Northern Thailand UTHAI THANI
Uthai Thani is a province abundant in natural resources, such as forests and wildlife. “Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Reserve” here was proclaimed a Nautral World Heritage Site on 13 December 1991. The reserve has jungles, forests, plains, many streams, and most importantly, anumber of rare and endangered animals.
Due to the verdant nature of the area, Uthai Thani is a province with unspoiled natural tourist destinations that are of interest to tourist everywhere. Furthermore, visitors can see the different lifestyles of locals, such as the life of raft residents on Sakae Krang River, a waterway that aided the birth of the province and which has been a lifeline for its people since ancient times. It is also where provincial trading has flourished. Life revolving around the river eventually grew from a community into the major province that it is today.
The most striking indication of the bond between the plople and the river since the old days is that in 1906, when King Rama V visited northern provinces and stayed in Sakae Krang village, the monk Phra Khru Uthai Tham Nithet (Chan) built 2 twin rafts to receive the king. This clearly showed the importance of the river and the lifestyle of the people living off it in that period.
In addition, at the end of the Buddhist Lent, Buddhists from all directions congregate in the province for a major merit-making tradition called Tak Bat Thewo at the foot of Khao Sakae Krang at Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri. This festival has been held in Uthai Thani since ancient times.
Uthai Thani is located in the lower part of northern Thailand. Most of the province consists of forests and high mountains. It has a total area of 6,730 square kilometres. It is divided in to 8 Amphoe (districts), as follows:
1. Amphoe Muang Uthai Thani
2. Amphoe Lan Sak 58 kilometres from the city
3. Amphoe Nong Kha Yang 11 kilometres from the city
4. Amphoe Nong Chang 21 kilometres from the city
5. Amphoe Thap Than 16 kilometres from the city
6. Amphoe Ban Rai 79 kilometres from the city
7. Amphoe Sawang Arom 30 kilometres from the city
8. Amphoe Huai Khot 51 kilometres from the city
Bot Nam is in front of Wat Ubosatharam on the bank of Sakae Krang River. It was built to receive King Rama V when he visited northern provinces in 1906. Originally a twin raft, it has an elongated carved apex of the gable like normal temple main halls. It also had a front part with a circular sign in Pali stating that the king visited here in good faith. In 1976, the raft was renovated and made into a single raft of floors so it is suitable for monks to use. There is an area for worshippers to sit under a four-sided roof. The sign has been moved to the middle of front part of the roof. Today the raft is used by raft residents for religious ceremonies such as weddings, ordinations, funeral, and merit-making activities.
Local History and Cultural Museum
Local History and Cultural Museum is at the Uthai Thani Provincial Non-formal Education Centre on Si Uthai Road near the city hall. On display are prehistoric human skeletons, clothes, regalia of city lords, and a room of Thai house and wood models. Advance reservation is necessary. For more information, please call 0-5651-1511.
Rafts on Sakae Krang River
Rafts on Sakae Krang River reflect the lifestyle of Uthai Thani people that has always been linked with water. Water is used here to grow pandanus and for raising fish in floating baskets, particularly gourami, that has become a main occupation of the province and which has made it famous. Tourists can take a boat to view the life of people living on rafts on Sakae Krang River by boarding at Lan Sakae Pier near Municipal 2 Fresh Market in Amphoe Mueang or boarding at Lan Suphannika in front of the provincial hall on Si Uthai Road. The route passes Wat Tha Sung and ends at Tambon Tha Sung where Sakae Krang River and Chao Phraya River meets. Ther are tour boats serving visitors. For more information, please contact Pan House Travel at Tel: 0-2933-0577, 0-2538-0335, 0-2538-3705.
Wat Chantharam
Wat Chantharam or Wat Tha Sung 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 Rusi Ling Dam). The new convocatin 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 accommodation for meditation. The main hall is open during 09.00-11.45 hrs. and 14.00-16.00 hrs. daily.
Wat Sankat Rattana Khiri
Wat Sankat Rattana Khiri 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.
Wat Thammakhosok
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 Ubosatharam
Wat Ubosatharam was originally called “Wat Bot Manorom” and is located in the municipality on the bank of Sakae Krang River opposite Uthai Thani Fresh Market. It is surmised that it was built in the early Rattanakosin period. Many historical sites and artifacts are found inside, such as wall murals in the convocation hall from the early Rattanakosin period that depict the life of Lord Buddha from birth till death. They are of exquisite craftsmanship. The murals inside the main hall are also from the same period and depict Lord Buddha showing mercy upon angels in heaven and others scenes. Moreover, there are 3 pagodas, each from different periods and of different styles. Also of interest are the main hall, the convocation hall, the prayer building, the octagonal multi-tiered rood, the Bot Nam raft, the replica of Lord Buddha’s footprint from the time of King Rama IV, a silver Buddha image weighing 30 kilograms, and gifts from King Rama V to Luang Pho Chan Wat Bot when the king visited Uthai Thani on 10 August 1906, like a monk’s bowl with a pearl-inlaid lid, a stone monk’s bowl, a glazed bowl, a sack used when the king visited Europe, a wide-month urn, a vase, etc.
Tak Bat Thewo Fair at Wat Sangkat Rattanakhiri is the most important event held around October. Hundreds of monks residing within the Muang district walk down the steps from the top of Khao Sakaekrang to accept food offerings from Buddhist devotees who gather in the ground of the temple. The fair is based on the traditional belief that the Lord Buddha on one occasion returned to earth from heaven.
Distances from Amphoe Mueang to nearby province
1. Chai Nat 42 kilometres
2. Nakhon Sawan 50 kilometres
3. Lop Buri 111 kilometres
Car
a) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 32, passing Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, ang Thong, Sing Buri, and Chai Nat, then turn left at Tha Nam Oi at Km.206. From there, cross the bridge spanning the Chao Phraya River and turn left onto Road No. 333 for 16 km. The total distance is around 222 kilometres.
b) From Bangkok, take Highway No. 32 pass Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, then turn left across the bridge to Ang Thong. Go through Sing Buri, Amphoe Sapphraya, Chao Phraya Dam, Amphoe Wat Sing, Wat Tha Sung, and into Uthai Thani Market. The total distance is about 283 kilometres.
c) From Bangkok, take Road No. 340 past Suphan Buri, turn left onto Road No. 357, then right onto No. 322 past Amphoe Don Chedi. From there, turn right onto Road No. 3264 to Ban Sa Krachom. Then turn right onto Road No. 333 to Ban Rai intersection and another right to Amphoe Mueang. The total distance is about 302 kilometres.
Bus
There are daily regular and air-conditioned Bangkok – Uthai Thani buses during 05.00-16.00 hrs. For more information, please contact the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit), Tel: 0 2936 2852-66, and Uthai Thani Bus Terminal, tel 0 5651 1914.
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