While the southern part of the
province is located at the shore to the Gulf of Thailand and thus is mostly
coastal alluvial plains, the hinterlands of the province are quite mountainous.
The Chanthaburi mountain range in the north has the highest elevation of the
province, approximately 1556 m high "Soi Dao Nua Peak". The main
river of the province is the Chanthaburi River. Together with the neighboring
province Trat, Chanthaburi is the center of gemstone mining, especially rubies
and sapphires. Tropical fruits are also among the main products of the
province.
The capital of the province bordering
Cambodia to the east, and the shore to Gulf of Thailand, famous for its
abundance of tropical fruits and as a center for gym mining, the eastern
province of Chanthaburi is also blessed with rich, verdant forests and scenic
waterfalls. Quiet fishing villages and peaceful beaches are not far from town,
making Chantaburi the ultimate get-away-from-it all Thailand province.
Local Products
Gems one of the province’s renowned
economic products including elaborately cut gemstones by experienced craftsmen
.
Magic Ring golden rings fixed with
gemstones. The setting is usually made into various animals such as shrimp,
crab, fish, Naga serpent, etc. and can be separated into 4 connected rings.
Ban Samet Ngam Chanthabun Mat Weaving
Centre located at Tambon Nong Bua, Amphoe Mueang Chanthaburi, 7 Kilometres from
the provincial city. The villagers usually weave mats out of their harvesting
season. The centre also puts on exhibition various steps of reed mat weaving as
well as their traditional designs.
Bang Sa Kao Mat Weaving Village located at Tambon Bang Sa Kao, Amphoe Laem
Sing, the village features a mat weaving demonstration from the beginning until
the final touch when the mats are turned into various useful items such as bag,
tissue box holder, place mat, letter holder, sandal, etc.
Khlum Woven Products a crafted work
promoted by the Chanthaburi Provincial Skill Development Centre. Khlum is a
kind of water plant with tough and strong fibre.
Preserved Durian is the province’s
famous processed product with a mildly sweet taste and aroma typical to each of
the durian varieties.
Fruits tropical fruits like rambutan,
durian, mangosteen, Rakam and Sala varieties of zalacca, santol, etc. are
abundant during May –June.
Longan grow in abundance in Amphoe
Pong Nam Ron, which has a similar climate to Northern Thailand, fruiting all
year round, particularly during April – May.
Langsat Chamkho, sweet and not too
large in size, grown in Tambon Chamkho, Amphoe Tha Mai, fruiting during
May–September. Pepper both black and white, Chanthaburi’s major economic crop .
Sen Chan Noodle is a symbolic product
of Chanthaburi with a soft and glutinous quality.
Pumpkin, durian, and taro crisps are
cooked by the Pong Nam Ron Housewife Group. They are sweet, delicious.
Soi Dao Paper made from the pulp of
Soi Dao weed grown in abundance in Chanthaburi’s evergreen forests. Ban Kwian
Hak Housewife Group in Amphoe Khlung initiated to make paper from the bark of
the soft wood, fast-growing Soi Dao plant, which is similar to Sa paper but
tougher and brown by its natural colour. Soi Dao paper can be made into sachets
for tea or herbal beverages, or artificial flowers. The wood is used to make
furniture.
Activities - Festivals, what to do in Chanthaburi:
Festivals
Phra Phutthabat Phluang Homage - paying
Fair held on the new Mun day of the 2nd lunar month during the period of the
Chinese New Year to Magha Puja (around January-March) on top of Khao
Khitchakut, Tambon Phluang, Amphoe Makham. The fair features an offering
ceremony to guardian angels, gilding the Lord Buddha’s footprint, and climbing
up Khao Khitchakut. The tradition has been observed for generations out of a
folk belief that climbers will gain high merit, in addition, to mental
endurance from so doing. In the past, merit-makers had to walk on foot for a
distance of some 15 kilometres up the mountain.
Phra Phutthasaiyat Gilding Fair held
around the period of the Chinese New Year to pay homage and gild the image of
Phra Phutthasaiyat or Reclining Buddha at Wat Phai Lom and featuring Dharma
preaching and various forms of entertainment.
Rajamangala Rak Lueang Chan Festival
is held in February of every year at Rajamangala Institute of Technology
(Eastern Campus). There will be an academic exhibition, Lueang Chanthabun
Orchid Competition, and sales of agricultural products and plants.
Kwian Phrabat Tug-of-war Tradition
held around the Songkran Festival at Wat Tapon Yai, Amphoe Khlung. This
tradition has been observed for more than a century and will feature a Rot Nam
Dam Hua ceremony (pouring scented water onto the hands of the elderly to seek
their blessing), Kwian Phrabat or the Buddha’s footprint cart tug-of-war, and
various forms of entertainment during the night.
World Durian held annually for 1-2
weeks in the month of May at the Triangular Na Choei Ground. The fair features
contests of fruit decorated floats, beauty queens, Eastern famous fruits such
as rambutan, durian, mangosteen, Rakam and Sala zalaccas and varieties of
santol and Thai ridgeback dog, as well as booth displays of gems and jewellery
and other farmer housewife groups.
Chanthaburi Gemstone and Local Product
Fair is the largest jewellery fair in the eastern region, held during 8-12
December of every year, at the Chanthaburi Gems Centre, on Tri Rat and
Chanthanimit Roads.
