Suphan Buri, Central Thailand

Suphan Buri is a small city with a lot of history. Dating back to over 1,000 years ago, the city thankfully retains its idyllic charms and historic sites. Situated just a couple of hours from Bangkok, the city consists of mostly peaceful communities and rice fields, complete with friendly locals.

Apart from being the hometown of King U Thong (the founder of Ayutthaya) and the main setting for an immortal epic poem, the city is rich with Thai-Chinese heritage. The world’s biggest dragon statue that tells the story of Thai-Chinese people. The UNESCO award-winning, authentic Thai-Chinese market. If you can’t go all the way to Southern Thailand, Suphan Buri is a great place to experience the Thai-Chinese culture outside Bangkok.

Check out these top things to do in Suphan Buri, Thailand, and enjoy authentic local experiences before the rest of the world catches on.

Top 9 Things to Do in Suphan Buri, Thailand

1. Witness the living heritage at Sam Chuk Market

You can easily see why UNESCO honors Sam Chuk Market. When the formerly quiet market was to be renovated, the locals worked hard to revive it while preserving its wooden structure and the local Thai-Chinese culture. Today the century-old market bustles with traditional activities. Many of the houses are turned into museums, shops and restaurants. It’s also located by the Tha Chin River. Perfect for relaxing after eating and shopping.

2. Learn more about the descendants of dragon

Heavenly Dragon Park was built about 10 years ago to celebrate China-Thailand diplomatic relations and they sure made everything grand. The park consists of Chinese-style Suphan Buri City Pillar Shrine, the Lijiang-inspired Celestial Dragon Village and the 35-meter-tall, 135 meter-long golden dragon rising from the clouds. More than an eye-catching structure, the dragon is the Dragon Descendants Museum featuring fun exhibitions about China and its relations with Thailand.

3. Escape to a raft house at Hub Khao Wong Reservoir

In just about a few hours from Bangkok, you can experience a rural lifestyle in one of the raft houses. By rural, we mean the signal is very weak and there’s no electricity.

If the raft houses are all booked, you can still rent a tent and enjoy the forest and mountain views around Hub Khao Wong Reservoir. Since the city is famous for fish dishes, this is your opportunity to taste local meals made from fresh catches. However, please remember that swimming isn’t allowed.

4. Pay respect to the city’s most revered Buddha image and visit the house of Thailand’s famous epic character

Almost as old as the city itself, Wat Pa Lelai is the city’s signature temple. The main chapel enshrines the 23-meter-tall seated Buddha statue, Luang Pho To.

Wat Pa Lelai is also an important setting in one of the most famous Thai literary works, Khun Chang Khun Phaen. Based on true stories with supernatural elements, Khun Chang Khun Phaen is believed to take place in the 16th century. One of the special things about it is that it focuses on commoners instead of gods and royalties. You can find an accurate recreation of Khun Chang’s house, Khun Chang Khun Phaen murals and character statues in the temple complex.

5. Enter the land of giant Buddha images and tour the Buddhist hell at Wat Phai Rong Wua

Wat Phai Rong Wua is home to a lot of superlative Buddha statues. Like the world’s biggest cement Buddha and Thailand’s biggest bronze Buddha. The temple also houses the recreations of places in Buddha’s life and heaven and hell gardens. Keep in mind that things can get pretty graphic in hell.

6. Get up close and personal with Thai buffaloes at Buffalo Village

Buffalo Village (Baan Kwai in Thai) is the best place to learn about and interact with another iconic animal of Thailand. Cute buffaloes aside (both the real ones and the souvenirs), you can learn about Thai farmer’s traditional way of life and their folk wisdom. After all, the lives of farmers and buffaloes are intertwined.

7. Become a farmer for one day at the Learning Center of Farmer's Way of Life and Wisdoms

Also called Na Here Chai (Chai’s rice farm) for short, the Learning Center of Farmer's Way of Life and Wisdoms allows you to dig deeper into the farmer’s way of life. Watch farmers work (Na Here Chai is a real operating farm) or even become one yourself. You’ll understand why farmers are regarded as the backbone of Thailand.

The Learning Center of Farmer's Way of Life and Wisdoms is all about sustainable agriculture and you can also shop for high-quality agricultural products.

