Bo Ya
Cave is Hin Kon Village in Tambon Nong Krot, around 30
kilometers from the city on the San Nakhon Sawan-Lat Yao road.
Another 6-kilometer road leads to Wat Tham Bo Ya (Wat Thep Nimit
Song Tham). A stairway at the foot of the hill leads up to
the cave. The cave itself has 3 sections. The first
has a large main Buddha image, the second further in is a dead
end with a pond called Bo Nam Thip that is believed by locals to
be sacred and the third section is an exit out the other way.
Apart from the sacred pond, the cave has beautiful stalagmites
and stalactites.
Getting There :Use
Highway No. 32 (Asian Highway) from Nakhon Sawan to Kamphaeng
Phet for about 15 kilometers, then turn left at the intersection
into Road No. 1072 (Nong Ben-Lat Yao) for about 1 kilometer.
From there, take a left turn at the sign into Wat Si Uthumphon
for about 6 kilometers and turn right at the sign into Wat Thep
Nimit Song Tham (Wat Tham Bo Ya). The road is a laterite
road. It is altogether about 22 kilometers from the city.
Bung
Boraphet is the largest freshwater swamp in Thailand. It
has an area of around 212 square kilometers. It covers
parts of Amphoe Muang, Amphoe Tha Tako and Amphoe Chum Saeng.
In the past Bung Boraphet was called “the northern sea” or “Chom
Bung” as there was an abundance of aquatic animals and plants.
According to surveys, there are still some 148 species of
animals and 44 species of plants here. Rare animals
include white-eyed river-martin and tiger perch.
During November to
March a large number of waterfowls migrate here. Some
parts of the swamp have been declared the Bung Boraphet
Non-Hunting Area under the care of the Wildlife Conservation
Division. Bung Boraphet is also a fish breeding ground
where the Department of Fisheries has set up the Bung Boraphet
Fishery Development Station.
Getting There: Bung
Boraphet can be reached by many ways.
By Boat From the
Nakhon Sawan Municipal Pier Market, go north along Nan River for
about 6 kilometers to the mouth of Bung Boraphet that is called
Khlong Nong Duk. Go under the train bridge into the swamp.
Bung Boraphet Fishery Development Station Take the Nakhon Sawan-Chum
Saeng route (Highway No. 225) for about 9 kilometers, then turn
right for 2 kilometers to “Bung Boraphet Fishery Development
Station.” Inside is a crocodile breeding pond and a
freshwater aquarium. There are boats that you can charter
on tours in the area at 400 baht per hour. The capacity is
15 persons per boat
Bung Boraphet
Non-Hunting Area or “Waterfowls Park” Take the Nakhon Sawan-Tha
Tako route (Highway No. 3001) for about 20 kilometers and turn
left for 4 kilometers to the park. The park has an
exhibition in the form of a nature study center, a garden and
accommodation. For more details, please contact the Bung
Boraphet Non-Hunting Area or the Bung Boraphet Wildlife
Conservation Promotion and Development Station, tel. (056)
227874. In addition, there are long-tail boats to take
visitors around Bung Boraphet at 200 per boat.
Nakhon Sawan Provincial Cultural Building is in the Nakhon Sawan
Rajabhat Institute. This two-story building is in the
contemporary Thai style and has a beautiful front porch.
It is the center of historical, archaeological and cultural
information of the province. The building has an
exhibition room displaying cultural development and various
archaeological sites. It was completed in June 1992 and
was opened by H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on 17
August 1992.
Wat
Khiriwong is located in Paknampho, Muang, Nakornsawan on
Matulee Road and Downdueng Road opposite Nakhonsawan
Vocational College and Thaworn Farm Company.
Sawan Park is in Nakhon Sawan Municipality beside the Asian
Highway. It was originally a large swamp with an area
of 502,400 square meters called Nong Som Bun. It was
later made into a sizable public park with 2 ring roads
encircling it. The middle of the park is an island
with an area of 6,400 square meters. The park has a
garden, lawn, fountain, outdoor stage, waterfall, and rose
garden.
