Ratchaburi

This small province is bout 100 Km. west of Bangkok. It is situated on the banks of the Mae Klong River. It is the best place to see the typical Thai life that existed for a long time along the river banks. Today the most important must –see place is the Damnern Saduak Floating Market, where all types of goods specially the produce of the land is sold and bought all on boats. You will see how typical Thai communities carried out their day to day trades when canals and waterways were the most common source of trade.

Attractions
Having taken a boat ride in the floating market , do visit the most beautiful natural cave with amazing scenes of stalactite and stalagmite formations at Tham Khao Bin, about 20 km from the town. Another cave ,Tham Chomphon is about 30 Km from the town. Besides the beautiful stalactites , it houses a reclinig Buddha inside.
As you go towards Amphoe Chom Bung, about 8 Km from the town, you will find Tham Rusi Khao Ngu a famous attraction ,. It has a bas-relief Buddha image , one of the oldest archaelogical proof of the Dvaravati period found in Ratchaburi. The figure is posed as giving the first sermon and is 2.5.meters high. As in all the provinces , Ratchaburi also has anumber of temples which should be visited .
How to get there:
Ride a Bus
You can avail of Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal daily. It takes 2 hour for the trip.
Take a Car
a) From Bangkok, drive along Highway No. 4 (Phahonyothin Road) to Ratchaburi via Bang Khae, Om Noi, Om Yai, Nakhon Chai Si, Nakhon Pathom.
b) From Bangkokdrive along Highway No. 338 to Nakhon Chai Si via Buddhamonthon and turn into Highway No. 4, then proceed to Ratchaburi.
Train
It takes about 2 hours from Hua Lamphong Railway Station and Bangkok Noi Railway Station. The train service runs daily.