Uthai Thani
Mueang Boran Ban Ka Rung
Location : Amphoe Ban Rai
Mueang Boran Ban Ka Rung Mueang Boran Ban Ka Rung is an ancient local community located in Tambon Wang Hin. The characteristics of the city is an oval shape with an 800-metre diameter. The city has a single ditch with a width of 20 metres and a depth of 3 metres. The part of the ditch which is next to the roadside is deepened. The water flows into the ditch all year and the earthen dyke is 6 metres wide. At present, it is an office of the Highway District. The discovered evidence includes a stone bell, Buddha image in a gesture of descending from Tavatimsa Heaven, potsherds, stone axes, ornaments, and ruins of a pagoda which is about 3 km. south from the city. This pagoda was made of large bricks and its base is 7 metres wide. At present, in front of the Ka Rung City Ditch, there is a shrine of Chaomae Ka Rung on the side of the highway, which is respected by many people. Mueang Ka Rung was registered as a national ancient monument on 8 March, 1935.

Getting there: take Highway 333, Nong Chang - Ban Rai route, passing Ban Thung Na and Khao Taphap Intersection until arriving at Ban Ka Rung. Before getting to Amphoe Ban Rai about 10 km., Mueang Ka Rung is on the bend, where the shrine of Chaomae Ka Rung can be seen on the left, about 69 km. from the city of Uthai Thani.
Mueang Boran Bueng Khok Chang
Location : Amphoe Sawang Arom
Mueang Boran Bueng Khok Chang Mueang Boran Bueng Khok Chang, Tambon Phai Khiao, is surrounded by a city ditch and earth wall. Ancient ruins, pottery, stones for pulverizing herbs, metal tools, and yellow beads, as well as three ancient Khmer inscription stones were found here. At present, this historical site is a forest garden, covered with large trees, but the city ditch has become shallow. The discovered artefacts are kept in the Local Historical and Cultural Museum, in the Non-formal Education Centre, Uthai Thani, near the City Hall. To get there, take Highway 3221 from Amphoe Mueang, passing Amphoe Thap Than. Turn into Highway 3013, passing Amphoe Sawang Arom. Then, take Highway 3456 for about 14 km. bound toward Amphoe Lan Sak. There will be a stupa and a sign leading to Bueng Khok Chang on the left. This route leads through the old city of Bueng Khok Chang.
Old City of Uthai Thani
Location : Amphoe Nong Chang
Old City of Uthai Thani is located at Ban Uthai Thani Kao. It was the location of Mueang Uthai Thani since the Ayutthaya Period. Now the ruins still exist, such as Wat Hua Mak, Wat Yang, and Wat Kuti, while the surrounding areas have become rice fields. The temple which remains the same until now is Wat Chaeng. In this temple, there is a prang built in 1538 whose top was destroyed by the Burmese army. The latest repair was in 1985. The old ordination hall is small and has one door, in a style of the late Ayutthaya period. The stucco relief pattern of the prang and on the ordination hall’s gable were made by the same craftsmen. The mural paintings in the ordination hall were made after the latest repair, which depicts the duty of King Taksin the Great. Another remaining temple is Wat Hua Mueang which has ruins of an Ayutthaya-styled ordination hall and small ancient pagoda in front of the old ordination hall. Old City of Uthai Thani Accommodations available.

Getting there: from Nong Chang Market at Prasat Wet School T-Junction, drive along the route to Wat Nong Khun Chat. Turn right at the T-junction and drive toward the opposite direction to Wat Nong Khun Chat for about 1 km. until you arrive at Wat Chaeng. Wat Hua Mueang is 1 km. beyond from Wat Chaeng.
Khao Plara
Location : Amphoe Lansak
Khao Plara is a border between Ban Huai Sok in Amphoe Lan Sak and Tambon Khao Bang Kraek in Amphoe Nong Chang. Khao Plara is a large steep mountain with a height of approximately 598 metres. The forest is quite unspoilt. Visitors have to travel by foot and climb up the mountain for 900 metres, taking about 2 hours to get to the top of the mountain, where they can admire the beautiful sight of its topography. On the top of the mountain, a large plain lies covered with Makha – Afzelia xylocarpa - forest.

On the west cliff at the height of 320 metres, approximately 3,000 year-old cave paintings from the pre-historical period were found. They were drawn with black and red lines. The black lines are quite pale but the red ones can still be seen. The paintings were drawn along the cliff for a total distance of about 9 metres, and they are mostly painted red. There are groups of about 40 pictures including pictures of humans in many characteristics and animal pictures. Those pictures depict the way of life of ancient humans, which is important historical heritage of Uthai Thani.

