🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Prachinburi is one of those provinces people tend to drive straight through on their way to Khao Yai, even though the town itself and Si Mahosot district are full of hidden ancient sites that go back to the height of the Dvaravati and Khmer eras. The main cluster of historic sites is concentrated around Si Mahosot district and can be done as a half-day loop by car, while the Abhaibhubejhr building and Wat Kaeo Phichit sit in town. We've ordered everything so the stops flow logically, with opening hours and entry fees we've checked.
Si Mahosot Ancient City — the 1,500-year-old root of the region
The ancient city of Si Mahosot, in Si Mahosot district, is a rounded-rectangle settlement surrounded by moats and earthen ramparts. It developed continuously from roughly the 6th to the 13th century CE, around 1,500 years ago, and once served as a port and a religious center through the Dvaravati period into the Khmer era. Today you can still see the line of the city moat, ancient ponds and the bases of shrines scattered across the area. To get the big picture before heading out, stop by the Prachinburi National Museum in town first — it holds a number of artifacts excavated from Si Mahosot.
Start at the museum
The Prachinburi National Museum is on Prachin Anuson Road in town, open Wednesday–Sunday 09:00–16:00 (closed Monday–Tuesday). Entry is 30 THB for Thais and 200 THB for foreigners; students and monks free. Seeing the real artifacts first makes the actual sites much easier to picture once you get there.
Want more out of Prachinburi? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Sa Morakot Historic Site + the twin Buddha footprints
Sa Morakot is Prachinburi's history highlight — a large hand-dug ancient pool, rectangular and roughly 115 x 214 meters, sitting just outside the walls of Si Mahosot. What people come to see is the twin Buddha footprints, unearthed in 1986, carved into a natural laterite floor as a pair of footprints with a dharmachakra wheel carved into the center of each sole. Archaeologists rank them as the oldest Buddha footprints in Thailand, dating to around the 9th century CE. Around the pool you'll also find shrine bases and ancient wells to wander past.
- Hours — daily, roughly 08:30–17:00
- Entry — free
- Location — Si Mahosot district, about 20 km from Prachinburi town, easy to drive to with a parking area
- Bring — a hat or umbrella; it's an open plaza with strong sun, so early morning or late afternoon is more comfortable
Good to know before you go
The twin footprints sit inside a covered structure to shield them from sun and rain. Take your shoes off before entering, and keep in mind it's a sacred spot where people come to pay respect, so dressing modestly and being mindful fits better.
The Sri Maha Bodhi tree — the oldest Bodhi tree in Thailand
Not far from Sa Morakot, within Wat Ton Pho Si Maha Phot in Khok Pip subdistrict, Si Mahosot district, stands a huge Bodhi tree said to be the oldest in Thailand. By legend it's an offshoot of the Sri Maha Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya in India, the site of the Buddha's enlightenment. Its trunk measures roughly 20 meters around and it stands about 30 meters tall, spreading so wide that props are needed to support the branches. What makes this one special is that it's the only single tree the Fine Arts Department has registered as a national historic monument, and King Rama V came to see it during his visit to the Prachinburi region.
- Entry — free (it's temple grounds)
- Hours — open during the day, standard temple hours
- Pair with — same district as Sa Morakot, an easy drive on the same half-day trip
- Etiquette — it's a place of worship, so dress modestly and don't climb on or break off branches
The Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr building — a century-old Baroque mansion
Back in town, the one stop you shouldn't skip is the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr building, a two-story European Baroque mansion in cream-yellow, completed in 1909. It was originally built as a residence to receive King Rama V, and today it sits within the grounds of Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital and houses the Abhaibhubejhr Museum of Thai Traditional Medicine. Inside you'll find old medical texts, traditional Thai medical instruments and the story of herbal remedies. The building photographs beautifully, and the Abhaibhubejhr herbal-product shops nearby let you carry on with souvenir shopping right away.
- Hours — daily, roughly 08:30–16:00
- Entry — free
- Location — within the grounds of Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Prachinburi town
- Pair with — step out to the Abhaibhubejhr herbal shop and café for souvenirs
Herbal souvenirs
Abhaibhubejhr is a herbal brand known across the whole country — inhalers, balms, soaps and creams run from a few tens to just over a hundred THB, so you can pick up a full set of souvenirs in one spot.
Wat Kaeo Phichit — three styles in one temple
Another in-town stop that pairs well with the history theme is Wat Kaeo Phichit, on the right bank of the Bang Pakong River, about 2 km from town. It's an old temple dating to the reign of King Rama V, and its standout is the ordination hall, which blends several architectural styles together — Thai, Chinese, Khmer and European. The stucco patterns and murals are extremely detailed, it's a favorite spot for photographers, and it's close enough to town to swing by during the day with no trouble.
The mixed-style ordination hall
Thai, Chinese, Khmer and European in a single building, with detailed carvings and murals that photograph beautifully
On the Bang Pakong River
A shady riverside setting that's nice for an evening stroll, close to town
A 1-day history trip
If you've only got one day, all the main spots fit comfortably. Your own car makes it smoothest, since the Si Mahosot cluster sits outside town and public transport is sparse. We've routed it from the outskirts back into town.
Si Mahosot → town
Tips for the history-hopping crowd
- Your own car is smoothest — the Si Mahosot cluster is outside town with little public transport, so renting or driving in yourself is far more convenient
- Start early — Sa Morakot is an open plaza with strong sun, so around 9 a.m. is just right
- Dress modestly — several spots are sacred sites and temple grounds, so skip tank tops and very short shorts
- Tack on Khao Yai — Prachinburi sits on the southern side of Khao Yai, so you can do a half-day of history and carry on to nature
Plan a full trip across Prachinburi province
See the Prachinburi guide →