Petchaburi Travel Information

Petchaburi, whose short name is Muangphetch, is an ancient city having a very long history. The archaeological evidence suggests that the community existed since the Dvaravati Period. The evidence clearly shows that during Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Periods, Petchaburi was and important city in the West, a fortified frontier of the Ayutthaya Kingdom against the Burmese. A lineage of Kings ruled this historical city. The history of Petchaburi has been found in the remains and antiques, not to mention the valuable works of art handed down from its ancestors to the present generation.

In the Rattanakosin Period, Petchaburi has changed its role from a strategic city to a town full of natural beauty, a seside resort and a place to take a pleasant journey to. The three Kings of the Rattanakosin Period, King Rama the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth found their retreats here. They built the three palaces : Phranakhonkhiri, Phraramrajanivet, Phrarajnivesmarugadayawan in Petchaburi.

Petchaburi has been nicknamed by some scholars as the "Living Ayutthaya" because the town has many things similar to the Ayutthaya City which was almost completely destroyed after the Thai-Burmese War over two hundred years ago. The prosperity of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, and can be seen and appreciated by anyone who is interested.

Petchaburi occupies an area of 6,225 square kilometres, characterised by thick jungles and mountain ranges lying in the west as a border between Thailand and Myanmar, and 80 km. long coastline towards the Gulf of Thailand in the east.