Prachuap Khiri Khan Attractions
Prachuap Khiri Khan
The small town of Prachuap Khiri Khan, the main town of the province of the same name, lies next to the Gulf of Thailand, 280 km (174 mi.) south-west of Bangkok, and is a jewel as yet widely untouched by tourism.
The long curved coastline here boasts fine sandy beaches and is bordered in the north by a mountainous promontory and in the south by high rocky cliffs. The green mountains of the Tenasserim chain, which extends along the Malay peninsula, form an impressive backdrop. Thai national territory reaches its narrowest point here at Prachuap Khiri Khan (13 km (8 mi.)). Prachuap Khiri Khan itself offers few sights, although the fishing harbor is of interest in the early morning. It is also worth visiting the typical Thai market in the town center.
By car: from Bangkok Highway 4 (280 km (174 mi.)).
By train: on the Bangkok-Hualampong to Malaysia line (318 km (198 mi.); journey time approximately 5 hours).
By bus: from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (journey time approximately 6 hours).
For a few days at the end of 1941 this sleepy, uninteresting fishing village took center stage in the war in Asia. One day after the Japanese attack on the U.S. military base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, 2000 Japanese soldiers landed here in the early hours of December 8th and took over both the police station and the railway station. Thai troops were initially unable to drive back the invaders; the local civilian population fled into the surrounding mountains. Although the military authorities in Bangkok ordered the laying down of weapons and surrender, Thai soldiers, led by Lieutenant Pravas Xumsai, took up the fight. In the course of a 32-hour battle they managed to defeat the Japanese. There were 442 fatalities, including 400 Japanese. Every year, on December 8th, the Thai tourist board stages a sound and light show to demonstrate the fighting strength of the Thai army.
The small town of Prachuap Khiri Khan, the main town of the province of the same name, lies next to the Gulf of Thailand, 280 km (174 mi.) south-west of Bangkok, and is a jewel as yet widely untouched by tourism.
The long curved coastline here boasts fine sandy beaches and is bordered in the north by a mountainous promontory and in the south by high rocky cliffs. The green mountains of the Tenasserim chain, which extends along the Malay peninsula, form an impressive backdrop. Thai national territory reaches its narrowest point here at Prachuap Khiri Khan (13 km (8 mi.)). Prachuap Khiri Khan itself offers few sights, although the fishing harbor is of interest in the early morning. It is also worth visiting the typical Thai market in the town center.
By car: from Bangkok Highway 4 (280 km (174 mi.)).
By train: on the Bangkok-Hualampong to Malaysia line (318 km (198 mi.); journey time approximately 5 hours).
By bus: from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (journey time approximately 6 hours).
For a few days at the end of 1941 this sleepy, uninteresting fishing village took center stage in the war in Asia. One day after the Japanese attack on the U.S. military base Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, 2000 Japanese soldiers landed here in the early hours of December 8th and took over both the police station and the railway station. Thai troops were initially unable to drive back the invaders; the local civilian population fled into the surrounding mountains. Although the military authorities in Bangkok ordered the laying down of weapons and surrender, Thai soldiers, led by Lieutenant Pravas Xumsai, took up the fight. In the course of a 32-hour battle they managed to defeat the Japanese. There were 442 fatalities, including 400 Japanese. Every year, on December 8th, the Thai tourist board stages a sound and light show to demonstrate the fighting strength of the Thai army.
Kap Prachuap
The chalk massifs of three islands tower up near Kap Prachuap. Their sandy beaches are almost undisturbed and can be visited by boat from the harbor. The cave temple Tham Khao Kham Kradai, on a promontory in the north of the bay and particularly revered by the local people, can also be reached by boat.
Khao Chong Krachok
Khao Chong Krachok mountain towers above the town and is broken in two by a natural rock arch, through which the sky on the other side of the mountain can be seen (hence the name "mirror mountain"). The mountain is populated by colonies of wild monkeys (be careful - they are sometimes aggressive). A small monastery on the summit is reached by 398 steps and contains a Buddhist shrine. The summit also offers a marvelous view across the town and the coastal area.
Prachuap Khiri Khan Surroundings
Nam Tok Huai Yang
The cascades of the impressive Nam Tok Huai Yang waterfall drop 120 m (394 ft) in the jungle near the Burmese border, 35 km (22 mi.) from the town.
Bang Saphan, Thailand
Bang Saphan, a small town 77 km (48 mi.) south of Prachuap Khiri Khan (Highway 3169), boasts a gently curving sandy beach more than 6 km (4 mi.) long (south of the town, Highway 3374). It begins at Khao Mae Ramphung, a mountainous promontory covered with lush vegetation. Nearby is the charming island of Koh Thalu, best reached in a rented fishing boat.
