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There
are many interesting places to
visit in Ang Thong province , but at
Ban Bang Chao Cha , the main attraction is
the local lifestyle and
participating in the
many home stay activities organized by
the community . These include the
hands on experience in
bamboo weaving and
basket making. There are
two nearby temples which are
well worth visiting.
Bats at
Wat
Chantharam
Wat Chantharam is
an old temple in
Ban Chang , Tambon Khok Phutsa , approximately
four kilometers to
the west of
Pho
Thong District Office. Take Pho Thong – Sawaengha Road for
one kilometer and
then turn left for
another three kilometers. The precinct of
this temple is
crowded with trees which have become habitats for
numerous bats. These bats looks for
food at night , while during the
day they can
be seen from a
long way off
hanging upside down and
darkening the dark branches of
the trees.
Wat Khoi fish sanctuary
This sanctuary is
located at the
Noi
River in front of
Wat
Khoi , Tambon Pho Rang Nok , 12 kilometres from Ang Thong Province . Fish at
Wat
Khoi
have always been abundant , and the
Pho
Thong fishery Office declared the
area a fish sanctuary in
1985. At present , there are
50,000 fishes of
different species living there together . The temple also houses a
local museum with display of
boats of different kinds such Thai – style gondolas , tug boats and
rowboats. Collections
of tools and
equipment used in
growing rice are
also displayed.
Phra Tamnak Khamyat
Located in
Tambon
Khamyat , 2.5 kilometres West of
Wat
Pho
Thong on Ayutthaya – pho Thong Road , the brick and
plaster ruins of
this former royal residence stand out
from the paddy fields.
Its artistic beauty still remains , with motifs around the
windows and front and
rear balconies painted in
red soil. It was
built in the
reign of King Borommakot of
Ayutthaya
and was his
residence when visiting this area. Although only the
four walls remain , the throne hall maintains a
trace of its
architectural glory .
The Department of
Fine Arts has
renovated it and
registered Phra Tamnak Khamyat as a
historical site.
Wat Chantharangsi
This termple is
in Ban Na , Tambon Hua phai approximately a
Kilometre
from the Asian Highway intersection entering the
town. Areas
of the temple cover both sides of
the road. On one
side , there is the sacred Buddha image Luang Pho Yok. The wihan is
on the other side and
contains the image of
Luang
Pho
Sod , the largest of
its kind in
the world. This golden Buddha image was
built in 1996 and
has a lap
width of 6.25 and
a height of
9.9 metres.
Wat Pa Mok Worawihan
Located in
Tambon
Pa Mok on
the west bank of
the Chao phraya River 18
kilometetres from the town , the compound of
this temple contains a
gilded reclining Buddha made of
brick and plaster. The image is
assumed to have been constructed in
the Sukhothai priod and
is 22.58 metres from the
topknot to the
feet. The legend of
this Buddha image tells that it
floated along the
river and sank in
front of this temple . People offered sacrifices to
the Buddha image before pulling it
from the river to
stand on the
river bank. It
is stated in
the royal chronicle that before leading his
army to attack Phra Maha Upparacha ,
King Naresuan the
Great stopped at
this temple to
gather his troops and
paid homage to
the image.
Wat Ang Thong Worawihan
This is the third – class monastery opposite Ang Thong City Hall.
Originally there were two
small temples standing next to
each other , Wat Pho Ngoen and Wat Pho Thong built in
the reign of
King Rama IV. In 1900 , King Rama V had these two
temples combined into one
and bestowed on it the
name Wat Ang Thong. This temple is
famous for its
beautiful ubosot and bell – shaped chedi decorated with gold and
mirror glass.
Wat Chaiyo Worawihan
This monastery houses Phra Maha Phuttha Phim , a
Buddha image in
the attitude of
meditation . It was built by
Somdet
Phra
Phutthachan ( To Phrom Raangsi ) of
Wat
Rakhang
during the reign of
King Rama IV. This Buddha image is
highly respected by
inhabitants of Ang Thong and
the neighboring provinces , especially those who
collect small Buddha images. They are
well – informed about the
popular Somdet Wat Chaiyo amulets that are
now very hard to
find.
Wat Khun Inthapramun
The 50 – metre long image of
the reclining Buddha is
housed at this monastery in
the rice fields in
a hall that is
open to the
sky. In front of
this image lies the
statue of Khun Inthapramun ,
who according to
the legend , a revenue officer embezzled official funds to
enlarge the size of
the image. When the
king asked him
how he obtained the
money , he declined to
answer and was
executed ; but the monastery still bears the
name of Khun Intrapramun.
Wat Tonson
This old
temple stand in
the town on
the west bank of
the Chao Phraya River , opposite Ang Thong Technical College. It enshrines Somdet Phra Si Muangthong ,
a beautiful seated Buddha image of
gilded metal in
the posture of
subduring
Mara. It is 19
metres
high with a
lap width of
14 metres and
is regarded as
the one of
the largest metal moulded Buddha image.
Wat Pho Thong
This temple is
in Ban Pho Thong , Tambon Khamyat opposite the
entrance of Ban
Bang Chao Cha . The royal chronicle identifies it
as the temple where Krommakhun Luang Hawat ) entered the
monkhood. King Rama VI spent his
summer vacation in
this temple during his
boat trip visiting the
Noi
River and Yai River in
1916.
Wat Ta
It
This temple in
Ban Ta It , Tambon Bang Phlap was
built in 1761. When entering the
temple , the
outstanding gilded Phra That Chedi Sri
Phothong
can be seen clearly. The chedi houses relics of
the Lord Buddha’s neck as
well as various Buddha image in
different postures.
Wat Siroi
Located on
the bank of
the Noi
River , Tambon
Siroi , Wat Siroi houses a
seated Buddha image in
the posture of
Pa Lelai
. It is called Luang Pho To
and is 21
metres
high with a
lap width of
6 metres.
Inside the ubosot were a
series of exquisite murals by
painters of the
Ayutthaya
school.
Wat Sa
Kaeo
Wat Sa
Kaeo
is in Tambon Bang Sadet ,
some 200 metres away from Wat Tha Sutthawat along the
irrigation canel
road. This temple has
become the orphans care center , with many children under supervision . Within the
temple grounds is
the Samakkhisamakhan building , a center for
HM the Queen’s hand – woven textiles project established in
1981.
Somchit Roengpho Mixed Orchard
This orchard is in Tambon Khlong Wua , Amphoe Muang , approximately
three kilometers into the
Wat
Channimit
entrance. It was accredited as
a Mixed Orchard in
2001 and received an International Feminine Farmer Award. Ms Somchit grows several varieties of
fruit trees on
the 13 rai ( 5 acres ) and
rice on a
further 10 rai ( 4 acres ) . She specializes in
growing several varieties of
mango , pomelo and
citrus nobilis.
To visit the
orchard , please call 0
1818 1450.
Drum – making Village
The drum – making village is
at Ban Phae in
Tambon
Ekkarat
behind Pamok market. The people of
Ban phae began making drums 80
years ago after the
harvest season. The skins are
cowhide stretched on
rain tree wood whose soft texture can
be easily carved. Visitors can
observe drum – making process starting from lathing wood , stretching the
sheets of cowhide sheet and
fastening them with pins. The village is
well known for
the high quality of
its products.
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