Chainat Province
General Information
Chainat is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The community was moved from the old site at Sankhaburi in the reign of King Rama IV. Chainat was an important town used several times as a base to confront the Burmese army. Every time, the Burmese were defeated, thus originating the name of Chainat which means a place of victory.
Chainat occupies an area of 2,469 square kilometres and is administratively divided into 6 districts: Amphoe Muang Chai Nat, Amphoe Hankha, Amphoe Manorom, Amphoe Sankhaburi, Amphoe Sapphaya, Amphoe Wat Sing, and 2 sub-districts: King Amphoe Nong Mamong and King Amphoe Noen Kham.
How To Get There
Car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road) and Highway No. 32 passing Ang Thong, Sing Buri, and turn left at Km. 183 to Chainat, a total distance of 194 kilometres.
Bus
From Bangkok, there are both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses to Ang Thong. Buses leave Mochit 2 Bus Terminal daily from 5.10 a.m.-5.30 p.m. It takes two and a half hours for the trip. Contact Transport Co. Ltd, Tel: 0 2537 8055; Chainat Tour, Tel: 0 2936 3608 or 0 5641 2264.
Festivals
Straw Bird Fair
Straw Bird Fair 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 in early February of each year. After the competition, all straw birds will be displayed at the Chainat Bird Park. Local products and agricultural crops will also be available in the fair.
Local Products
Hand-woven rattan and bamboo products
Hand-woven rattan and bamboo products keep coming into the market with improved design and quality.
Pomelo
Pomelo , this fruit from a famous and selected genus has been in existence for almost 100 years. The most popular breed is the Khao Taeng Kwa which produces large fresh and sweet pomelo.
Attractions
Chainat Bird Park
This is located 4 kilometres before arriving in Chainat. Birds of more than 100 species live in a huge cage which maintains a natural environment. The park also has an aquarium which has a collection of various kinds of freshwater fish found in the Chao Phraya River. Local products such as bird models, wickerwork, and pomelo is available at the shops in the park.
Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan
This is an old temple on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Located 4 kilometres from the town, it can be accessible by Route Nos. 340 and 3183. There is an old pagoda housing Lord Buddhas relics. It had been originally constructed with laterite in the Khmer period and was renovated in the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods.
Within the precincts of the temple is the Chainat Muni National Museum which displays several kinds of artifacts discovered in the town including Buddha images of different postures, as well as Thai and Chinese ceramics. It also exhibits various types of votive tablets.
Wat Thammamun
This hillside temple is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, 8 kilometres from Chainat. It was constructed during the Ayutthaya period and enshrines Luang Pho Thammachak, a standing Buddha image with a mixture of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya styles. Two fairs to worship the image are held in May and October.
Khun San Statue
Khun San is one of the Bang Rachan folk leaders who fought against the Burmese during the Ayutthaya period. It is taken for granted that he was a Sankhaburi resident. The statue is 2.5 metres high, standing in front of the Sankhaburi district office.
Monkeys at Wat Thammikawat
Located in Tambon Pho Ngam, Amphoe Sankhaburi, this temple is 38 kilometres south of Chainat along Route No. 311 (Chainat-Sing Buri route). Its pleasant area next to the Noi River is home to a number of monkeys.
Wat Mahathat
This is an old temple of Mueang Phraek or Mueang San which was an ancient city dating back to the Dvaravati period. Sankhaburi had been also an important fort town of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Kingdoms. It is located by the Noi River, 20 kilometres southeast of Chainat along Route No. 340. The temple houses ruined chapels with seated Buddha images and a distinguish Lop Buri style chedi with a fluted spire like the petal of a star apple.
Wat Phra Kaeo
This is another ancient temple in Sankhaburi. It is situated to the south of Wat Mahathat. Its old chedi (pagoda) was constructed during the Ayutthaya period in harmonious Lop Buri and Dvaravati styles. In front of the chedi enshrines a seated Buddha image. A complicated lintel was found inside at the back of the image after stucco covering the image was broken.
Khuean Chao Phraya
This is Thailand's first dam constructed in 1956 for irrigational purposes. It is located 13 kilometres east of the town along the route to Amphoe Sapphaya (Road No. 311). The dam has a total length of 238 metres and a height of 14 metres. The reservoir over the dam site is the habitat of numerous waterfowl during February.
Wat Intharam
This is an old temple, about 100 years old, Located by the Chao Phraya River in Tambon Taluk, Amphoe Sapphaya, 12 kilometres east of Chainat. Outstanding old structures in the temple include twin belfries and a hall for keeping scriptures. The latter, situated in the middle of a pond, has been constructed with elaborate decorative designs.
Wat Karuna
Located near the Chao Phraya Dam, this temple houses a large sandstone Buddha image namely Phra Phutthamaha Sila, which is highly revered by the local people of Chainat.
Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao
This is an old temple situated at the mouth of Khlong Makham Thao, which runs into the Tha Chin River at Amphoe Wat Sing, 25 kilometres northwest of Chainat. The shady temple offers pleasant scenery and houses mural paintings made by Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, the father of the Thai navy.
Continue reading here: Phanom Rung Historical Park
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