Community-based tourism routes at Tham Rong Community in Phetchaburi Province

One-day trip to Tham Rong Community in Phetchaburi Province

     If you are seeking a place for traveling in one day which is not far from Bangkok and want to experience the life of local people, Tham Rong Community in Phetchaburi Province is the right answer. It is an old community with a very long history. Once there was a governor who passed by this place, and a lady served him a bowl of water to drink. She put a piece of cogongrass into the water to prevent the governor from choking. When the governor knew the reason she did that, he was impressed by her thoughtfulness and gave her his ring in return. Later, people called this community “Ban Thammarong,” which means the “village of the ring.” And eventually the name became “Tham Rong,” as it is now.

     The villagers have come together to preserve the original way of life, including houses and occupations, especially farming toddy palm. With its great potential, the community was chosen to be a learning center in 2001. There are many interesting places to visit such as Tham Rong Temple, where the ubosot (ordination hall) is decorated with stucco by local craftsmen, and an ancient Buddha image (Luang Pho Dam) is housed. Mr. Thanom’s toddy palm orchard is a place where you can see abundant lines of toddy palm trees, a symbol of Phetchaburi Province. Ban Yee Tanod is a huge, ancient Thai-style house where the elders cook and make desserts from toddy palm fruits and simmer sugar from the toddy palm sap. San Pai village is a place where you can observe how to weave daily products from bamboo. Muang Ngam Temple and the museum present primitive tools and the old way of life.

     The community won an award for safety routes, made so that travelers can go cycling safely and pleasantly along the road and observe local life, such as climbing toddy palm trees, simmering sugar from the toddy palm sap, and cooking and making desserts from toddy palm fruits. If a person doesn’t feel like biking, it’s nice to visit rose apple orchards on a shuttle bus with a tour guide.

One-day tour program

     Morning: Depart Bangkok for Phetchaburi.
     At noon: Arrive in Phetchaburi. Have lunch. And then go to Tham Rong community.

          1. Visit Mr. Thanom’s toddy palm orchard and experience local way of life. Watching products, foods and desserts from the toddy palms.
          2. Pay homage to the famous Buddha images (Luang Pho Dam and Luang Pho Kaw) at Tham Rong temple, a sacred place that the villagers give respect. And the name of the district derived from the name of the temple.
          3. Visit Ban Wow Thai (a village of Thai kite) to observe how to make Thai kites.
          4. Visit Ban Jak San (a village of basketwork) to see various kinds of basketry from toddy palm leaves by local artisans.
     Evening: Leave Tham Rong community and buy Thai desserts. 

     How to get there: From Phetchaburi downtown, drive along Phet Kasem Road (Highway 4), a total distance of 177 km, to arrive at Tham Rong Temple. Or take route no. 6020 from Ban Lard district to Yothatikan Phetchaburi Road, Moo 3, and then drive ahead to Tha Sean Subdistrict, a total distance of 14 km.

For more information, please contact Tham Rong Subdistrict Administrative Organization on tel. +66 3249 1467, +66 89 822 5362. 

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