometres
from town, or just 4 kilometres from the district town of
Lan Sak is Khao Phraya Phai Rua. Just 150 metres
on foot uphill is the mouth of a cave made up of several
small connecting caverns containing fascinating stalagmites
and stalactites. The hill itself takes the shape of a Chinese
junk when viewed from a distance.
About 12 kilometres
from Lan Sak on Highway No. 3438 is Thap Sa-lao Dam.
The man-made lake above the dam offers scenic views with
overlapping mountains making a majestic backdrop.
Khao Pla Ra
is a limestone mountain range to the west of the provincial
town in Nong Chang district. Because of the natural water
source which attracts wildlife, the area has been declared
a no-hunting zone. Over the western cliffs are pre-historic
paintings in red colour depicting human and animals, reflecting
the social lifestyle of ancient times. To reach the site,
go on the Nong Chang-Lan Sak road for about 22 kilometres.
Then take a left turn and continue for another 8 kilometres.
From there another two-hour walk will take visitors to the
600-metre peak.
A 2-kilometre
walk from Khao Pla Ra is Hup Pa Tad with caves. Around
the valley are groves of an ancient plantlife.
Tham Khao
Khong Chai is a small cave in the 350-metre hill in
Lan Sak district. It is believed that prehistoric men lived
around the site, judging from the remains of stone tools
and pottery. Within the cave are large flocks of bats. Hundreds
of them can be seen hunting for food in the late afternoon
and early evening. The cave is located some 5 kilometres
from Lan Sak district.
The Cyber
Waterfall is 86 kilometres from town in Huai Khot district.
The fall is fed by the brooks and streams flowing down from
the high mountains in the Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary.
The area is surrounded with lush green forests.
A small hill,
Khao Tham Taphap is located in Tambon Wang Hin of
Ban Rai district 56 kilometres from town on Highway No.
333. There is a right turn leading to the cave, a further
distance of three kilometres. The entire cave complex is
made up of several caverns. All beautifully adorned by stalagmites
and stalactites. In the tunnel behind the cave is a snapping
turtle-like rock formation, hence the name Tham Taphap.
Pre-historic tools have also been found around the site. |