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Central Thailand / Bang Sai, Ang Thong

Bang Sai

Bang Sai is a village near Bang Pa-In. Its only attraction is the Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center.

Shopping

Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center

The Center has an area of 285 rai (45 hectares) and is in Tambon Bung Yai. Farmers from Ayutthaya Province as well as other provinces undergo training in folk arts and crafts. The Center is managed by an organization called Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT), established under Royal patronage July 21, 1976. The production of the following range of handicrafts can be seen: fern vine basketry, woven basketry, artificial flowers, hand-woven silk and cotton, dyed silk, wood carvings, miniature Thai dolls, furniture, cloth products.

All the products are sold at the Center and in every branch of the Chitralada Store chain. Information about the Center can be obtained by calling Tel (035) 24-2655 or Bangkok Tel 282-1112, 281-1202.

Transportation

One can get to Bang Sai either by boat on the Chao Phaya River or by bus from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road (Tel 271-3001).

There are Sunday shopping tours to Bang Sai by Express Boat from Bangkok’s Maharat Pier. They include a stop over at Bang Pa-In. The schedule:

8:00 - Departure from Maharat Pier

10:20 - Arrival at Bird Sanctuary, Wat Pailom, Pathum Thani

10:40 - Departure from Wat Pailom

12:15 - Arrival at Bang Pa-In Palace, sightseeing and lunch

13:30 - Departure from Bang Pa-In Palace

14:05 - Arrival at the Folk Arts and Crafts Center at Bang Sai

15:10 - Departure from the Center

17:30 - Arrival at Maharat Pier

The price for this one day tour is 140 Baht per person. For further information one may contact Chao Phaya Express Boat Co, 2/58 Aroon Amarin Road, Bangkok, Tel (Maharat Pier) 222-5330, 411-0418.

For TAT recommended tours to Ayutthaya including Bang Pa-In see the entries on Ayutthaya above.

Bang Sai is a village near Bang Pa-In. Its only attraction is the Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center.

Shopping

Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center

The Center has an area of 285 rai (45 hectares) and is in Tambon Bung Yai. Farmers from Ayutthaya Province as well as other provinces undergo training in folk arts and crafts. The Center is managed by an organization called Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT), established under Royal patronage July 21, 1976. The production of the following range of handicrafts can be seen: fern vine basketry, woven basketry, artificial flowers, hand-woven silk and cotton, dyed silk, wood carvings, miniature Thai dolls, furniture, cloth products.

All the products are sold at the Center and in every branch of the Chitralada Store chain. Information about the Center can be obtained by calling Tel (035) 24-2655 or Bangkok Tel 282-1112, 281-1202.

Transportation

One can get to Bang Sai either by boat on the Chao Phaya River or by bus from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road (Tel 271-3001).

There are Sunday shopping tours to Bang Sai by Express Boat from Bangkok’s Maharat Pier. They include a stop over at Bang Pa-In. The schedule:

8:00 - Departure from Maharat Pier

10:20 - Arrival at Bird Sanctuary, Wat Pailom, Pathum Thani

10:40 - Departure from Wat Pailom

12:15 - Arrival at Bang Pa-In Palace, sightseeing and lunch

13:30 - Departure from Bang Pa-In Palace

14:05 - Arrival at the Folk Arts and Crafts Center at Bang Sai

15:10 - Departure from the Center

17:30 - Arrival at Maharat Pier

The price for this one day tour is 140 Baht per person. For further information one may contact Chao Phaya Express Boat Co, 2/58 Aroon Amarin Road, Bangkok, Tel (Maharat Pier) 222-5330, 411-0418.

Ang Thong, 108km (68mi) along the Asian Highway from Bangkok, is a small town on the bank of the Chao Phaya River. It is the capital of the province of the same name which has an area of 968sqkm (374sqmi). The area is a low basin of sandy soil and has heavy rainfall in the rainy season.

Administratively, Ang Thong Province is divided into 7 districts: Muang (town proper or downtown), Chaiyo, Pa Mok, Pho Thong, Sawaeng Ha, Wiset Chaichan and Samko.

Accommodation

Ang Thong Hotel & Bungalows; 60 Mu 2 Ang Thong, Pho Thong Rd; Tel 61-1767 to 8

56 rooms, sgl/dbl 90-500

14 Bungalows 80-180 (f, ac)

Bkk Resv Tel 279-2434, 279-2757

Bua Luang; 1/15 Mu 8, Ang Thong-Ayutthaya Rd

Tel 61-1116, 61-1800

36 rooms, sgl/dbl 80-200 (f, ac)

6 Soi 1, Subsin Rd, Tel 61-1588

35 rooms, sgl/dbl 90-160 (f, ac)

Siam Inn; 41/2 Tambon Ban-It Rd, Tel 61-2017

25 rooms, sgl/dbl 120-370 (f, ac)

Places of Interest

Wat Chaiyo Wora Vihara

A monastery, 10km (6mi) from downtown Ang Thong, which houses Phra Maha Phuttha Phim in the meditation posture. It was built by Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phrom Rangsi) of Wat Rakhang during the reign of King Rama IV (King Mongkut, reigned 1851-1868). This Buddha image is highly respected by inhabitants of Ang Thong and the region and amulets from this Wat are highly valued.

A Royal grade monastery (Wora Vihara) at Pa Mok, 12km (8mi) from the town of Ang Thong. There is a very old Reclining Buddha which is 22.58m (74ft) long. It is found in the royal records that King Naresuan stopped over at this site to gather his troops and pay homage to this Reclining Buddha prior to leading his army to fight the Burmese. Between 1584 and 1605, King Naresuan reconquered the territory of Siam after it had been invaded and annexed by the Burmese in 1568/1569.

A 50m (164ft) Reclining Buddha is housed in Wat Khun In Pramun, Pho Thong, 7km (4mi) from the town of Ang Thong. The Wat in between rice fields has no roof since the Vihara housing the image is in ruins. In front of the image lies a statue of a man who, according to the legend, is Khun In Pramun, a revenue officer who secretly purloined official money to enlarge the original 40m (131ft) construction of the image. When the king heard about it and interrogated him as to where he obtained the money he did not answer and was whipped to death, thus originating the name of this monastery as Wat Khun In Pramun.

A monastery in Pho Thong, 9km (6mi) from the District Office. Here Prince Utumpon (Khun Luang Ha Wat) resided during his second tenure as a monk. He built Kham Yat Hall as his residence. Pho Thong is famed for beautiful wickerwork items of special Dok Phikun design. Prince Utumpon ascended the throne of Ayutthaya in May 1758 but surrendered it to his brother, Prince Ekatat, in August of the same year, in spite of the fact that Utumpon had been chosen by their father to succeed him. The decision of their father, King Taisra, is said to have been based on the fact that Prince Ekatat wasn’t particularly intelligent. Under King Ekatat, Siam was twice invaded by the Burmese. The first time this happened, Prince Utumpon was called from his monastery (to which he had retired after surrendering the throne to his elder brother, Ekatat) to lead the defence against the Burmese. After the retreat of the Burmese, he became a monk again and lived at Wat Pho Thong. When the Burmese invaded Siam again in 1766, he was once more asked to lead the defence but declined. In May 1767, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese.

Ban Ekkarat is a village near Pa Mok on the bank of the Chao Phaya River. Access is possible by a road parallel to the Yang Mani Irrigation Canal. Drums produced in this village range from the small souvenir size to the very large temple size.

Transportation

Bangkok - Ang Thong

Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road; 120km, non-aircon 26 Baht, 5:30, 6:00 and every 20min until 15:40, 16:10, 16:35, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00