Saraburi has been one of central Thailand’s most important cities for hundreds of years. It was established in the mid-16th century under the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya.
King Maha Chakkraphat is believed to have ordered the city built from areas in Lop Buri and Nakhon Nayok and planned for Saraburi to be a center for mobilizing troops during war. Today there is much to see and do in Saraburi and while it is not as developed as other cities throughout central Thailand, it is extremely charming and a fascinating place to visit.
There are many places to sleep, a number of good restaurants and a choice of bars to keep people entertained at night. There are many temples worth visiting, beautiful gardens, a crocodile farm, caves, a national park and prehistoric archaeological sites.
Saraburi is an important city in terms of its history and religion. It is home to Wat Phra Phutthabat, the most important temple in central Thailand and also the most popular pilgrimage site. It was built by King Songtham in the 17th century and is located around a Buddha footprint. People travel here from all over Thailand to worship.
Another temple close by, Wat Tham Krabok is actually a famous drug rehabilitation center. It offers programs for people addicted to all kinds of drugs, but in particular to yaba. The temple was the last Hmong refugee camp in Thailand.
Getting There & Away
There are daily buses to Saraburi from Bangkok, with journeys taking about 2 hours. There are fan or air-conditioned buses available, with the former being more expensive but still reasonable. Bangkok has a new international airport with flights to cities around the globe.
Samut Sakhon attractions
- Khao Sam Lan National Park: this national park is just outside the city and is a great place to visit if you are a nature enthusiast. There are many waterfalls here as well as hiking trails, wildlife and beautiful tropical plants.