Khao Plara Archaeologists divided the groups of paintings on Khao Plara into 4 groups. Group one are pictures of humans with pets (believed to be dogs). Group two are pictures which show the relationship between human and cow, catching the wild cow and the way to bring it back to take care of it. Group three are pictures of rituals. Humans in the pictures had certain accessories, different from others with animals that look like monkeys. Group four includes miscellaneous pictures, most of which are pictures of animals. The coloured paintings were elaborately made and look more life-like than other places. For travellers who would like to climb up Khao Plara: it is suggested that they should prepare drinking water, and put on suitable trainers because the path is made of sliding small grains of rocks. It is recommended that they should carry only necessary things.

Getting there: take Highway 333 from the city, passing Amphoe Nong Chang. Then, take Highway 3438, Nong Chang - Lan Sak route for about 21.5 km. Khao Plara is on the left. Turn left along an asphalted road for about 7.5 km. Otherwise, take a bus (Uthai Thani – Lan Sak) then, take a bus from Lan Sak to Huai Sok Intersection and hire a motorcycle to the Khao Plara Non-hunting Area. Location : Amphoe Muang
Wat Uposatharam (Wat Bot Manorom) Wat Uposatharam formerly named Wat Bot Manorom, is sometimes called Wat Bot. It is an old temple on the Sakae Krang Riverside, on Koh Thepho, in the Mueang Municipality area. From the municipal fresh market, cross the bridge to the temple which is on the east side of the river. The interesting things to see include mural paintings in the ordination hall and wihan, which were made in the early Rattanakosin era. The paintings in the ordination hall were elaborately made, depicting the biography of Lord Buddha from the time when he was born until he died. In the wihan, there are paintings of Lord Buddha, preaching to gods in Heaven and the scene when he was resolving to enter nirvana. On the upper part of the wall, there is a picture of a gathering of monks, switching with Phat Yot, a long-handled fan of an ecelesiastical rank, which seems to show respect to the principal Buddha image. On the outside wall in front of the wihan, there is a picture of Lord Buddha’s cremation and the picture of villagers’ ways of life along the Buddhist concepts. It is believed to have been made by craftsmen of a later time.

In addition, inside Wat Uposatharam, there are other interesting things to see, such as Sema, a leaf-like boundary sign made of red stone, in front of the ordination hall, a cabinet to keep Buddhist scriptures and a storage closet painted with the floral Kanok vine pattern. In addition, there is a Bat, a monk alms-bowl, Khao Sakae Krang with the lid decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay which was given by King Rama V and made by Chang Sip Mu (the Ten Departments of Craftsmen), as well as a Hong - Hamsa or Swan - on top of the column.

There are also many attractive forms of architecture to visit such as the Octagonal Mondop which is a combination of the Western and Thai styles and has a decoration made of stucco, looking like climbing plants on the window frames; a high-relief cement Buddha image which is situated outside the building; three chedis of 3 periods comprising hexagonal chedi of the Ayutthaya period, a chedi with twelve angles of the Rattanakosin period, and a bell-shaped chedi of the Sukhothai period; Uthai Phutthasapha Conference Hall which is a pavilion in a typical Thai style, used as a praying hall, having a gable with stucco relief decoration; and Phae Bot Nam, a floating ordination hall in front of the temple which was built to receive King Rama V when he visited the North Circle in 1906. It was formerly a twin raft-house with Cho Fa - a gable apex, and Bai Raka - a leaf-shaped roof-edging, like other ordination halls. On the gable, there is a circle with Pali scripts reading “Su Agata Te Maha Raja” which means Maha Raja - great king - comes well. Later, in 1976, it was repaired to be one 2-storeyed building, including a raised platform, with a hip roof. The circle was moved to place in the middle of the gable. This Phae Bot Nam is used in religious rites such as weddings, ordinations, funerals, and various merit-making occasions.
Khao Sakae Krang
Location : Amphoe Muang
Buddha Footprints on Khao Sakae Krang Khao Sakae Krang is a mountain where you can use stairs from the temple court of Wat Sangkat Rattanakhiri to climb up to the top. Otherwise, take Highway No. 3220 for 4 km. Pass the provincial stadium and drive along the route to the top of the mountain where you can admire the beautiful panoramic sights of Uthai Thani. It houses the replica of Lord Buddha’s footprint, built in 1905 and moved from Wat Chantharam. In front of the mondop, there is a large bell which was constructed by Phra Palat Chai and the people of Uthai Thani in 1900. It is believed to be a holy bell which all tourists coming to Uthai Thani should not miss to tap. Near the mondop on top of the mountain, there is a statue of Somdet Phrapathom Borommahachanoknat or the Royal Father of King Rama I, whose name of birth was Thongdi. Later, he was designated to be Phra Akson Sunthonsat, a chief clerk of the Interior Department. In the Ayutthaya era, he was Chaophraya Chakri Si Ongkharak. After that, in the Rattanakosin era, King Rama I (who was formerly called Thongduang) promoted the relics of his father to be Somdet Phra Chanakathipbodi in 1795. The Statue of King Rama I’s Royal Father was cast in double life size, sitting on a seat. In his left hand, a sword of the position of Chaophraya Chakri is kept in the sheath and put on the left thigh. The statue puts its right hand on the right thigh. On his right, there is a Phra Mala Sao Sung, a royal hat without Yi Ka (bird feather), placed on a footed tray. He wears sandals.

