South Thailand / Petchburi
PETCHBURI
Petchburi is an old city and used to be an important garrison town. It was formerly called by many different names such as Muang Phribphli, Muang Petchphli, etc. Petchburi province has an area of 6,225sqkm (2,403sqmi) and is divided into the six districts Muang (the town of Petchburi), Cha-am, Khao Yoi, Tha Yang, Ban Lat as well as the sub-districts of Ban Laem and Nog Ya Plong.
Accommodation
Chom Klao;
1-3 Phongsuriya Rd,
Tel 42-5398
36 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-160 (f)
Nom-Chai;
49 Phongsuriya Rd,
Tel 42-5550
22 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-140 (f)
Petchburi;
39 Phongsuriya Rd,
Tel 42-5315
12 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Phetkasem;
86/1 Phetkasem Rd,
Tel 42-5581
50 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-180 (f, ac)
Khao Wang;
174/1-3 Ratwithi Rd,
Tel 42-5167
50 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-180 (f, ac)
Rattana Phakdi;
Chisa-In Rd,
Tel 42-5041
10 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-100 (f)
Sa-nguan Chai;
27 Damnoen Kasem Rd,
Tel 42-5051
20 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-120 (f)
Siriphet;
13/4 Phetkasem Rd,
Tel 42-5965
10 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-120 (f)
Tek-Heng-Long;
74-6 Mattayawong Rd
Tel 42-5023;
32 rooms, sgl/dbl 100-160 (f, ac)
Places of Interest
Tham Khao Yoi
This cave is on Khao Yoi Hill near the town of Khao Yoi, 22km (14mi) north of the town of Petchburi. Buddha images in various postures are housed in the cave. King Mongkut practiced meditation there while he was a monk.
Khao Wang
This hill near the town of Petchburi is 92m (302ft) high. King Mongkut was very fond of Khao Wang (Wang Hill) so in 1860 he commanded a palace be built on top of it for his vacations; he named it Phra Nakhon Khiri. Petchburi inhabitants call it Khao Wang until now.
Khao Bandai It
This hill, 121m (397ft) high and 2km (1.25mi) from Khao Wang, is the site of Wat Khao Bandai, a monastery built in the Ayutthaya period. There are many caves in this hill such as Tham Prathun, Tham Phra Chao Sua, Tham Phra Puttha Saiyat and several more.
Tham Khao Luang
A cave located on Khao Luang Hill which is 92m (302ft) high and 5km (3mi) from Khao Wang. Khao Luang Cave is regarded as the most important cave of Petchburi Province because it houses a Buddha image which was cast by command of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and dedicated to his predecessors, King Nangklao (Rama III) and King Mongkut (Rama IV).
On the right hand of the Khao Luang access road at the foot of the hill is a large monastery called Wat Tham Klaeh or Wat Bunthawi. It has a large multi-purpose hall, Sala Kanparien. The wooden door panels of the Ubosot are beautifully carved.
Chao Samran Beach
This beach, 15km (9mi) from the Petchburi provincial market, used to be a famous seaside resort in the old days. Legend says that King Naresuan (reigned 1590-1605) and his brother, King Ekathotsarot (reigned 1605-1610), visited the place and enjoyed it so much that they spent many days there. Since then, the villagers call it the Beach of Royal Leisure (Hat Chao Samran).
4km (2.5mi) from Chao Samran Beach is Laem Luang Beach, a white sandy beach of 2km (1.2mi). 7km (4mi) from Chao Samran Beach to the south is Puktian Beach, meanwhile popular with the Petchburi folks.
Kaeng Krachan Dam
This dam near Tha Yang, 54km (33mi) southwest of the town of Petchburi, was completed in 1966. It is 58m (190ft) high; the top is 760m (2493ft) long, and 8m (26ft) wide. The widest part of the base is 250m (820ft).
Transportation
Bangkok - Petchburi
Trains for various Southern destinations, all stopping at Petchburi, depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station at 9:00 (arr 12:14), 12:35 (arr 15:26), 13:40 (arr 17:25), 14:00 (arr 16:50), 15:15 (arr 18:06), 16:00 (arr 18:58), 17:30 (arr 20:17), 18:30 (arr 21:16) and 19:20 (arr 22:07). Fares (excluding charges for rapid, express trains or aircon) are 34 Baht for 3rd class, 71 Baht for 2nd class and 138 Baht for 1st class. The rail distance is 167km.
Buses from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal on Pinklao - Nakhon Chaisi Road (in Thonburi); 166km, non-aircon old route 35 Baht, 4:00 - 19:00 every 20min, new route 29.50 Baht, 5:50 - 18:50 every 30min; aircon 54 Baht, 5:00 - 22:00 every hour
Petchburi - Bangkok
Trains from various Southern destinations which stop at Petchburi depart for Bangkok at 2:19 (arr 5:10), 3:01 (arr 5:50), 3:21 (arr 6:10), 3:41 (arr 6:35), 4:17 (7:05), 7:04 (arr 10:00), 7:21 (arr 10:50) and 15:27 (arr 18:50).
| 
