Attraction Details :
Sarika Cave is located
in Tham Sarika Village, Moo 8, Tambon Thamsen, Photharam District,
Ratchaburi Province. It is one of the caves with a long history dating
back to Phra Chao Taksin's period according to a chronicle saying that
Phra Chao Taksin along with 500 soldiers broke into Ayutthaya and stayed
overnight at this cave led by Thong Duang or Rama I who used to serve
as the governor of Ratchaburi. After having stayed for one night, he
gathered volunteers and food before traveling along the coast to create a
group in Chantaburi. Later in 1890, Rama V visited this cave by water.
He debarked at Ko Phlapphla pier in Thoong Thamsen, Photharam District,
Ratchaburi Province and rode an elephant to the route from the clue Rama
V had explored in 1856 by boat following Phra Chao Taksin's note. In
1968, two sacred objects – Katyayana and Sivali – were built as well as
the staircase to the cave.In the past, Wat Tham Sarika was considered as a priest's house; however, as many people had constantly come to practice the dharma, it was allowed to be a temple in 1987. Mr. Thong-Erb and Mrs. Som Cheua Yaipimon from Bangkok were the operators but currently the temple is operated by Maha Nikaya monks. The area is about 9 acres with the north side attached to a private land, the south and the west to public ways, and the east to mountains. There are an Ubosot built in 2000, 3 abodes for monks which one was made of concrete and the other two are half wood, a bell tower, a Chedi, sacred objects, the principle Buddha images and a number of other Buddha images.
Wat Tham Sarika is clean and calm with various plants. Inside the cave, there are beautiful stalagmites and stalactites and the hall is also divided into hot and cold which make it a quite place suitable for practicing the dharma and tourism.
Open daily from 08.00-17.00
