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Na Chung Keeree: A Foothill Community Full of Fun Activities

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Experience a unique local way of life at Na Chung Keeree community in Sukhothai province and partake in various interesting activities, namely visiting a temple, learning how to make palm sugar and leaf kites.

Once stepping into Na Chung Keeree community in Na Chung Keeree subdistrict, Khiri Mat district of Sukhothai province, a first sound that you will hear is the sound of toddy palm tree leaves moving in the wind. Na Chung Keeree is an agricultural based community with rice paddy fields at the foothill and toddy palm trees lining up around the fields. It is no surprise why the community is called "Na Chung Keeree" as it means "rice paddy fields at the foothill" in Thai. The terrain of this area is comprised of a combination of vast plains and plateaus that is surrounded by a mountain range. There are luxuriant forests and natural water resources nourishing the community and its people.

The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) or DASTA has helped develop Na Chung Keeree to be part of the community based tourism and created a travel program for visitors to experience a history of Phra Ruang Road and Khao Luang as well as local cultures. The Community Based Tourism Club of Na Chung Keeree community also provides a local bus or "Kok Moo" bus that will take the visitors to several important places below on a one-day trip program.

Paying Respect to "Luang Por To" at Wat Chung Keeree

Wat Chung Keeree or sometimes called "Wat Teen Khao" is located in Moo 2 of Na Chung Keeree subdistrict. The visitors can come inside the temple to pay respect to “Luang Por To”, a bronze Buddha image in overcoming temptations posture. It is a 700-year-old Buddha image made in the Sukhothai era with 100 inches wide and 138 inches tall. It is believed that whoever pays respect to "Luang Por To" will be blessed with prosperous career and business.Wat Chung Keeree or sometimes called "Wat Teen Khao" is located in Moo 2 of Na Chung Keeree subdistrict. The visitors can come inside the temple to pay respect to "Luang Por To", a bronze Buddha image in overcoming temptations posture. It is a 700-year-old Buddha image made in the Sukhothai era with 100 inches wide and 138 inches tall. It is believed that whoever pays respect to “Luang Por To” will be blessed with prosperous career and business.

Situated close to "Luang Por To" Buddha image are "Phra Palad Sai" and "Phra Palad Khwa" or commonly known as "Phra Song Pinong" or "two siblings Buddha images". They are also made of bronze in the Sukhothai era with 64 inches wide and 82 inches tall. After paying respect to these Buddha images, the visitors will be taken inside a chapel to see an old “Luk Nimit” or a round stone buried underneath the ground to mark a sacred area of a temple. Then, the visitors will get to taste some local snacks before moving on to the next destination.

Learning How to Make Palm Sugar

Na Chung Keeree is a significant toddy palm tree plantation of Sukhothai province and a major manufacturer of palm sugar in the lower northern region. The community still preserves and continues to make palm sugar, the old-fashioned way. The visitors will get to see an entire process of making palm sugar from a local professionally climbing a toddy palm tree to pick its fruits to the process of stirring the aromatic palm sugar in a big hot pan. During this step, the visitors will be taught to pour the palm sugar into the molds for making "Nam Tarn Puek" or solid palm sugar. Not only do the visitors receive a pack of "Nam Tarn Puek" back home, they also get to taste freshly-picked toddy palm fruits which are delightfully sweet.

Discovering Khmer Cultures at "Prang Khao Pu Ja"

At the foothill of Khao Luang Mountain in the south of Sukhothai province, 80 meters above sea level, is where "Prang Khao Pu Ja" located. This 1,200-year-old historical site was built during the ancient Khmer Empire. Discovered in 1994, this Khmer-style "Prang" or stupa is considered to be one of the most important archeological sites and it is also the first and oldest brick stupa ever found in Sukhothai. Furthermore, archeologists have found that there are spouts at the base of the stupa to drain water from the structure. Another evidences found in the area are human skulls made of sandstone which show that this place was used to be a Shaivism Brahman religious site.

Learning How to Make Local Leaf Kites (Phra Ruang Kites)

A local legend has it that "Phra Ruang" was a man with a special ability to get everything he wished for and his favorite activity was kite flying. Thus, it is believed among the locals that making the leaf kites to pay respect to "Phra Ruang" will reward them with abundant agricultural products. The visitors are welcomed to join a workshop and learn how to make the leaf kites.

Visiting the Holy "Phra Mae Ya" Cave

"Phra Mae Ya" Cave is located in Moo 5 of Na Chung Keeree subdistrict. If you drive on the highway no. 101, make a turn at an intersection once you reach the 9th kilometer milestone and drive straight for about 16 kilometers to the cave. "Phra Mae Ya" Cave is an important historic site and tourist attraction because an ancient carved stone statue was discovered here. The statue is believed to be "Phra Nang Sueng" or "Phra Mae Ya", a mother of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great of Sukhothai. Currently, the statue has been moved to be situated inside "Phra Mae Ya" Shrine at the city hall.