Eastern · Thailand
Prachin Buri · ปราจีนบุรี
Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr herbal hospital, Khao Yai's quieter south gate.
- Region
- Eastern
- Population
- 494,000
- Area
- 4,762 km²
- Stories filed
- 0
About Prachin Buri
History
Prachinburi's recorded history spans eight centuries, from Dvaravati Mon settlement through Khmer administration and Ayutthayan frontier governance. Ancient Khmer prangs at Si Mahosot in the Bang Pakong valley predate Angkor's peak and testify to this province's early importance in delta trade. In the twentieth century it became nationally known as home of the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Foundation, whose Victorian-era herbal hospital has treated patients and trained herbalists for over a century; its branded tinctures appear in pharmacies across Thailand.
Landscape & geography
The province fills the Bang Pakong River valley between the Khao Yai escarpment to the north and the Bangkok delta to the south, with the Sankamphaeng Range forming an eastern wall. Three large national parks — Khao Yai, Thap Lan, and Pang Sida — protect over 3,000 km² of contiguous forest across the northern highlands. The Chet Sao Noi waterfall cascades off the escarpment; the southern plains are productive rice country.
Why visit
The Prachinburi side of Khao Yai National Park (UNESCO World Heritage, Thailand's first) is markedly quieter than the main Pak Chong entrance, with comparable chances of seeing elephants and gibbons on forest trails. Pang Sida's waterfalls are almost deserted — a reward for independent travellers willing to drive. The Abhaibhubejhr hospital complex, with its century-old Victorian wards and herbal garden, is a genuinely charming detour. Approximately 135 km northeast of Bangkok via Highways 33 and 319.
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