The
Origin of the Chao Phraya River is the point where the Ping and
Nan rivers converge at Tambon Pak Nam Pho in front of the dam in
the city. Here, one can clearly distinguish the difference
between the two rivers. The Nan River is reddish in color
while the Ping River is somewhat green. They flow to form
the Chao Phraya River, the most important waterway of the
country. The Chao Phraya flows past several provinces
before going through Bangkok and ending into the Gulf of
Thailand in Samut Prakan. It is about 370 kilometers long.
The best place to view its origin is at the Chao Pho Thepharak-Chao
Mae Thapthim Shrine.
Tourists can take
boat rides to view the scenery on both banks and pay homage to
Luang Pho To Buddha image at Wat Pak Nam Pho (Wat Thong
Thammachat Nua). Boats can be hired from Chao Phraya Pier.
Wat Chom Khiri Nat Phrot is on the peak of Khao Buat Nak between
the foot of Dechatiwong Bridge and Chiraprawat Fort.
Legend says that when Burmese troops sacked Ayutthaya for the
second time, they built this temple to show that they also hold
the Buddhism faith. The most interesting objects here are
the replica of Lord Buddha’s Footprint and a convocation hall
that locals call “Bot Thewada Sang.” There is a fair to
pay homage and attach gold leaves to the footprint in November.
Boat races are held in conjunction with the fair.
Getting There :Take
Highway No. 32 (Asian Highway) to before the foot of Dechatiwong
Bridge and turn left into the temple. It is about 1
kilometer from the city.
Wat
Krieng Krai Klang is at Mu 5, Tambon Kriang Krai, on the bank of
Nan River. Inside is a Sukhothai-style bronze Buddha image
in the Man Wichai posture and an old hall over a hundred years
old. There is also a replica of Lord Buddha’s Footprint
and a mural of Lord Buddha’s life. The area in front of
the temple is inhabited by many monkeys and it is where a
crocodile farm can be found.
Getting There :Take
the Nakhon Sawan-Chum Saeng road (Highway No. 225) for around 10
kilometers. Then turn left at the direction sign for about
2 kilometers into the temple. It is approximately 12
kilometers from the city. Alternatively, you can charter a
boat from Chao Phraya Pier along the Nan River and disembark at
Wat Kriang Krai Klang Pier.
Wat
Si Sawan Sangkharam (Wat Thu Nam) is at Tambon Nakhon Sawan.
It is an old temple that was used as the site for government
officials to pledge allegiance to the king. Evidence from
the period remains in the form of spear blades, oars, knives and
swords, a gold Buddha image in the Pathom Thetsana posture, and
a silver Buddha image. The main image in the old
convocation hall is over 100 years old. In 1976, His
Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen and their 2 princesses
came here to open the new hall. Now there is also the
pagoda built to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty.
Wat Si Sawan Sangkharam is regarded as an old temple with
immense historical value.
Getting There :Take
Highway No. 32 (Asian Highway) then turn left towards
Chiraprawat Fort (Highway No. 3001) for around 2 kilometers.
Signs along the way point to Wat Thu Nam. The total
distance from the city is about 3 kilometers.
Wat
Woranat Banphot (Khao Kop) is an old temple of the province
on the peak of Khao Kop 185.5 meters above sea level.
There are 2 ways up; a stairway of 439 steps and an asphalt
road 3 meters wide. The peak has a replica of Lord
Buddha’s Footprint and a pagoda encasing the relic of Lord
Buddha built when Sukhothai was the country’s capital.
The temple was praised by the Department of Religious
Affairs as the best development temple of 1966. A
nearby hill is the site of some television relay stations.
Getting There :
Use Highway No. 32 (Asian Highway) and turn right onto
Highway No. 117, then another right onto Highway No. 1 (old
highway) into Nakhon Sawan Municipality. Turn left
before reaching the municipality up Khao Kop. It is
about 1 kilometer from the city.
