Amphoe Sam Phran
Don
Wai Riverside Market
Don Wai Market ,situated in Tambon Bang Kratuek. Behind the Don
Wai temple is a market that still retains an appearance of a market
dating back to King Rama VI period. The old building is made of
wood and located on the banks of the Tha Chin River. Food vendors
travel by boats to sell their goods here. Agricultural produce
are sold daily from 07.00-18.00. Boats are available for rent
for scenic river trips.
Getting there: you can get there via two routes:
1. from Bangkok, take the old Petkasem Road route, the entrance
to Don Whai market is opposite the Elephant Show ground and Sam
Phran Crocodile Farm. Take the route to Wat Rai Khing, when you
reach the Wat Rai Khing, go on for another 10 Kms. passing also
Wat Tha Put. Don Wai temple will be seen on the left.
2. From Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisi route (new route), take the Buddhamonthon
V Road, there is a road sign to Wat Rai Khing, take that road,
keep on going for another 4 Kms., you’ll see the second sign
to Wat Rai Khing, turn right here and go on for another 4.5 Kms,
then take a left turn at the T-intersection that leads to Don
Whai Market, it will on your left-hand side.
Cruising along the Tha Chin River is available at Don Wai Market
by riding a converted cargo boat and a passenger boat. There are
2 cruise lines: 1) from Wat Don Wai passing Wat Rai Khing, and
Wang Pla. 2) from Wat Don Wai passing Wat Rai Khing, Wang Pla,
Wat Sanphet, Wat Decha, the police cadet academy, and the Rose
Garden
Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo
Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo, located on the Phetkasem Road
at Km.30 marker, 1 Km. before the Rose Garden. It occupies an
area of 62 Rais (about 24.8 acres). There are various kinds of
animals on display and show. There are daily elephant shows, elephant
ride around the compound, elephant musical shows, crocodile-wrestling
shows, and magic shows.
Getting there: you can get there in 2 ways:
By Car: drive on Phetkasem Road to km.32, the Samphran Elephant
Ground & Zoo sign will be on the left:
By Bus: take a regular bus line number 123 from Tha Chang, get
off at the Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo or take a bus from
the Southern Bus Terminal (old route) on Petchakasem Road (Bangkok-Aom
Yai-Sam Phran-Nakhon Pathom) or take a 2nd class air-conditioned
bus of Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Bang
Li lines or take the non air-conditioned buses of Bangkok-Nakhon
Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Suphanburi lines.
Open : Daily from 8 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.
Admission : Adult 300 baht, Child 250 baht.
Tel : 0 2284 0273, 0 2284 1873, 0 2295 2938-9.
The Rose Garden
This tourist attraction is located on Petchakasem Road 32 Kms.
from Bangkok. It is located adjacent to the Nakhon Chaisi River
and occupies an area of 137.5 Rais (about 55 acres). There are
a multitude of beautiful floral displays of great variety. AThai-style
houses; parts of the area are hotel, lodges, and golf course.
It also features an attractive Thai cultural show that commences
daily in the afternoon. It is open daily from 08.00-18.00. An
entrance fee to the garden is 10 Baht. Admission as well as shows’
fee cost 300 Baht for all. For more information call 0 2295 3261-4.
Getting there: there are two ways:
By Car: take Phetkasem Road, drive to Km.32 marker, a sign of
the garden will be on the left;
By Bus: take a non-air conditioned bus line number 123 from Tha
Chang, get off at the Rose Garden or take a bus from the Southern
Bus Terminal (old route) on Petchakasem Road (Bangkok-Aom Yai-Sam
Phran-Nakhon Pathom) or take a 2nd class air-conditioned bus of
Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Bang Li lines
or take a non air-conditioned bus of Bangkok-Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok-Ratchaburi,
Bangkok-Suphan Buri lines.
Wat Rai Khing
Wat Rai Khing is located in Tambon Rai Khing 32 Kms. from
Bangkok. It is a civilian monastery built in 1791. Somdej Phra
Phuttha Chan (Pook) named this temple after the district. When
construction was completed, the Buddha image was brought from
Wat Sala Poon and enshrined here, later the locals named the image
“Luang Pho Wat Rai Khing”. The Buddha image is in the
attitude of Buddha Subduing Mara. The Buddha image is of Chiang
Saen style and is assumed to have been built by Lanna Thai and
Lan Chang craftsmen. According to legend, this Buddha image was
found floating in the river, so the townspeople lifted the Buddha
image out of the water and enshrined the image at Wat Sala Poon.
Prince Vachirayan Varoros granted temple the name of “Wat
Mongkol Chinda Ram” (with the words “Rai Khing”
in parenthesis after the name) but the locals call the temple
Wat Mongkol Chinda Ram Rai Khing, later it was shorten to Wat
Rai Khing. The temple is well known among Thais, faithful Buddhists
frequently pay a visit to Wat Rai Khing to pay homage to the sacred
Buddha image. Every Saturdays and Sundays, food and fruits are
sold in front of the temple. This temple is also renowned for
its natural fish sanctuary, a habitat of hundreds of thousands
of Sawai fish (big catfish-like freshwater fishes). Visitors can
buy bread here to feed the fish.
Additionally, there is a museum that collects and displays various
kinds of artefacts including ancient bowls, mural paintings, and
old books, all of which were donated by the townspeople.
Getting there: there are 3 ways: from the intersection in front
of Pho Kaew Police Station, from the intersection in front of
the Rose Garden, and from the intersection at Buddhamonthon 5
Road. For more information on the museum, contact tel: 0 3431
1384, 0 3432 3056.
