Phetchaburi
Phet Township and the neighbouring region is not large. Tourist spots are close to each other, so a walking tour is an interesting alternative for seeing the local way of living. Visitors arriving by car also park in most temple compounds and walk to nearby destinations. Visitors can have a look at some magnificent stucco work created by Phet masters of various periods. The fine craft man ship is the evidence of the cultural continuity, from ancient masters regarded as Chang Thewada, great master of divine skill, down to younger artists who both imitated and developed the art from, making Phetchaburi a unique school of stucco work....................................................................
| Wat Mahathat Worawihan |
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See the magnificient artistic work Wat Mahathat was built according to the old precept of having a temple in the middle of the town to enshrine Buddha relics. The construction is believed to have been taken place built during the time when khmer kingdom was still powerful in this region about 800 years ago. The temple has a collection of artistic and historical artifacts of various periods, including stone wheel of the Dharma and the attired main Buddha image in stucco work in the posture of subduing mara “Phra Buddha Thewarit”, of Ayutthaya period, in the royal hall or wihan Luang; red stone Bai Sema of Dvaravati-Lop Buri period, around Phra Ubosot, and other work of Phetchaburi school of arts in Rattanakosin era. Mural paintings in Wihan Luang depict the last previous life of Buddha “Maha Vessandorn Jataka”, and Buddha in the posture of subduing mara on the front wall. The old laterrite Phra Prang Ha Yot, the middle and tallest stupa is 42 meters high surrounded by 4 smaller stupas.The royal hall enshrines the three major and sacred Buddha images in Phetchaburi: Luang Pho Wat Mahathat, Luang Pho Wat Ban Laem and Luang Pho Wat Khao Takhrao...................................................................
| Wat Phlapphalachai |
| This temple of late Ayutthaya period is the center of superb wood-caved works by artists of the Pattanakosin era, such as the door panels of ubosot the main prayer hall. Visitors can also see the museam of Namg Yai Shadow plays, where nearly 40 pieces are what is left from more than 300 pieces made by Luang Pho Rit, a former abbot, about 100 years ago. |
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| Wat Ko Kaen Suttharam |
| This temple was built in the late Ayutthaya period. The foundation of the ubosot with a ship-galley curvy base, a typical style of that time. The ubosot’s murals depict the ten previous lives of the Lord Buddha. The mural opposite the main Buddha image depicts the image is defeat of mara scene. The wooden panelled wall of its exterior-wall or Fa Prakon is regarded as the most beautiful in Thailamd. Sala Kanparian, the pavilion, has a superbly-carved wooden pulpit by the river is called Sala Mahesuan. |
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| Ban Chang thong (goldsmith) |
| The house beautifully decorated by wooden scrollwork, the very last house of its kind left nowadays, belongs to the goldsmith, Mrs. Nueang Faengsikham, the National Artist in 988. |
| The Old Quarter of Delicious Sweets |
| Several shops of delicious inexpensive desserts, most of them beginning in business for many years. Up the street near Aunt Nueang’s house, a sign leads to Mae Samli’s in a small lane, selling Khanom Mo Kaeng, Thong Yot, Thong Yip, Foi Thong, Khanom Phing. Walk across the Street and into Soi 2 Tha Chong, Khun Pong shop sells Khanom A-lua. Walk straight further until you reach Matayawong Road, there are two more shops: Suan Lamai selling fragrant pandan Kalamae, and Sor. Rungrueang selling sugar bolied puree from banana Kluai Kaun and many other fruits. |
| Talat Muang Phet |
| Muang Phets market expensively lines from Chomklao Bridge to Yai lines from Chomklao Bridge to Yai Bridge and Phanit Charoen Road, including all lanes off this street. The morning market starts early at 3 am. and ends at 9 am. Fresh food, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and all local food and desserts are just some of the products you will find on show. Food stalls sell various eats from Khao Chae, Khanom Mo Kaeng, Khanom Kluai, Thai custard Sangkhaya The afternoon market is in the back of Phanit Charoen RD. selling fresh food, and dried food such as fried shrimps, shrimp paste, good-quality salted fish at cheap prices. |
| Wat Yai Suwannaram | |
| This temple is a must to admire the murals by great masters of Ayutthaya period. Painting on the wall in the ubosot depicts the gathering of angles in 5 lines and the most charming angle in the posture of subduing mara and a cast figure of the former Supreme Patriarch Taeng-mo. The gable is the magnificient stucco work also by great masters of the late Ayutthaya period, the pattern looks so alive as if flapping in the wind. Sala Kanparian or the pavilion is believed to have been former residence of King Suea of Ayutthaya, dismantled to dedicate to the former Supreme Patriarch Taeng-mo. | |
