Tha Muang (ต.ท่าม่วง) is one of eight district of Kanchanaburi (กาญจนบุรี) province Thailand.
If you drive from Bangkok via Borommaratchachonnani Road (ถ.บรมราชนนี) - Phetkasem Road (Road number 4) (ถ.เพชรเกษม) to Sangchooto road (Road number 323) (ถ.แสงชูโต สายใหม่) pass through Nakhon Pathom, and Ratchaburi you will reach the junction to access to Tha Muang district at about 115th Kilometer milestone , which is on left hand side after PTT petro station. It is about 20 KMs before Mueang Kanchanaburi District (Amphor Mueang). Mostly people come to Kanchanaburi because of its natural attractions like waterfall, floating resort, cave trip, rainforest camping and most of them will start from Mueang Kanchanaburi District. Now I think you can add Tha Muang as one of your destination for Kanchanaburi trip.
Tha Muang is a calm town but it has good place to visit for example, Mae Klong Dam, Temples on the mountain like Wat Tham Suea, Wat Ban Tham (which are located beside the Mae Klong Dam) and Big Tree.
For this post I will introduce a small route for a trip to the above attraction place, which you can spend few hour here before or after your natural trip in Kanchanaburi. I also thinking of rider (either bike or motor bike) and wishing you guys like this route.
Before I start let me give you an overview information below.
1. Trip distance: approximately not greater than 45 KMs.
2. Route type: Circle. (Start from King Rama 9 Arboretum and go around you can come back to the same place - see the map in this post).
3. Road condition: two-lane road, it is rough periodically.
4. Place to stop: Mae Klong Dam, Wat Tham Suea, Wat Tham Khao noi, Wat Ban Tham, Animals and Agriculture Division (Military horse farm), Giant Mimosa (Big tree).
5. Cool activity: Take a sky tram to Wat Tham Suea and climb up to top of the pagoda (Wat Tham Suea and Wat Tham Khao Noi), take a photo of field and mountain and dam view. Visit cave of Wat Ban Tham, Feed the fish at Wat Nang No (Wat Manothamaram). Take a photo of sun set from behind Tha Muang fresh market.
6. Accommodation: Dam accommodation (about 700 TH Baht per night double bed), Mini resort next to the Dam (about 1,000 – 1,200 per night double bed). Please drop me a message in the comment, I can share the contact number.
7. What to eat: Street food in front of Tha Muang fresh market. Pai Rim Kwai Restaurant (fresh fish and Thai food)
Let's start
Accessing to Tha Moung
From Sangchuto road, turn left after PTT petrol station between kilometer markets 115 and 116)
Go straight for about 2 KMs until reach the roundabout (Clock tower). Then exit at 3 o’clock.
King Rama 9 Arboretum (Starting Point)
From the roundabout (Clock tower) go straight about 200 meters you will reach the entrance of King Rama 9 Arboretum. It is on your left hand side. There is a car parking in front of the gate. This is starting point. For the rider you can park your car here and cycling
Mae-klong dam
Go straight from the arboretum for 2.5 KMs you will reach Mae-Klong dam. There is a small park and a small hotel on the right side next to the dam entrance.
Wat Tham Suea
From Mae Klong dam go straight until reach intersection, then turn right and drive about 1.3 KMs, you will past road to Wat Tham Suea. If you want to enjoin the pagoda and view of rice field and dam you can stop here first. To get into Wat Tham Suea just turn left and go through the small road then turn left you will see entrance of Wat Tham Suea on the right side and Wat Tham Khao Noi on left side.
*See more picture of Wat Tham Suea please visit this websit
http://www.chilldtravel.com/
If you doesn’t want to stop here you don’t need to turn left to the road to Wat Tham Suea, just drive on road along the dam and go straight about 7 KMs you reach the intersection. Along the way to the intersection you will pass the below place
Wat Nang-No (right side)
Water gate (You have to drive through this gate)
Wat Ban Tham (left side)
Stone Mill 1 (left side)
Chinese Cemetery (left side)
Stone Mill 2 (left side)
Turn left to road 3429
About 1 KM after the Stone Mill 2, you will reach the intersection. Now turn left to road 3429 (turn right go to Amphur muang) and go along the road about 3.5 KMs you will reach second intersection, then turn left.
Horse riding school
3.4 KMs from the second intersection, you will pass horse riding school on the right side. The school is next to the river.
Third intersection
About 2 KMs from the horse riding, you will reach third intersection. Here make a left turn to road 3581.
Horses at Animals and Agriculture Division
Now you are on road number 3581. Drive for another 1 KM, you will reach entrance of “Animals and Agriculture Division”. This gate will open and 8 am. and close at 6 pm. Enter the gate and turn right another 50 meters you will find many horses here.
Giant Mimosa (ต้นจามจุรียักษ์) - Take a break here
The road through Animals and Agriculture Division is about 1 KM, from the entrance drive to end and turn left. Drive another 200 meters you will see the intersection and there is a sign for Giant Mimosa. Turn left, you will see the Mimosa ahead. Take a break here there is a beverage store and the public toilet here. This is the destination. Now you can decide whether to go further to Mueang District or go further to Wat Tham Suea. You can go to Wat Tham Suea from this point and no need to go back on the previous route.
Go further to Wat Tham Suea.
From the Giant Mimosa turn left and drive through the small road about 5 KMs, you will reach end of asphalt road. Then drive another 500 meters on dirt road.
Wat Khao Kwang (วัดเขาขวาง)
After the dirt road now it is concrete road. Drive for 400 meters after the dirt road you will pass Wat Khao Kwang on right side. Then go straight for 4 KMs you will reach intersection and you will see irrigation canal in front. Go across the irrigation for 300 meter you will need to turn right and go straight for 1.2 KMs you will see Wat Tham Suea on right side.
Go back to King Rama 9 Arboretum
Exit from Wat Tham Suea gate go straight along the road and turn right at the junction. The go along road until reach the intersection. Now turn right and drive along the road until reach mini-mart on right side it is an intersection then turn left. Go straight until reach the nature park on right hand side. This is the end for this route. Hope you enjoy this route.
