Top 5 Places to visit in Ratchaburi Province

James BaileyPlaces to visit, So you're in Thailand

Khao Bin Cave is located 20km from the Ratchaburi city, approximately 85km from Bangkok along the road to Chom Bueng. This cave Temple Cave is the largest in the region, with walking paths entering the caverns 300 mtrs into the dimly lit darkness. The price for entry is a mere 20thb and it's worth every penny.Number 1: Khao Bin Cave is located 20km from the Ratchaburi city, approximately 85km from Bangkok along the road to Chom Bueng. This cave Temple Cave is the largest in the region, with walking paths entering the caverns 300 mtrs into the dimly lit darkness. The price for entry is a mere 20thb and it’s worth every penny.

If you are venturing into the cave with a DSLR ensure you have something to clean the lense, with the humidity as it is, it will fog up every few seconds starving you of those great photos.

Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratchaburi is located at the base of Khao Prathap Chang Peak, opposite to the Tham Khao Bin Cave, in the Ratchaburi province. Now no matter where I travel in the world, going to a 'zoo' is not normally something that's high on my to-do list. I have seen so pretty terrible conditions that animals are expected to live, or die in and tend to avoid them like the plague. Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Sanctuary is kind of a different story though. It is owned by the Royal Forest Department of Thailand. What you won't see is concrete enclosures, instead you will see enclosures that are interacting as part of this forest reservoir. The enclosures are within a section of the shady natural park, with gatherings of different species of plants mentioned in Thai literature. The animals with in the Sanctuary are quite a broad cross section. You will find anything from a Singapore Porcupines, to Genets, Alligators, Treeshrews, Elongated Tortoises, Civets, Red Junglefowl, Tigers, Osteidges, Camels and a wide ranging selection of birds such as the Hill Myna, which is illegal to have in captivity in Thailand. There is a short 1km hiking path called “Phrueksa Nana Phan”, literally meaning various kinds of plants. The path has 13 information stations along it's length. Located near the wildlife sanctuary is the Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Breeding Centre, a wildlife breeding centre and the largest Felidae breeding centre in Thailand. Tourists can donate animal food or money to buy food for tigers and other animals. Operating hours: Every day from 8:30 to 16:30 How to get here from Bangkok: Bus: Take the Bangkok-Chom Bueng bus and get off in front of Tham Khao Bin and the Literary Botanical Garden of Central Thailand. The wildlife sanctuary is located opposite to Tham Khao Bin. Car: Drive along Highway 3087, Ratchaburi-Chom Bueng-Suang Phueng Road, as far as the 18th milestone.Number 2: Khao Prathap Chang Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratchaburi is located at the base of Khao Prathap Chang Peak, opposite to the Tham Khao Bin Cave, in the Ratchaburi province. What you won’t see is concrete enclosures, instead you will see enclosures that are interacting as part of this forest reservoir that they are within.

Some encloses are set against the rocky cliffs, which give some of the inhabitants a more natural feeling. Seeing a goat precariously perched 10 feet off the ground on a small ledge goes to show how they adapt to their surroundings.

Wat Khao Chong Phra Bat Temple RatchaburiNumber 3: Getting to Wat Khao Chong Phra Bat Temple in Ratchaburi province can seem like a trip into the middle of nowhere. This Wat is located in a very small town, and if not for the cave filled with millions of bats, this town would go unnoticed by a tourist. The hour long continual swam of Black-bearded Tomb bats exit the cave mouth before dusk, approximately 5.30pm rain or shine.

Their flow through the sky is like flowing black liquid. It is a spectacle like nothing I have ever seen before. You don’t need a great vantage point, because as the bats flow through the sky, they move and change direction quickly allowing for what appears like a natural wave flowing in the sky.

Wat Nong Hoi Ratchaburi is located in the Khao Raeng Sub-District, Muang District, Ratchaburi, about 12 kilometers away from the city heart. It was constructed in 1873. Located on the top of a mountain, it is clearly visible and dominated the top of the hill. The temple is extremely popular with local Thai people in the province and surrounding areas due to it’s sacred heritage.Number 4: Wat Nong Hoi Ratchaburi is located in the Khao Raeng Sub-District, Muang District, Ratchaburi, about 12 kilometers away from the city heart. It was constructed in 1873.

Located on the top of a mountain, it is clearly visible and dominated the top of the hill. The temple is extremely popular with local Thai people in the province and surrounding areas due to it’s sacred heritage.

Within the monastery you will be able to purchase golden joss sticks (candles) and present them to the many statues and icons. Many people often come and pay respect to the Buddha image here. Spending time walking around the temple, you will also be welcomed by the many monkey’s that consider the sacred site home.

Khao Ngu Stone ParkNumber 5: Khao Ngu Stone Park. Khao Ngu means Snake Mountain in Thai, is located at the foot of a rocky hill, around 8 km from Ratchaburi city, in Tambon Ko Phlapphla.

I stumbled upon this place heading back to Ban Pong after visiting the awe inspiring Khao Bin Cave. It’s basis premise is a cave relating to Buddhism. Inside the cave is a Buddha image sculptured onto cave wall.

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