Phetchaburi Highlights

Khao Luang Cave

The Tham Khao Luang Cave is located approximately 45 minutes from Cha-Am . This is cave is very famous due to the fact that it houses a Buddha image cast under the royal command of King Rama V at that time dedicated to King Rama III and King Rama IV. The cave is beautiful with a sun beam falling down on the Buddha below and makes the cave magical. The cave houses a lot of religious objects.

There are one big “cave room” and 3 smaller cave rooms, you enter the rooms be climbing slightly spooky stairs to enter the cave. In one of the smaller rooms has a beautiful small Buddha that looks like it , it is thousands years old. There several other caves on Khao Luang and the whole area is cool and surrounded frangipani. The area is lively with vendors selling fruits to visitors so that you then may feed the monkeys that live on the hill. Guides are available for hire near the car park. Be careful with the monkeys as they are quick to take anything that is loose.

Phra Nakhon Khiri

Historical Park-Phetchaburi

This historical park sits on top of Khao Wang (Palace Hill) giving great views of the Phetchaburi city. There is a palace in top built in a mix of Chinese and European styles but it is the views that really make this place special. Rama IV built the palace and surrounding temples in 1859 to be used as a retreat from Bangkok. The hilltop location allowed the king to pursue his interest in astronomy and stargazing. There are many meandering paths were you can get different views of the city below and Phetchaburi province.

Currently the Fine Arts Department is using parts of the palace for the Phra Nakorn Khiri National Museum. There are two entrances to the site. The front entrance is across from The Ratwithi and involves a steep footpath. On the back side there is a cable car that you can use to go up the hill. The cable car runs 9.30 – 6.30pm. A monday night market lines the street in front of Khao Wang with the usual food and clothing stalls. Bring a camera this is a great place to take pictures of the area. This place is very different from other 9 historical parks in Thailand as it has more architecture included into the park so very well worth the visit.

Khao Nang Phanthurat

Forest Park-Cha Am

Khao Nang Phanthurat Forest Park is a beautiful teak for nature lovers. It covers an area featuring cave-ridden limestone hills and forested greenery. Inside the park, the 3km nature trail passes through a scenic landscape filled with natural rock formations, bird habitats and an array of flora and fauna. There is also a path that brings you to a hollow rock that looks almost like a suspended balcony and is a magical place and great for viewing the area of South Cha-Am.

Getting to the forest park is an adventure in itself as the road is rough and relatively unpaved. The forest park has two important mountains called Khao Chaolai and Khao Chomprasart, Together, the two mountains look like a giant lying on her side. Nang Phanthurat is the name of a female giant in a Thai folklore. Locals like to picnic or to enjoy the serenity of nature.