Saraburi in the prehistoric period

Archaelogical research by Phong Sri Wanasin and Thiwa Soopajanya found that sixty three ancient cities existed in sixteen provinces along the south of Chao Praya River. In Saraburi, they found the ancient cities at Muang Kead Kean and Baan Phai Laosm.

In Saraburi, archaeologists found the prehistoric utensils of the middle stone age at Pra Ngam cave (Photisat Cave) in Keang Koi District. In October 1984, artifacts unearthed here by the the archaeology department of Silapakorn University included table pottery ware embellished with cowrie shell (pronounced in Thai: Hoi Bea Muan Thong or "came from the sea").Historians assumed by these discoveries that human settlement was transient during prehistoric and neolithic periods, as only a few items were found here.

At the mountain Phathawee (Lom or Ka Ta Ka Banphod mountain) located at Pra Phutthachai, Amphoe Muang, archaeologists also found ochre wall paintings of the inhabitants hands, characteristic of the period.

Kingdom History in The Dharavadee Era

There is evidence to support the theory that Saraburi was inhabited during the Dharavadee Era. Aerial photographs of Baan Ou Thapao ( or Baan Dong Muang), Nong Sang District, show what used to be two circlular moats one inside the other which would have divided the settlement into two protected areas.

Other evidence includes 3 lines of Carved inscription in the historic Mon language, around 50 cm in length at Khao Wong cave ( Narai Cave) Wat Khao Wong, Phra Phuttha Bat District.

This inscription, dating from around 12 B.E in the Dharavadee Era, describes how a town existed at the location and the inhabitants communicated with outside people such as the "Langga" from present day Ceylon ( A-Nu-Raj City was located in Ceylon thus it was possible that they named this town like its).

Inside Pra Pothisat Cave ( Pra Ngam Cave or Khao Nam Pu Cave) at Baan Nam Pu, Kaeng Koi District, are six halls from small to large size. The hall closest to the entrance has the best natural light, and houses a pagoda covered with gold leaf.  At the north of the hall, three metres above the floor is a carved bas-relief around three by two metres in size. Made during the Dharawadee era, the carving represents activities in the early life of Lord Buddha.

These activities appear in the "Lalit-Visatara" (the Buddhist bible) which recorded the Buddha’s history and shows that the bible had widespread usage during that time. The cave would have been used by the ascetic Buddhist for meditation.

In July, 1994, restoration of Wat Pra Phutthachai by the Fine Art Department commenced. During the restoration the 2.5 metre wide "Buddha's Footprint" was found. Called the Buddha's "Right Footprint", it compliments the Buddha's "Left Footprint" at Wat Phra Phutthabat.

Still no archaeologist can be specific about which era this Buddha’s footprint is from, but it is considered to be from around 9-13 B.E. In the Dharawadee era. The fact that it had been concealed for hundreds of years might explain why it wasn't looted by the enemy during the numerous wars.

 This Buddha’s Footprint at Wat Pra Phutthachai indicates that the temple would have been a primary focus of Buddhist worship for the region and it would have been a large population centre for some time. Later it may have been destroyed when the Khmer (present day Cambodia) gained influence in the region.

Khmer influence in Saraburi Province

His Majesty, Khrom Phraya Damrong Rachanuphap, in “The legend of Saraburi” , describes a time when the Khmer had jurisdiction over Saraburi. Its main road was used for the traffic of goods with the principal town Khmer city Na Khorn Tom. The Khmer had numerous stone pagoda's for worship throughout the city such as the one at Amphoe WatthananiKhmer, one at Dong Sri MaHaPo, PrajeeBuri Province, one at DongLakorn, Ayutthaya Province and one at Bang KaMod (the entrance to Buddha’s Footprint), Phra Phuttha Bat Saraburi Province.

Originally the Sao Hai People tell how the route of the Khmer passed through La Wo City during this period. On the 24th December 1958 the Jhao Por Noi’s shrine on Sao Hai rd Sarabur, opposite Anuban Sao Hai School was registered as one of the nation’s antiquities. Other registered sites include "Kiettimook", the sacred sandstones of Khmer built in the Lop Buri Era (Khmer Era) and also the "Lingum".

