Chanthaburi- City Attractions

City Pillar and King Taksin the Great Shrine
These two local landmarks, the one defining the heart of city and the other honouring King Taksin, are located on Tha Luang Road. Opposite stands an old building dating from the reign of King Rama VI and was formerly the town hall.

King Taksin the Great Memorial Statue
Located on Liap Noen Road, the equestrian statue of King Taksin is flanked by statues of his four royal guards, while the sculpted expression of the king’s face clearly shows the resoluteness and determination of the man who reunited the Thais after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. The surrounding park and large pond serves as a popular recreation area.

Si Chan Road
This is the commercial area and centre of the gem business. Even though actual gem - mining in the province - is not as extensive as it used to be, Chanthaburi remains a major centre for the trade in gemstones from neighbouring countries and from abroad. The main gem market is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning and attracts large crowds of dealers and visitors alike. Open daily 8.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

Wat Phai Lom
Located across the Chanthaburi River from Si Chan Road, King Rama III-era Wat Phai Lom has a temple hall with its interior walls decorated with murals portraying the story of the Lord Buddha, interspersed with Chinese floral designs as well as illustrations of foreigners. Another building in the compound displays Western architectural influences, attesting to Chanthaburi’s varied artistic and cultural heritage.

Catholic Cathedral
Situated in Tambon Chanthanimit by the riverbank, this is Thailand’s largest Gothic Catholic cathedral, the present building dating from 1906.

Wat Thong Thua
4 kilometres from town along the Sukhumvit Road in Tambon Klong Narai is the site of an ancient temple built over a Khmerstyle temple. There is also a large collection of ancient Khmer carved lintels, sandstone door columns carved in various designs and inscription stones. Nearby is the Mueang Phaniat archaeological site with its remains of the laterite base of a large Khmer religious sanctuary and moats.