| Wat Phailom |
| An old temple built in the Ayutthaya period, the stucco work appears on the exterior wall of the chapel, depicting the scene of pilgrimage to Buddha’s footprint on Sumanakut Hill in Sri Lanka, the scene of a pavilion, a cliff and tree. The superb craftsmanship is the model to be studied by younger artists (the temple is now deserted). |
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| Wat Kamphaeng Laeng | |
| The biggest and oldest historical site, Wat Kamphaeng Laeng provides evidence of Phetchaburi as a great settlement from 12th – 13th centuries. The prasat of three late rite tall stupas Prang is the architecture influenced by the Khamer of Bayon period It is surrounded by kamphaeng laeng or a laterite wall with some intact arched doors called Khopura. On the stone walls appeared the Dvaravati stucco mouldings such as the pattern of Naga or serpant gripped in the mouth of dragon and the columns. This is the masterpiece artists who create their own artistic work. | |
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| Wat Phra Somg |
| Contemporary work on the mondop’s gable by Master Chaloem Phuengtaeng tell the Ramakien, the Thai version of Indian Ramayana. Tosakan was caught by Phra Rama, with assistance of Hanuman |
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| Wat Sanam Phram |
| It is worth visiting to see the stucco work on the gable boards and 18 wood-carved doors and windows created by Master Chaloem Phungtaeng. |
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| Wat Chi Prasoet |
| The main chapel displays the stucco work by some contemporary artists such as Master Thongruang Em’Oath, Master Sombat Phunkoet, Master Chaloem Phuengtaeng and Master Soi Sinlapakop. The wood-carved pulpit in Sala Kanparian is made in the pattern of Pleo Kanok, so supple as if flapping in the wind. |
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| Wat Khao Bandai It |
| The temple was built in Ayutthaya period. The main ubosot is decorated with masterpiece stucco work especially the one portraying a Garuda that looks do alive facing sideways in the middle of the Phum pattern of which each tip flapping like frames and the running scroll design with coiled stems. Apart from the historical ruins, Khao Bandai it, the highest line-stone hill of 120 meters in the township, has some beautiful caves worth visiting. The first of the 3 important caves is Tham Prathun of about 30 meters deep. The walls are lined with as many as 40 Buddha images. The next cave, Tham Phra Chao Suea, according to the legend is so called as Phra Chao Suea had once come to see Phra Saeng and gave him an Buddha image in the posture of pacifying the ocean enshined here. A few meters further, Tham Phra Phuttha Saiyat, enshrines a big reclining Buddha. |
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| Wat Phuttha Saiyat |
| This temple or Wat Phra Non in another name, stands at the foot of Khao Wang. The temple houses the beautiful reclining Buddha image or Phra Phuttha Buddha image or Phra Phuttha Saiyat in stucco and brick work, lacquered and covered with gold foil. One of the 4 largest reclining Buddha in Thailand, and is believed to date back to the middle of the Ayutthaya period. The status, presently enshrined in Phra Wihan (formerly laid outdoor) contains inside many Dvaravati and U-thong Buddha images. |
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| Wat Sa Bua |
| The stucco work at the main ubosot was done by artists of Ayutthaya period. The base of the stucco Bai Sema, stones (scared boundary stones) on 4 sides, depicts demons and human beings of nations carrying the Bai Sema. Above the base, the second level lines with Garuda and the third level is the ancient Krachang pattern. The fourth level is a lotus pattern and on the top stands the big and graceful double Bai Sema. |
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| Wat Maha Samanaram |
| The temple or Wat Khao Wang stands at the foot of Khao Wang. Inside the main ubosot, the murals are the work of a group of disciples of Master Khua In Khong, the famous artist during the reign of King Rama IV. The paintings still in clear colours depict the pilgrimage four stages of life: birth, aging, sickness and death. |
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| Wat Kut Bang Khem |
| Situated 6 kilometers before the entrance to Khao Yoi Office, the old temple’s ubosot is wholly made of teak, in the size of 7 rooms long and 3 rooms wide, the balcony of 1 room wide, with extending verandas. The exterior wall panels caved in bas-re life depict the previous lives of Buddha in continuance. The inner rear wall is notably different from other places, that is the carving depicts the story of Sai aio. This superb work was crated by a Chinese master called Chek Hong. |
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