There is a ceremony to pay respect to the statue on 6 April of every year, at the same period when Suphannika or Fai Kham – yellow cotton trees, the symbolic flower of Uthai Thani, Wat Sangkat Ratana Khiri bloom all over Khao Sakae Krang. In the forest behind the mountain, approximately 200 metres from the statue, there is a world map pin, a tool for mapping, which was built in 1932. Location : Amphoe Muang
The Footprints are housed on the 120 meters summit of Khao Sakae Krang near Phra Buddha Mongkhon Saksit. The mondop covering the Footprints was built in the year 1905 and renovated in the year 1968.
Wat Sangkat Ratana Khiri (Sangkat Ratana Khiri Temple)
Location : Amphoe Muang
is at the foot of Khao Sakae Krang at the end of Tha Chang Road in the municipality. Inside the main hall is “Phra Phuttha Mongkhon Sai Sit” or “Luang Pho Mongkhon”, an ancient bronze Buddha imae form the Sukhothai period in theMan Wichai posture. It is 1.5 metres wide and was made in the reign of King Lithai. In the open area of the temple is a stairway ascending to the top of Khao Sakae Krang totaling 449 steps. At the peak is a pavilion with a multi-tiered roof housing a replica of Lord Buddha’s footprint and a large bronze bell built in the reign of King Rama V. It is said that this is a sacred bell that visitors to the province who does not ring the bell is like on who never gets to see the province. Phra Buddha Mongkhon Saksit

In addition, in one corner of the temple is a pavilion housing a statue of the father of King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynastr, who was born in Ban Sakae Krang.

Getting There: From the city, take Road No. 3220 and turn left into the provincial staduum leading up the mountain. The distance is around 4 kilometres.
Phra Buddha Mongkhon Saksit
Location : Amphoe Muang
This very beautiful Buddha dated from Sukhothai period and is cast of bronze in the attitude of Subduing Evil. It is one of the most sacred Buddha Image and is highly revered by Uthai Thani inhabitants. This Buddha Image is housed in Wat Sangkat Ratanakhiri where the crowd of Buddhists assemble for "Tak Bat Devo" (Merit-making Festival on Ok Phansa Day.) Wat Tha Sung (another name is Wat Chantharam)
Wat Tha Sung (another name is Wat Chantharam)
Location : Amphoe Muang
is at Mu 2, Tambon Nam Sum. It is an old temple from the Ayutthaya period. It was formerly called “Wat Chan” which is the name of an abbot. Wat Chantharam later was abandoned until 1789 when the monk Luang Pho Yai came here. Villagers asked him to become the abbot of the temple and he renovated it. The first location of the temple was on the bank of Sakae Krang River. The artifact of the place is a pulpit built by Luang Pho Yai that is opposite the temple. More buildings were later added by the monk Phra Ratchaphrom Yan Nen (Luang Pho Ruesi Ling Dam). The new convocation hall is beautiful with an ornately decorated interior. The inner windows and doors have pictures of angels. His Majesty the King presided over a ceremony to officially open the building. Surronding the building is a traditional columned wall. Images of Luang Pho Pan and Luang Pho Yai 3 times the actual size is at the corner of the front wall. Furthermore, the new site has a wide area as well as many pavilions with accommodations for meditation. The main hall is open during 09.00-11.45 hrs. and 14.00-16.00 hrs. daily.