According to 'the legend of Saraburi' the Khmer had places of worship at Bang-KaMod (the entrance of Buddha’s footprint) is “BaanKoo-Muang” at Moo 11 Baan-Mhor Sub District, Baan-Mhor District.

The Ayutthaya Period

The first known mention of Saraburi was in dispatches. When the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya during the reign of King Mhahindharadhirad (1568-1569), the King sent a message asking King Chai Che Tha Dhirad from Wiangchan in Laos to help. But the Laos army was attacked at Mak Song Ton sub district, Amphoe Muang Saraburi. This would indicate that Saraburi was established before 1569.

In the beginning, Saraburi was located at Beung Ngaong, SaoHai, Saraburi. Beung Ngaong took its name from a wall of horseshoe shape built from brick.

 When the governor of the province was changed in 1890, the City was moved to Ban Pai Lom Noi (the new governors' birthplace). Beung Ngaong was located near the Pasak river thus the name of Saraburi comes from “Water City” or “The City located near the water”.

Both the left and right Buddha's footprints were likely discovered during the reign of King Song Tham. Both are considered to be where the Lord Buddha left giant footprints in the stone.

The saraburi region came under the influence of the Indian sub-continent and it was the origin of Buddhism in Thailand as we know it today.

It is said that the Lord Buddha conducted religious acts at the at the peak of the Khao Suwannabanphot mountain, where Wat Phra Phuttha Bat Ratchaworamaha Wihan is now located and also at the peak of Khao Lom.

Saraburi in Rattana-Khosin Period

 Lao Migration

In a part of the book “The legend of Saraburi” it is said that the Burmese invaded Weign Jan (in present day Laos) during the Krung Thon Buri period. Displaced people from Weign Jan migrated to Nakornratchasima and Saraburi province and this was the first community of Laos in Saraburi.

Later In 1778 King Tak Sin ordered Phraya Mha Ha Kasatsuek (Thong Daung) and Phraya Surasi to lead an army to Weing Jan. They captured the Emerald Buddha (Phra Phutta Maha Mani Ratana Patimakorn or Phra Kaeo Morakot) which is presently installed at Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok.

The King allowed Laos Weng to stay in Saraburi and the Laos Royal Family were given the status of Thai Royals in the Krung ThonBuri, this was one of several times that Laos migration to Saraburi occurred.

In 1828 during the period of His Majesty King Phra Nung Klao Chao Yhoo Hau, (King Rama III), Laos families again migrated to Saraburi. This was 3rd wave of migration.

Laos Wiang came from Wiangchan city, mostly moving to what is presently Khang Koi, Nhongkae, Nhongsang, Wiharndang, Saohai, Baanmhor districts.

Laos Phaun came from Phaun city (Kwang Chiangkwang), mostly settling in Nhong Done, Donpud and at Cha Rern Tham and Wiharndang Sub District, Wiharndang District.

Laos Ngaew came from rural Wiangchan, mostly relocating to Baan Tarl Sian, Baan Nhong Kae, Baan Nhong Ragam Phraphuttabat District and some in Nhong Done district.

Laos Yhor came from Kham Kerd Muang Chai Buri city, mostly moving to Khang Koi district at Baan Hauy Hang, Baan Had Songkwear and Baan Phrabattnoi sub-district.

Thai Yuan Migration

Chiang Saen was burned to the ground and its twenty three thousand inhabitants resettled. Divided into 5 groups the Thai Yuan were resettled in Chiangmai, Lumpang, Nan, Vientiane Saraburi and Rachaburi. Other groups also moved to Bangkok and Poochaofah. The influence of the Thai Yuan can also be seen in Banmi district in Lopburi Province, Srithep district in Petchabun Province, Pakchong and Sique district in Nakonratchasrima Province, and Wangnamyen district in Srakaew Province.

