Location: Suphan Buri
Top Things to do in Suphan Buri
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What to do and see in Suphan Buri, Thailand: The Best Places and Tips
Suphan Buri (Thai pronunciation: [sù.pʰān būrīː]) is a town (thesaban mueang) in central Thailand. It covers the whole tambon Tha Philiang and parts of tambons Rua Yai and Tha Rahat, all within the Mueang Suphan Buri District. As of 2006 it had a population of 26,656. The town is 101 km north-northwest of Bangkok.
Restaurants in Suphan Buri
1. Wat Pa Lelai Woraviharn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By EarthlingOnline - Worldwide
This seems to be the first review of this site in English. Suphan Buri Province has been on my bucket list to visit for awile. I recently did so. The friends that I was with chose this as the main temple to visit and pray at. I would certainly agree with that choice.
Is the structure too small for the large Buddha it houses? Is the Buddha too large for the structure? Let's just say that the Buddha could not be any larger, or the structure any smaller, and still get a fit. I have not seen quite this tight fit previously.
2. City Pillar Shrine, Suphan Buri
Overall Ratings
4 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
City Pillars in Thailand are the embodiment of the ethos of the local community and provide a focus for community activity and prayer.
The City Pillar Shrine in Suphan Buri is one of the most extensive, elaborate and colourful of all the city pillar shrines I have visited in Thailand.
Apart from the shrine housing the pillar itself, there is a Chinese pagoda, a Colonnade of Chinese zodiac beasts cast in bronze, and another Colonnade of Chinese deities.
Please remember to take off your shoes when visiting the Pillar Shrine itself, although it is okay to wear shoes elsewhere in the complex.
This is a fascinating complex, but it would help if there were some signs in English to help you work out what you are looking at.
3. Banharn Jamsai Tower
Overall Ratings
4 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Some listings on the internet claim that Banharn Jamsai Tower is the tallest observation deck tower in Thailand. At 123.25 meters high, it certainly is the tallest in Suphan Buri, but it is dwarfed by the observation decks at Baiyoke Tower in Bangkok, which soars to 343.3 meters.
Nevertheless, it offers the best 360 degree views of Suphan Buri City and its surrounds - out to 50 km on a clear day. Unfortunately the day we visited it was raining non stop, so the long views were shrouded in mist, but we will enjoyed looking down on the city we had spent the last two days exploring.
Entrance is Baht 40, for both locals and foreigners, which is a pleasant change in a country renowned for its discriminatory pricing.
Banharn Jamsai Tower is sited in a pleasant and well maintained park, which also features a palm garden, Waterfalls, carp ponds, water Fountain plaza, a kid's playground and a Buddhist shrine.
4. Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
Overall Ratings
4 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, right in the center of Supan Buri City, is a mixture of the old and the new.
The most impressive are the old temples dating back hundreds of years.
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat holds one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand, the so-called Phra Phuttha Chinnarat.
This is still a practising temple with monks living in more modern quarters and praying and conducting their services in more modern temples.
But I was disappointed. While I am a realist and recognise the upkeep of historic sites like this cost bank rolls, this temple complex is not only not well maintained, in many areas it is downright dirty and strewn with rubbish, dog droppings and other detritus, including the various pools which are now full of stagnant water.
5. Dragon Descendants Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Charn P - Bangkok, Thailand
It is difficult to describe the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri. The owner of the project must have a story to tell. However he did not have the overall concept how to tell it. The whole project end up with no direction, uncertain of its targeted audiences, and poorly implemented. Being through the museum once is enough and would not recommend other to visit it again. If by any chance in passing through Suphan Buri town and want to have your photo taken in front of the giant dragon, it is probably the best part of the whole visit.
6. Wat Phra Non
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By huskitory
Whole river of cat fish is here and visitor are welcome to purchase food to feed them. A place you can't miss when visit Suphan Buri.
7. National Museum Suphan Buri
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Cloggy12345 - Singapore, Singapore
Though there are very few visitors, this is really an fantastic museum. It covers the history of Thailand and predominantly Suphan Buri area through movies, reconstructions of houses and shops from olden days and with audio-visual effects. Very nicely done. There are various sections, one with ancient history through art objects and buddhist art, recent history and people from Suphan Buri, a section about Thai music and artists, where you can listen to a variety of songs from the past. And finally the museum walks you through some of teh recent economic development and projects. Foreigner admission price of B100, only open from Wednesday through Sunday and closed on national holidays. If you are visting Suphan Buri, definitely recommended to make a stop here.
8. The Celestial Dragon Village
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
The Celestial Dragon Village is an attempt to recreate the central area of Lijiang, in China's Kunming Province, together with its water mills, water features, pagoda, and stalls offering local souvenirs and local food.
But I have been to Lijiang and this is a poor man's copy. However, I guess if you haven't been it passes muster and provides a weekend attraction for the locals and something for tourists to do.
9. Wat Khae
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
As Thai Buddhist temples go, Wat Khae is very ordinary and is not worth a visit.
However, it was mentioned in the Thai classical poem, "Khun Chang Khum Phaen", which is still widely read today. As a consequence the temple has established a park alongside the temple commemorating the poem.
This epic poem which has its roots in Thai folklore, is one of the most important works in Thai literature. Chang and Phaen are the leading male characters involved in a classical love triangle, competing for the hand of Wanthong. Their 50 year struggle to win her hand involves abductions, revolts, court cases, trial by ordeal, jail and treachery and the poem is full of heroism, romance, sex, violence, custard-pie comedy, magic and horror.
In the end the king condemns Wanthong to death for failing to choose between the two men.
Every schoolchild in Thailand learns passages from the poem, and it is the source of many songs, popular sayings and metaphors.
The park is home to an enormous, giant tamarind tree, which according to local legend, is the tamarind tree mentioned in the poem, where Phaen is taught how to magically turn tamarind leaves into wasps. There is a large notice alongside it declaring it to be one of the "Trees of Thailand" and is under Royal protection.
10. Wat Phra Loi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Rayong, Thailand
Wat Phra Loi is a revered Buddhist temple in Suphan Buri because it houses a Buddha image, Phra Phutthanawaramonghjorn, that legend has it floated down the Tha Chin River and washed ashore here. So a temple was built to honour and house it.
Now don't ask me how a sandstone Buddha weighing several hundred kilograms managed to "float" down the river, for who am I to question local folklore.
Phra Phutthanawatmongkhon is depicted seated under a Naga, a mythic serpent, whose hood covers and protects the Buddha.
There is a large pond in front of the temple where you can feed thousands of carp that live there.