8. Reconnect with nature at Bueng Chawak

The city’s most popular lake is full of activities for nature lovers. Since Bueng Chawak is a Ramsar wetland and a wildlife sanctuary, expect a variety of flora (especially lotuses) and fauna (especially birds). Bueng Chawak also has its own beautiful aquarium (many fish residents are native to Bueng Chawak), vegetable farms and a local handicraft center.

9. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Ekachai Sali Suphan

Sali Suphan is one of Thailand’s most popular cakes. Originated about 50 years ago in a small shop called Ekachai, Sali Suphan is now famous all over Thailand and available in many flavors. You can find Sali Suphan all over Suphan Buri and don’t forget to buy other Ekachai desserts.

That’s it for things to do in Suphan Buri, Thailand, but that’s not all you can do on your journey. Pair your visit to Suphan Buri with a trip to its charming neighbor, Ratchaburi. Find out things to do in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

Welcome to Amazing Thailand – Open to the New Shades. This is your ultimate Thailand travel guide, off-the-beaten-track edition. Go local and explore Thailand through new perspectives. Open your heart and mind… to the shades of Thailand that you never knew exist!

The post Top Things to Do in Suphan Buri, Thailand: Buffalo Village, Buddhist Hell and Magical Raft House appeared first on Amazing Thailand.

Ratchaburi, Central Thailand

“Ratchaburi… Where?” That’s probably going to be many travelers’ immediate response once they hear the name. The quaint western city is actually home to one of the world’s most famous floating markets, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.

The charmingly heavy canal traffic at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market has graced countless tourism ads, postcards and Instagram feeds and unfortunately, the tourist traffic seems to only concentrate there. More than the floating market, the city has everything from nature to culture, especially arts and crafts. Also dubbed “Art Chaburi”, the art scene in Ratchaburi is rising and whether you’re a fan of the traditional or the pop, you’ll find what you love there.

So don’t just visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and get back to Bangkok right after. Make time to explore the other areas in the city and you won’t regret it. Check out these things to do in Ratchaburi, Thailand and enjoy authentic Thai experiences before the rest of the world catches on.

Top 14 Things to Do in Ratchaburi, Thailand

1. Stroll around the ceramic jungle at Tao Hong Tai Ceramics Factory

Visiting a factory may not sound like a fun idea for everyone, but Tao Hong Tai Ceramics Factory is far from boring. Tao Hong Tai has grown from a family water jar business into one of Thailand’s most prominent ceramics manufacturers and now it has been over 60 years. The area around the factory is turned into a green space dotted with colorful installation art pieces. All made from Tao Hong Tai ceramics, of course. You can also tour the factory and watch the workers handcraft each piece with your own eyes.

2. Enjoy history with a side of arts

As one of Thailand’s ancient cities, Ratchaburi has a long history and you can learn it all inside Ratchaburi National Museum (English available). The museum building was formerly the town hall building, now beautifully painted in pink.

Right next to Ratchaburi National Museum is Tao Hong Tai : d Kunst, the city’s first-ever contemporary art gallery. Housed inside a century-old wooden Thai house, the gallery features not only contemporary art exhibitions but also an art library and a hip café. Love street arts or cats or both? CAT Town, the art alley next to Tao Hong Tai : d Kunst, is calling you.

3. Adventure and unwind at Khao Ngu Stone Park

Reborn from an abandoned limestone quarry, Khao Ngu Stone Park is a beautiful recreational area with towering limestone mountains, caves filled with historic Buddhist artworks and a large lake. Enjoy adrenaline-pumping activities like rock climbing and flying fox or you can simply walk around the park and meet the monkeys.

You can visit Khao Ngu Stone Park anytime, but it’s a great spot to watch the sunset.

4. Explore the worlds of stalactites and stalagmites

We’ve already seen handmade arts. Now is the time for arts by Mother Nature. The best caves in the city are Khao Bin Cave and Chompol Cave.

1) Khao Bin Cave

The city's most beautiful cave. Boasting gorgeous collections of stalactites and stalagmites, Khao Bin Cave is also colorfully illuminated. The cave is divided into 8 rooms and each room is believed to offer visitors different blessings.