The Crying Pillar

When Chao Phra Yha Mha Ha Kasatsuek (Thong Daung) was on the throne as the first king of the Rattanakosin Era (from 1782), Bangkok was established as the capital city of Thailand. The King ordered the provinces to find quality pillars for the building of the palace and the sacred main pillar of the city. Saraburi sent some for the construction but one was rejected and floated back on the Pasak river to Baan Pai Lom Noi (Sao Hai district at present), where it sunk to the bottom of the river.

 Early in 1958, the soul of Mae Nang Ta-Kean ( the sacred pillar) appeared in the dream of Mrs Cha Leaw Chan Tharaprasit, telling her that the pillar wanted to rise from the bottom of the river.
Villagers helped to explore the river and found the pillar lying on the bottom. On the 23rd April 1958 the pillar was recovered and installed in Wat Soong. At this temple buddhists meditate on "Sao Ronghai"; the Crying Pillar’s story, from which the district gained its name, it has also become customary for worshippers to bathe as part of the sacred rite during the Song Kran festival every year.

Tha Rat: the sacred waters

Between 1859 and 1861, King Rama IV’s brother, Pra Pin Khao, came to stay at Si Tha Palace Kaeng Khoi and prepared Khoa Khok as an army training camp. Si Tha Palace was built of teak-wood and destroyed after the death of Pra Pin Khao.

When King Rama IV made a river journey to Si Tha Palace he was impressed with the still, cool and deep river and when bathed at Tha Rat, Tambon Ton Tan, he decided to have water used in the Buddhist ceremony at Wat Phra Phutthabat. He went on to introduce it into the royal coronation and other sacred royal ceremonies. Water from 5 rivers was used in the ceremonies. Those are Bang Pakong River (Bung Phra Achan, Nakhon Nayok Province), the Pasak River (Tha Rat Amphoe Sao Hai, Saraburi Province), Chao Phraya River (Tambon Bang Kaeo, Ang Thong Province), the Ratchaburi River (Tambon Daowadung, Samut Sakhon Province), and the Phetchaburi River (Tamboon Tha Chai, Phetchaburi Province). This was the inception of “Bencha Sutthi Kongkha” (Five Sacred Rivers).

The renovation of Wat Phra Phuttha Bat

In 1813 King Rama I ordered the rebuilding of the Mon Thop of Phra Phuttha Bat, a square structure with four arches and a pyramidal roof, which was damaged in the war of 1767 and repaired by King Tak Sin. The original roof was covered in ceramic tiles, but King Rama I ordered his brother, Khom Pra Raj Cha Wang Bor Worn Sathan, to oversea a renovation which replaced these with the current roof covered in gold leaf.

In 1857, in the reign of King Rama IV, Mon Thop was again renovated. In 1860 his majesty King Rama IV came to pay respect at Pra Phuttha Bat and visited Wat Khoa Khaew, Sao Hai district.

King Rama V came to Saraburi many times, sometimes carving his name at places such as at Pra PhutthaChai, Phra Potisat Cave, Sa Ded Pak cliff, VimanJakkri Cave, Maha Sanook Cave and Khao Khad Cliff. When His Majesty built the railway across Saraburi province, the city was moved to its present location.

The period of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (1950 - Present day)

Saraburi was given three useful projects:

1. Pasak Cholasith Dam

Pasak Cholasith Dam which was initiated by His Majesty under the Water Resource Development Project. The project improved the living standards of people in the area with better fishing, agriculture and stabilised the flow of the Pasak river reducing water shortages in the area.

The dam storage is length is 4,860 metres and the wall 46.50 metres high.

2. The Royal Project; “New Theory of agricultural”

Visitors can see the agricultural area of Wat Mongkhon Chai Phatthana where His Majesty had imagined the development of a temple and the rejuvenation of the barren land around it.

At that time, villagers were poor and faced constant water shortages and the project demonstrates how villagers can adapt their land with innovation.

3. Dairy Farms

Dairy Farms: In 1962 a new Dairy industry for the Muak Lek people was developed. While visiting Europe the king was very impressed by the Danish dairy industry and decided this would be a suitable industry for the Muak lek district. Local farmers were interested in running dairy farms and the idea took off.

Since then herds are numerous in the district and the industry provides a substantial portion of Thailand's dairy product needs as well as spinoffs in tourism and agriculture.