Chai Nat

Chai Nat is located on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River. The community was moved from the old site at Sankhaburi in the reign of King Rama IV. Chai Nat was an important town used several times as a base to confront the Burmese army. Every time, the Burmese were defeated, thus originating the name of Chai Nat which means a "place of victory”. Chai Nat occupies an area of 2,469 square kilometers

Attractions:
Wat Phra Borommathat Worawihan This is an old temple on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Located 4 kilometres from the town, it can be accessible by Route Nos. 340 and 3183. There is an old pagoda housing Lord Buddha's relics. It had been originally constructed with laterite in the Khmer period and was renovated in the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods.

Within the precincts of the temple is the Chai Nat Muni National Museum which displays several kinds of artifacts discovered in the town including Buddha images of different postures, as well as Thai and Chinese ceramics. It also exhibits various types of votive tablets.

Wat Thammamun This hillside temple is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, 8 kilometres from Chai Nat. It was constructed during the Ayutthaya period and enshrines ‘Luang Pho Thammachak', a standing Buddha image with a mixture of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya styles. Two fairs to worship the image are held in May and October.

Chai Nat Bird Park This is located 4 kilometres before arriving in Chai Nat. Birds of more than 100 species live in a huge cage which maintains a natural environment. The park also has an aquarium which has a collection of various kinds of freshwater fish found in the Chao Phraya River. Local products such as bird models, wickerwork, and pomelo are available at the shops in the park.

Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao This is an old temple situated at the mouth of Khlong Makham Thao, which runs into the Tha Chin River at Amphoe Wat Sing, 25 kilometres northwest of Chai Nat. The shady temple offers pleasant scenery and houses mural paintings made by Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak, the father of the Thai navy.

Wat Mahathat This is an old temple of Mueang Phraek or Mueang San which was an ancient city dating back to the Dvaravati period. Sankhaburi had been also an important fort town of the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Kingdoms. It is located by the Noi River, 20 kilometres southeast of Chai Nat along Route No. 340. The temple houses ruined chapels with seated Buddha images and a distinguish Lop Buri style chedi with a fluted spire like the petal of a star apple.

Khun San Statue Khun San is one of the Bang Rachan folk leaders who fought against the Burmese during the Ayutthaya period. It is taken for granted that he was a Sankhaburi resident. The statue is 2.5 metres high, standing in front of the Sankhaburi district office.

Wat Phra Kaeo This is another ancient temple in Sankhaburi. It is situated to the south of Wat Mahathat. Its old chedi (pagoda) was constructed during the Ayutthaya period in harmonious Lop Buri and Dvaravati styles. In front of the chedi enshrines a seated Buddha image. A complicated lintel was found inside at the back of the image after stucco covering the image was broken.

Monkeys at Wat Thammikawat is located in Tambon Pho Ngam, Amphoe Sankhaburi, and this temple is 38 kilometres south of Chai Nat along Route No. 311 (Chai Nat-Sing Buri route). Its pleasant area next to the Noi River is home to a number of monkeys.

Festival
Straw Bird Fair. This annual fair is organised by making good use of straw, a by-product in rice farming. Various species of huge straw birds will come perching on elaborately decorated floats during the straw bird procession in early February of each year. After the competition, all straw birds will be displayed at the Chai Nat Bird Park. Local products and agricultural crops will also be available in the fair.

Hotels and accommodation

  • Chai Nat Inn : 294 Mu 4 Chai Nat-Suphan Buri Road Amphoe Muang [0 3441 2451] : 350-500 baht
  • Montri : 309/30 Phahonyothin Road Amphoe Muang [0 3441 1523-4, 0 3442 0686 -7 Fax: 0 3441 1296] : 220-550 baht
  • Numchai Hotel : 63/22 Kongtham Road, Muang [(66) 5641-1724-5]
  • Nam Chai : 63/22 Khong Tham Road Amphoe Muang [0 3441 1724-5 Fax: 0 3441 1494] : 160-650 baht
  • Nat Chaiyong : 60 Mu 11 Wat Sing-Don Tan Road, Tambon Makham Thao Amphoe Wat Sing [0 3446 1009] : 180-280 baht
  • Sor Siri : 186/19 Soi Phasisung, Chainarong Road Amphoe Muang [0 3441 2737] : 140-200 baht
  • Suk Chit : 309/3-8 Wong To Road Amphoe Muang [0 3441 1009, 0 3441 1080 Fax: 0 3441 1080] : 220-400 baht


Restaurants

  • Chainat Kitchen 206 Phaholyothin Rd., Asia Rd. intersection Tel 0-5641-1315
  • Chanoun Pochna Manorom Hospital Tel 0-5643- 1376
  • Klang Soi 363/18-20 Chai Nat-Suphan Buri Rd., Tel: 0-5641-1580
  • Krua Chai Nat 206 Phaholyothin Rd., Asia Rd. intersection, Sua Hoak, Tel: 0-5641-1351, 0-5641-2117
  • Lin in front of Sricharoen temple 0-5642-3100
  • Nut Chaiyong 60 Moo 11, Wat Singh-Don Tan Rd., Makamtao, Tel: 0-5646-1009
  • Pennapa 64/16 Looksua 2 Rd., Tel: 0-5641-1697
  • Pu 335/5 Phaholyothin Rd., Ban Kluay, Tel: 0-5641-2402
  • Ruen Pae 5 Chai Narong Rd., in front of the provincial hall, Tel: 0-5641-1625, 0-5641-1825
  • Ruen Thai 350 Wongtho Rd., Nai Muang, Tel: 0-5641-1741
  • Sala Ice Cream Na Chai Hotel, 63/22 Kongthum Rd., Tel: 0-5641-1724-5
  • Suay Jing Rim Nam 281 Chai Narong Rd., Tel: 0-5641-1123
  • Wang Kung Phaholyothin Rd., Asia Rd. intersection


How to get there

* By car
From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road) and Highway No. 32 passing Ang Thong, Sing Buri, and turn left at Km. 183 to Chai Nat, a total distance of 194 kilometers.

* By bus
From Bangkok, there are both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses to Ang Thong. Buses leave Mochit II Bus Terminal daily from 5.10 a.m.-5.30 p.m. It takes two and a half hours for the trip.