Petchburi City

View of Wat Maha Samanaram from the royal observatory on Khao Wang hill.

 
The city of Petchburi is the capital of the province of the same name. The town has been settled since the eleventh century. In the nineteenth century it became a royal retreat of King Mongkut (Rama IV), starting a new trend of the summer retreat that would be repeated by his successors.

Despite having several attractions, there are almost no accommodations in Petchburi town. Most tourists visit the city either as a day trip from Bangkok, or as a stop on their way to Cha Am or Hua Hin.

Attractions

Phra Nakhon Khiri National Park

Just east of Petchburi's city center, a small hill rises sharply out of the plain. On top of the hill, King Rama IV had a summer palace built in the 1850s. The palace is now a museum and national park.

Wat Mahathat Worawihan

The five towers (prangs) of this temple can be seen from all over town. The temple's origins are believed to go as far back as the twelfth century, when the Khmers ruled the entire region. Mural paintings with the halls of the temple depict the life ob Buddha.

The Old Quarter

The oldest part of Petchburi is famous for its sweets market. Several shops in the area sell a variety of sticky sweet traditional Thai desserts, flavored with buttery pandan and banana.

Wat Yai Suwannaram

One of the 30 other temples in Petchburi town, Wat Yai Suwannaram is notable for the painted murals in the ubosot as well as several other exquisite buildings within the compound of the temple.

Wat Kampaeng Laeng

This ancient temple dates from Khmer period, and was probably built around the twelfth century. It is one of the few Khmer temples in Thailand outside of the northeast. Originally it was a Hindu temple, but was later converted to Buddhist use.

Phra Ram Ratchaniwet Palace

Late in his reign, King Rama IV had a small very western styled palace built on the Petch river just outside of town. The palace was based on the summer palace of Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany.

Tham Khao Luang

Just three kilometers north of Petchburi is another small hill called Khao Luang, or "Royal Hill". Within the hill is a large cave with several Buddha shrines within. A colapsed portion of the roof lets in a dramatic light on the statues. The cave was a popular picnic spot for the royal family.