2) Chompol Cave

The charms of Chompol Cave lie in not only its stalactites and stalagmites but also the beam of light that shines down on the Buddha image inside. Visit at around 1pm-2.30pm for this enchanting phenomenon.

5. Watch the shadows come alive in Wat Khanon Nang Yai

Nang Yai or large shadow play fuses many branches of arts and UNESCO-honored Wat Khanon Nang Yai is a must-see. Artisans meticulously carve buffalo hide into life-size puppets and the story unfolds through traditional Thai music and entertaining chants.

Wat Khanon has over 300 well-preserved Nang Yai puppets and the Nang Yai Museum is right on the temple grounds. Every Saturday from 10am-11am, the puppets come to life in Nang Yai shadow play performed by Wat Khanon School students.

6. Step back into time in Photharam

If you’re a fan of old-world charms, Photharam is for you. The community has rows of photogenic wooden houses and the 100-year-old Jed Samian Market has parades of traditional Thai food and drink and retro stuff. Photharam also has some beautiful temples:

1) Wat Kongkaram

This Mon-style temple has elaborate 200-year-old murals by Mon artists as well as a local museum (weekends and holidays only) that displays ancient artifacts found in the area.

2) Wat Phra Sri Arn

The golden ordination hall is very impressive and so is its interior. The temple is also famous for traditional Thai kites.

7. Unleash your inner child at Suntree Land of Dolls

Thailand’s only doll-centric theme park, Suntree Land of Dolls is a grand project of a doll factory owner. Take pictures with giant dolls, especially teddy bears, in various themed zones. Cuddling is more than welcome. You can buy Suntree dolls or even make your own.

8. Batwatch at Wat Khao Chong Pran

Thanks to the temple location near limestone mountains and caves, the temple is one of the best places in Thailand for batwatching. The flights of million bats start at around 6pm.

9. Chase the sheep at The Scenery Vintage Farm

The Scenery Vintage Farm in Suan Phueng is one of the best escape plans in Thailand. Situated in the lush valleys, the farm is full of countryside-style attractions, especially sheep. You can feed these fluffy cuties and taste the delicious sheep dairy products like ice cream and cookies.

10. Relax at Bo Khlueng Hot Spring and Kao Chan Waterfall

Treat your skin to the mineral water from Tanao Sri Mountain Range. Nearby Bo Khlueng Hot Spring is the beautiful 9-tiered Kao Chan Waterfall (also called Kao Chon Waterfall).

11. Light up the romance at Baan Hom Tian

Enjoy the sights and scents of colorful fragrant candles. Apart from handcrafted candles, Baan Hom Tian is decorated with vintage furniture and antique lamps, complete with lovely restaurant and café. All these aesthetics are so romantic.

12. See the sea of mist on Khao Krajom

It’s hard to believe there’s a sea of mist that’s only about 3 hours away from Bangkok, but this is the reality. Marking the end of Thailand territory, Khao Krajom is the tallest mountain in Suan Phueng. It’s a proof that viewing the sea of mist above verdant forests is possible during your weekend getaway.

13. Take a Thai-style dragon jar home

Remember those big brown water jars painted with dragon that you see around Thailand? The birthplace of dragon jars is none other than Ratchaburi. They come in many sizes, so you can buy a tiny one if you still have a long way to go on your Thailand trip.

14. Explore the hidden sides of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market needs no introduction, but there are still a lot of things few people know about this market. Eating, shopping and snapping photos of the paddle boats aside, hop on one of the boats to learn how locals make coconut sugar.

At the end of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is Lau Tak Lak Floating Market (weekends only). Just cross the bridge and you’ll be in a completely different world. All the buzz disappears and there’s only peace in this century-old Thai-Chinese market.

That’s it for things to do in Ratchaburi, Thailand, but that’s not all you can do on your journey. Pair your visit to Ratchaburi with a trip to its charming neighbor, Suphan Buri. Find out things to do in Suphan Buri, Thailand.

Welcome to Amazing Thailand – Open to the New Shades. This is your ultimate Thailand travel guide, off-the-beaten-track edition. Go local and explore Thailand through new perspectives. Open your heart and mind… to the shades of Thailand that you never knew exist!

The post Top Things to Do in Ratchaburi, Thailand: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Vibrant Ceramic Jungle and Hot Spring appeared first on Amazing Thailand.