“The 22nd Phranakhon Khiri Sri Muang Phet”
In the past, before King Rama V ascended to the throne, he was a monk and always went to Samana Temple which was located at the foothill. Following this in 1859, the King had a royal palace built on the mountain on the west under the supervision of “Chuang Boonnak”, a royal temple (similar to the Emerald Buddha Temple) built on the east, and had a new stupa covering the old one, with the relics of the Buddha, enshrined at the middle peak of the mountain as well.
This stupa was named “Phra That Chom Phet”. The king also had temple trees of the “Lee La Wade Flower” planted on the connecting paths between the three peaks of the mountain, and gave the name “Phra Nakhon Kiri” for this mountain.
Nowadays Khaowang or Phranakhon Khiri is one of the most important tourist attractions of Phetchaburi Province which is rich in history, arts, culture as well as the scenic view taken from the mountain. The Fine Arts Department registered Khaowang as an archaeological site since August 22, 1935. It is also used as a national memorial museum, but after a long time and thousands of monkeys around the mountain, Khaowang is not as beautiful as it was in the past.
Phetchaburi Province under the supervision of Mr. Sayumporn Limthai has greatly restored Khaowang to be as beautiful as in past times to welcome incoming tourists who are coming here in the hope of visiting the palace and the 1,263 temple trees with an age of over 100 years, blossoming during February – mid April. So Phetchaburi Province has assigned this period of the tourist season under the slogan of “Ascending to Khaowang, admiring millions of Temple Tree Flower”. This tourism season is the most suitable time to admire Khaowang and the temple trees blossoming on the mountain as it is like seeing Sakura blossoming in Japan.
The area on Khaowang Mountain is usually used for holding many important festivals of the province, such as the “Annual Phranakhon Khiri Muang Phet” which will take place on the first Friday of February, for 10 days. This year is a special exception due to H.R.H. Galayani Vadhana’s passing, so the festival has been postponed to April 12-20, 2008 instead.
Mr. Sayumporn Limthai, the Phetchaburi Provincial Governor, said that “The 22nd Annual Phranakhon Khri Muang Phet Festrival” is for praise those kings who were kind to the province; King Rama VI who had Phranakhon Khiri Palace built, King Rama V who had Phraram Ratchanivet Palace built, King Rama IV who had Marukkathayawan Palace built, and the King Bhumibhol, the present king who performs his duties for the happiness of his people throughout his life, especially in various projects and flood solutions for the province, Huai Sai Study and Development Center, Laempakbia Research and Environmental Development Project and other projects. This festival is also aimed at promoting tourism in the province so it is well-known all over the country. During night time, the mountain will be illuminated with colorful light bulbs all around. Moreover, each of royal residences will also be illuminated with various colorful bulbs which are really striking.
Moreover, there will be demonstrations of Phetchaburi’s arts by ten crafts artisans, such as Khru Phrasom Suksutthi, an expert of banana stalk carving for the country, Khru Thongruang Aim-Ot, an expert of Stucco, and other activities; local performances, Khon or Mask Play by the Fine Arts Department, ways of life of Karen, Karang and Black Thai people. Significantly, a Boys & Girls beauty contest will also be held this year.
Down towards the mountain, there will be a local product fair and the King’s Exhibition for those who are interested in HM. the King’s activities. Each activity stall will be beautifully and uniquely decorated, for instance, Phetchaburi food and dessert stalls, Phetchaburi and other provinces local products stalls, IT stall, general stalls, 4-reigns exhibition, stage performances and other stalls. The festival will be officially opened by Ph.D. Sumet Tanthivetchakul, Chai Phatthana Foundation Secretary, who is a native of Phetchaburi Province, on April 12, 2008, at 16.00.
Tourists will also have a chance to see parades which are amazing and unique, with 8 districts and the people of the province participating.
One of the most important highlights of the festival is cow racing from Baan Lat District which is a part of the Phranakhon Khri Festival. This year the cow racing will take place at the entrance of Thamrong Temple, Moo 3, Thamrong Sub-district, Baan Lat District, Km. 177, Phetchkasem Road, from April 14-16, 2008, from 09.30.
Mr. Manat Nilsuk, the Baan Lat District Chief Officer, revealed that cow racing is said to be the most important activity of the Phranakho Khiri Festival with lots of interested Thai and overseas tourists.
The activity is the one and only in Thailand. Racing will be divided into a speed and beauty section with almost 30 teams participating. Moreover, there will be other strange competitions such as catching mice with bare hands (the prize is what a competitor catches!), climbing a sugar palm trees competition, sugar palms eating competition, demonstration of cow racing, local sports, way of life for Phetchaburi and other local competitions for pleasure after the harvesting season.
It is noticeable that Phetchaburi Province provides a lot of interesting and spectacular things for tourists to explore such as the natural and cultural atmospheres, fine arts by the Ten Crafts artisans which are extremely rare, the way of life, local performances as well as local sports which have not been seen anywhere else before.
If you visit “Phranakhon Khiri Muang Phet” during April 12-20, 2008, you will get a touch of the colorful and impressive memory as a souvenir that will remind you that Phetchaburi Province provides only excellent things for tourists.
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