Phang Nga Town

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The Chedi above Wat Thamtapan affords a panoramic view of Phang Nga Town and the limestone rocks in the environs. This extraordinary panorama shows that Phang Nga Town is located in one of the most beautiful locations of all provincial capitals of Thailand.
The 144 steps up to the chedi were for years the favourite toilet of the local monkeys. Therefore tourists rarely visited this exceptional viewpoint. It seems that most of the monkeys live somewhere else now so that the climb up to the chedi is really rewarding.

The chedi with its slender spire towers above Wat Thampapan in the west of Phang Nga Town.

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The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is a National Monument above Phang Nga Town.

The observation point is small, merely a narrow walkway around the chedi itself. Ascending requires climbing 122 steep steps. From here you can see most of the city; the view is partially obscured by tree branches.
The signboard by the Fine Arts Department reads:
"The stupa was built of brick and mortar. It is small in size on a square base with redented corners, decorated with a lotus petal design at the base. The stupa itself is on top of a large limestone rock. The bell-shaped portion rises over a vertically diminishing base, with a spire on top. This national monument was originally built from late Ayutthaya to Bangkok period, 18th - 19th centuries."

The Chedi Khao Lang Bart is located on the western edge of the city, on a high point in Phang Nga Town.

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Khao Chang (elephant mountain), a limestone mountain about 500 meters in height, is considered a symbol of Phang Nga. Its shape resembles a large crouching elephant with its head turned to the southwest. Inside the mountain is a dark, long cave, named Tham Peung Chang, which is full of stalactites and stalagmites.
Khao Chang is located behind the old City Hall in the south of Phang Nga Town.

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The Old City Hall was built in 1930 during the King Rama VII era because of the reforming of the provincial administration of King Rama V.

His Majesty the King decreed that the construction of city hall had to be modern and beautiful. The Fine Arts Department registered this building to be an Ancient Remain in 1961.

The Old City Hall is located on Petchkasem Road in the south of Phang Nga Town.

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Tham Pung Chang is a large cave passing all the way through Khao Chang in the south of Phang Nga town.
There is a stream flowing in the middle of the cave with both shallow and deep areas. If desired, sightseers can wade through the stream, ride on a raft or paddle one of the available canoes. It takes about 1 hour to travel to the other end of the cave and visitors are advised to wear shorts and rubber sandals.
This area of Tham Peung Chang is one of two sanctuaries for Kitti bats which are the smallest bats in the world and were first found in 1973 in Thailand's Kanchanaburi Jungle.

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At the southern end of Phang Nga city a set of attractive limestone mountains catches the eye. There are several caves and small streams as well as a large flock of monkeys.
In the 162 rai of Srinakarin Park visitors can enjoy a relaxing place which is very suitable for children, too. In the sheer cliff mountains one can walk through from one side of the cave to the other, viewing the stalagmite and stalactite formations on the way. Near to this cave is a smaller cave named Tham Luk Sua (tiger's cub cave) which also has stalagmites and stalactites. Streams which include fresh water, brackish water, and salty water, run through the caves; the salt water comes from higher sea tides and is why a variety of sea animals live here.
A bridge has been constructed crossing the streams to connect the caves. There are also many monkeys that frequent the front of this cave. The park has spacious grounds with beautiful trees providing shade and many varieties of flowering plants. Golden Hopea trees and Theptaro trees, which are symbolic of the Phang Nga countryside can be seen here also.
For recreation there are also two climbing routes, a jogging path and a small food-stall market around lunch time.
Srinakarin Park is next to the junction of H415 leading to Thap Put and Krabi.

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