Chanthaburi is a province in eastern Thailand bordering Cambodia. The literal meaning of Chanthaburi is ‘Lady Chan who wears a pan on her head’. The southern part of Chanthaburi lies on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand and the hinterland is mountainous with cascading waterfalls. The capital city is also called Chanthaburi and has great sightseeing. Soi Dao is a mountainous region in northern Chanthaburi and is home to the Soi Dao Wild Life Sanctuary within which is the tiered Khao Soi Dao waterfall. Golf is a popular sport in Chanthanburi and many golfing enthusiasts visit the province. If it is a Chanthaburi resort with deluxe accommodation and access to top class golfing you need then Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao in the lush highlands of Pon Nam Ron would be a good choice of accommodation.
Chanthaburi town has many religious sites including temples and the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in Thailand. Two shrines in the northern part of the city are the King Taksin Shrine and the Chanthaburi City Pillar Shrine dedicated to the Guardian Deity of Chanthaburi. The Pillar is located in Tha Luang Road and the builder of the shrine or its construction date remains unverified but it is generally believed to be built by King Taksin in the late 1700s. The Shrine is in the traditional Thai style and looks like a Thai Wat or temple but has several Chinese features. Inside the Shrine is a 3 meter high golden pillar symbolising the Guardian Deity and behind it are elaborate murals. The building has four gables and has teeth like ridges on the sloping edge of gable and or ornamental roof points shaped like Garuda Heads and a pagoda on top. There is a Chinese bell in front of the shrine and Chinese dragon statues. Some old cannons and artificial durians and mangosteens from which water gush out are placed outside.
The present shrine is not the one reputedly built by King Taksin but is the one built in 1981 by the city of Chanthaburi. The King Taksin Shrine is visible from the City Pillar Shrine.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
