PRACHIN BURI

This small, agricultural province is sandwiched between the Cambodian boarder and Bangkok. Home to many ruins from the Dvaravati and Khmer periods, the province is also well known for its national parks of Khao Yai, Thap Lan and Pang Sida, which together cover over 3,000 square kilometres and make up the largest protected area in Thailand.

Thap Lan contains many plants from the palm family, especially the talipot palms whose leaves were used for Buddhist manuscripts. Further south, reservoirs provide holy water used in many Thai coronation ceremonies. Wat Kaeo Phichit is an old temple, unusually combining Thai and Greek arts, while the oldest Buddha footprints can be found at Sa Morokot.