The 10 Best Destinations in Singburi Province, Thailand

Bang Phutsa is the heart of Singburi town. A sub-district of Mueang District, this is where you’ll find the main provincial bus station, several accommodation options, the large (for Singburi) department store of Chaisaeng, a public swimming pool, massage shops, and a good selection of restaurants and cafes. When it comes to nightlife, the tambon (sub-district) has a handful of bars and is home to Singburi’s only nightclub, the Money Pub. Regarding practical matters, the area contains the main government hospital, police station, fire station, and post office. Bang Phutsa may be short on headline attractions, but it’s the province’s transportation hub and has the best infrastructure. The Old Town Hall and Court are eye-catching architectural beauties, and you can enjoy a leisurely walk alongside the Chao Phraya River.

Another tambon within the Mueang District, Chaksi is thought to have been where the centre of ancient Singburi was located. The ancient pagoda at Wat Na Phra That was built during the pre-Siamese era, when the area was still under the control of the Khmer Kingdom. It still stands proudly as a reminder of Singburi’s long history, ornately decorated with religious symbols. One of Singburi’s most important temples is also located in Chaksi: Wat Phra Non Chakkrasi Worawihan (often shortened to simply Wat Phra Non Chaksi / Jaksi.) A royal temple of the third class, it is thought to be older than the Ayutthaya period. The temple’s main building houses a 50-metre-long (164 feet) reclining Buddha statue in the Sukhothai style, along with many other religious statues and displays of old pottery, banknotes, and other artefacts. If you want to stay in this area, Sumali Villa is recommended.

Ton Pho is also part of the central district of Mueang Singburi. Two of Singburi’s best bars are located here: House of Party and STARDiO Community Mall. Furthermore, Wat Sawang Arom, home to the Nang Yai Shadow Puppet Museum, is also in this area. It contains a large collection of traditional Thai shadow puppets and the temple has a number of interesting statues. There are several small, local accommodation options and the luxurious Chaisaeng Villa Hotel as well as a number of places to eat tasty Thai food.

Inburi is both the name of a sub-district and district within Singburi Province. It’s most famous for Inburi National Museum, a terrific place to learn more about Singburi’s past. The museum houses archaeological finds from around Singburi, including from the ancient Mae Nam Noi Kilns and from Ban Khu Mueang Ancient City. There’s a good collection of cultural objects from throughout the ages, including agricultural and fishing tools and equipment, musical instruments, and ceramics, as well as items of religious and royal significance. Inburi National Museum is in the grounds of Wat Bot. The sub-district of Inburi has a number of other interesting temples, such as Wat Muang and Wat Pho Sri, as well as a local sports stadium.

The Chi Nam Rai tambon of Inburi sits close to the border with Chainat Province. If Singburi sees few visitors, this part of the province sees even fewer. It boasts an interesting sight, however: Wat Sai. Promoted as part of the “Unseen Thailand” campaign, the small temple now stands in ruins, the bricks wrapped with tree branches and tendrils both inside and out. Open to the elements, the roof long gone, there’s a raised platform inside with a large Golden Buddha statue and several smaller images. Locals light candles, burn incense, and leave offerings to show their respect. The views along the river are pretty, and the temple is in a scenic setting. Other off-the-beaten-track temples in the area include Wat Bang Poon, Wat Ranam, and Wat Rat Satthatham.

Mae La is a peaceful and green tambon in Bang Rachan District. It’s one of the best places in Singburi for fans of the outdoors, thanks to Mae La Maha Rachanusorn Park, a preservation park around the edges of the Mae La River. It’s a popular spot for fishing. The snakehead fish from this area is one of Singburi’s main specialities, and a big reason why you’ll see large fish statues in various places around the province. There are several charming restaurants alongside the river where you can sample the local fish; Baan Suan Mae La is especially recommended. You can also drive through lush agricultural land and explore a number of local temples, including Wat Sa Dao and Wat Laem Khang.

Another sub-district of Bang Rachan District, Choeng Klat has a long and interesting history. Pottery was produced here many years ago, using the rich clay from alongside the Noi River. This wasn’t just a small production area, though; the area was once one of Siam’s most important pottery places, with some 200 kilns stretching along the river in times gone by. A few ancient kilns remain today, preserved to allow a window into the past. The ancient remains of Wat Phra Prang, with its corn pagoda and old hall, provide another reason to visit this part of the province. Bang Rachan Hospital is one of the area’s more practical features.

Somewhat confusingly, Singburi has a district called Bang Rachan and also a sub-district of the same name within the district of Khai Bang Rachan and close to the border with Ang Thong District. Tambon Bang Rachan (in Khai Bang Rachan District) was named after a historic village. This village became famous all around Thailand because of the amazing bravery, courage, resilience, and determination of its locals in the face of adversity. A small group of men, now known as the Bang Rachan Heroes, mobilised their village to fend off Burmese invasions. They pleaded with the rulers of Ayutthaya to send help, but none came. Left to fend for themselves with few resources and a lot less manpower, the village was able to hold off several intense attacks before eventually falling. The Burmese then continued south to defeat the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. An important and celebrated part of Thai history, Singburi’s provincial seal shows the heroes. There have also been movies and songs about the village and their fearless heroes. Bang Rachan has a monument dedicated to the 11 heroes at the Bang Rachan Memorial Park. There’s an onsite museum too. A replica camp with a historic well, ancient ruins, and sacred redwood trees, and the historic temple of Wat Pho Kao Ton, with its large White Buddha statue, mystic connections, and Bodhi trees, adds even more to see in the area.

Phikun Thong (also sometimes transliterated as Pikul Thong) is part of Tha Chang District. You’ll find one of Singburi’s major attractions here: the beautiful temple of Wat Phikun Thong. If you visit, plan to spend at least a couple of hours enjoying the glorious site. The main open-air square-shaped area has rows of Buddha statues around the edges and several small buildings and shrines. The most striking feature, though, is a large golden statue of the Lord Buddha atop a pavilion at the centre of the square. You can climb the steps to the base of the statue to admire beautiful views of the surroundings, and underneath the statue are graphic depictions of Buddhist heaven and, perhaps more interestingly, hell. There’s a large pond where you can feed the fish for good luck, a colourful shrine to the Hindu God of Ganesha, and a large statue of a Chinese-style Happy Buddha.

The District of Phrom Buri also has a sub-district of the same name. Tambon Phrom Buri is best known for Wat Amphawan. Lying between the AH1 highway (commonly referred to as Asia Road) and the Chao Phraya River, the temple attracts Thais from all around the country. It doesn’t boast the gorgeous statues or fine architectural details of the province’s headline temples, but it is a key place for those who want to improve their meditation and mindfulness techniques. A major spiritual centre with a highly esteemed abbot (head monk), devotees can practice, stay, and eat here for free (donations are greatly appreciated, though). Otherwise, you’ll find a homestay and a fishing resort in nearby tambons.