Attractions
Bot
Nam
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. |
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