Wat Thammakhosok Getting There: From the city, take Road No. 3265 to the ferry at Amphoe Manorom, about 6 kilometres away. Wat Than Sung is on both sides.
Wat Thammakhosok (Thammakhosok Temple)
Location : Amphoe Muang
Wat Thammakhosok or called “Wat Rong Kho” by villagers was built in the early Rattanakosin period. It is on Si Uthai Road, Tambon Uthai Mai in the municipality. It was used to hold rites by Uthai Thani government officials to pledge allegiance to the king as well as an execution site. The most interesting places in the temple are the chapel and the main Buddha image hall. The chapel is of the Rattanakosin period. A tiled roof covers the building. The Buddha image here is highly sacred. There are beautiful murals inside, the works of late Ayutthaya artists. The main hall is a larger building that is higher than the chapel. A pedestal inside has around 20 Buddha images on it. The outer windowpanes have plaster drawings of the epic Ramayana as frames. The doors have wooden floral patterns painted in bright red. Wat Mani Sathit Kapittharam
Wat Mani Sathit Kapittharam (Mani Sathit Kapittharam Temple)
Location : Amphoe Muang
Wat Mani Sathit Kapittharam is located on Sunthon Sathit Road, behind the health garden, at the Clock Tower Circle. This temple was constructed in the Rattanakosin period, and local people call it Wat Thung Kaeo. Inside the temple, there is a large five-pinnacled prang, with a width of 8 metres and a height of 16 metres, which was built in 1909. The prang contains the relics of Lord Buddha and the image of Luangpho Yaem who constructed this temple. In the area of the temple, there is a large holy water pool made of bricks and a stone tablet with magic scripts of Luangpho Yaem located in the middle of the pool. Its water was once used to bathe the king in the coronation ceremony of King Rama VI and King Rama VII.
Monument of Somdet Phra Pathom Borom Maha Chanok
Somdet Phra Pathom Borom Maha Chanok Location : Amphoe Muang
(The father of King Rama I of the present Chakri Dynasty), Somdet Phra Pathom Borom Maha Chanok was born in the of Baan Sakae Krang. A monument of him is located on Khao Sakae Krang and wak inaugurated by their Majesties the king and Queen on April 5,1979. Location : Amphoe Thap Than
was built in the Rattanakosin period around 1897. The locals have shortened the full name to Wat Thap Than. It is said that this area was where Thai troops caught up with invading forces in the late Ayutthaya period. Hence, the name of Thap Than. The monastery has a shady compound and a small chapel and main hall in the traditional style. The item of interest here is the lovely carved door depicting an angel holding an arrow standing on a serpent and another of an angel tending deer holding a pike on a lion. The convocation hall has a main bronze Buddha image in the Man Wichai posture 1.68 metres wide. The main hall houses a replica of Lord Buddha’s footprint in bronze.

Phaichit Weaving Group Getting There: Take Highway No. 3221 (Amphoe Muang-Amphoe Thap Than) for 19 kilometres. The temple is located on the left about 1 kilometre before the Thap Than district office.
Local Weaving Exhibition and Demonstration Centre (Phaichit Weaving Group)
Location : Amphoe Ban Rai
It is located behind Wat Ban Rai, next to Ban Na Fai Bueng Ta Pho School. Turn into the alley beside the school and go on for 700 metres. It is a group of people weaving cotton cloth with dyes from nature. They also teach others who are interested in weaving. The patterns of the cloth are ancient ones such as Lai Kho Luang, and Lai Kho Kham Duean. There are shops to sell Pha Sin, bedspread, tablecloth, cloth for tailoring and Mon Khit pillow. In this area, there is also a museum of ancient cloth which is more than a hundred years old.
Ban Khok Mo Weaving Village
Ban Khok Mo Weaving Village Location : Amphoe Thap Than
Ban Khok Mo Weaving Village is a small village of Thai-Lao residents whose ancestors migrated here in the Rattanakosin period. Villagers take up weaving when the harvest ends. The fabrics produced in the village are unique. They are made from Sin Tin Chok Silk, Mat Mi silk and traditional-style fabrics with floral patterns.

Getting There: From Amphoe Thap Than, take Highway No. 3013 to Amphoe Sawang Arom for approximately 11 kilometres. A 4-kilometre road leads to Ban Khok Mo. The weaving group is next to Wat Khok Mo.
Local Historical and Cultural Museum
Location : Amphoe Muang
Local Historical and Cultural Museum Local Historical and Cultural Museum is located at the Non-formal Education Centre, on Si Uthai Road (near the City Hall). Inside the museum, the exhibitions are arranged in rooms such as Career Development Room, Environmental Conservation Room, and others to display skeletons of pre-historical humans, costumes of city rulers, models of woodcarvings and Thai houses.

It is open on Mondays - Fridays at 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. For further information, please call Tel. 0 5651 1511.
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