Appreciating Thai Life Along Waterways From Two Cities by the Sea to Hill Top Palace

Starting off from Bangkok, use Highway 35 (Thon Buri-Pak Tho) for about 30 kilometers to reach Mahachai District, turn left into Norarat Uthit Road and follow the sign to Samut Sakhon Hospital At the intersection, turn left on Highway 3242 up to the crossing where the right turn leads to Highway 3243, across Mahachai Canal.Take a right turn into Thammakhunakon Road. Wat Krok Krak, lies about 3 kilometers ahead on the left, on the bank of the Tha Chin River. Enshrined in the wooden prayer hall is a peculiar bespectacled Buddha. From here, you can drive on to the mouth of Mahachai Bay, which is lined with seafood shops in the afternoon, in the area at the front of Wat Kamphra, from where the road runs into Nikhom Sahakon Road. On both sides are prawn farms, salt fields, interspersed with mangrove forests and communities, favored spots for bird watchers. Information can be obtained from the Khok Kham Natural Resource Conservation Club, on the right before reaching the bridge over Bidyalongkorn Canal.
Crossing the canal, the road leads past Wat Sahakon Khositaram on the left to a crossing. Take the left turn into Sahakorn-Phanthai Norasingh Road, which ends at Phanthai Norasingh Shrine, now a historical park. A life-size figure of the heroic helmsman of Ayutthaya Period stands within the shrine. The area is also rich in marshland birds. Boat tours are also offered, taking visitors to observe fishing communities and green mussel farms.
Thereafter, turn back to Highway 35 heading for Samut Songkhram Province. At kilometer 63, keep left and get onto the multi-level interchange to turn into Samut Songkhram, along Prasit Phatthana Road. Turn right at the intersection and continue across the railway line. Wat Phetsamut or Wat Ban Laem the site of Luang Pho Ban Laem, a revered Buddha image, is located nearby. From here, drive further to Mae Klong Market, known otherwise as Closing Umbrellas Market, situated close to the railway line, with makeshift stalls put up under large umbrellas, closed and moved out at the sign of approaching trains. In the area, you can also sample hot soups at Krung Thai Chinese soup shop.

Next, turn on Highway 325 heading to Bang Khonthi District. At kilometer 32, turn right on a rural road, Bang Yai·Bang Saphai, with the sigh directing to Wat Thep Prasit Khunawat at the entrance. Follow the signs to Tha Kha Floating Market, on every 2nd, 7th and 12th days of the waxing and waning moon, from 08:00 tot 0:00 a.m. Boat tour and home-stay services are also available. From here, turn back on the same route as Highway 325, and continue up to Wat Chulamani on the left at the foot of the bridge across the canal. Turn right and follow the signs to Ban Bencharong, up to Ban Pinsuwan on the right. Here is the production site of elaborately painted ceramics in the style of the legendary Bencharong ware.
The next destination is King Rama II Memorial Park. Take Highway 325 up to Amphawa Intersection and turn right into Samut Songkhram – Bang Nok Khwaek road, passing the side road into Amphawa Market and cross the bridge. Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram is seen on the left. Next to it is the King Rama II Memorial Park, with a museum dedicated to the literary king of early Bangkok Period, built as typical Thai group houses in beautifully landscaped area, featuring plants mentioned in Thai Literature. At the boat landing by the Mae Klong River, a boat at the disposal of H.R.H.Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, stands ready. Noodle boats offering traditional delectable riverside snacks visit the boat landing daily around noontime.
Now, turn back to Amphawa Intersection. turn right and go straight on to the crossing, where another right turn takes across the Somdet Phra Sisuriyendra Bridge and over Pracha Chomchuen Canal respectively. Coming down from the bridge, Wat Phumarin Kudi Thong stands prominently with the ancient hall wholly built of golden teak. Next to it is Ban Maeo Thai, the Home of Siamese Cats. the collecting and breeding center of famous Siamese cats. and Wat Bang Khae Noi, with haul-relief woodcarvings and sophisticated woodworks. After passing Wat Paknam, drive on to the bridge over Om Canal About 2 kilometers ahead is Bang Kung Camp, an Unseen Thailand site, a stronghold of Thai forces towards the end a mysterious appearance.

From Bang Kung Camp, turn back to Highway 35 heading towards Phetchaburi Province. At kilometer 64, before crossing King Rama II Bridge, you will spot the sign pointing the direction of Don Hoi Lot. Turn left and continue for about 1 kilometer, Wat Satthatham with the pearl-inlaid wooden prayer hall can be seen. Five kilometers further is Don Hoi Lot, the sand bar at the mouth of the Mae Klong River, rich in razor clam. You can try your hand at catching the clam, or just enjoy the spicy clam dish at one of the numerous shops in the area.
Turning back to Highway 35 once again and head for Phetchaburi Province. Passing Wang Manao Intersection for about 4 kilometer, a sign pointing to Wat Kuti can be seen on the left. Follow the sign to the temple, with a teak prayer hall, elaborately carved in the stories of Jataka and famous Chinese literature. Now, use Highway No.4 into the city of Phetchaburi. At the Shrine of the City Pillar Intersection, turn left into Highway 3173 to get to Tham Khao Luang, with the entrance higher up on the hill, at about 40 meters elevation. The cave contains Buddha images and pagodas built by the Venerable Ail, a principal craftsman of Phetchaburi. Thereafter, spend some time to admire superb cement carvings at major temples in the city, especially at Wat Val Suwannaram on Pongsuriya Road, full of artworks, as well as a teak assembly hall, and a scripture hall on three poles set in the middle of the pond, and Wat Mahathat Worawihan, with a large five-top stupa and cement carvings by past and present masters, featuring some political comics among them. By the end of the tour, find some culinary delights on Damnoen Kasem Road, such as at Che Nok’s, Noodle in Red Soup, and Summer Rice Nang Ram, opposite Wat Mahathat.

From Phetchaburi, follow Highway No.4 to Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, or Khao Wang, the Hill-Top Palace, the site of Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace, the Royal Temple and the Pagoda of the Holy Relics of Chom Phet, built in the Fourth Reign of the Bangkok Period, in Neo-Classical style combined with Thai and Chinese architecture, on the lush hill covered up to Phetcharat intersection, and turn right at kilometer 169 to Wat Khao Bandai It, about 800 meters inside, The hill temple comprise caves as prayer halls, decked with fine cement carvings, as Tham Prathun, Tham Phra Chao Suea, and Tham Phra Phutha Saiyat the Cave of the Reclining Buddha.
Next, continue on Highway No.4 to Tha Yang District, the location of Kaeng Krachan National Park, going for about 1 o kilometers to Tha Yang Intersection and turn right on Highway 3187. continue for about 8 kilometers along the irrigation canal to the crossing and turn right into the main road, about 26 kilometers to the community. Go straight for 2 kilometers and turn left to cross the bridge over Phetchaburi River. Four kilometers ahead is the Tourist Information Center of the Park on the right. For a quick tour, the boat can be hired to cruise the lake over Kaeng Krachan Dam. With time to spare, Kaeng Krachan National Park offers the wonder of nature, through nature study trails over Khao Sam Yot, Ban Krang, and Phanoen Thung. Vehicles can reach the hill top up to kilometer 36.5, with the narrow and climb gravel road after kilometer 15 From the hilltop, a hiking trail leads to Tho Thlp Waterfall. An overnight stay in the park is recommended if you want to visit the waterfall. Minus that, the one-day tour on this route is enough to give you the taste of Thai way of life, glorious art and culture and pristine natural surroundings in close proximity to Bangkok.

Category: Phetchaburi, Samut Songkhram