Chai Nat

Chai Nat: The "Place of Victory" with Asia's Biggest Aviary!

Welcome to Chai Nat, the "Place of Victory"! This peaceful, good-natured province in Thailand's central rice basin might not be on the cover of every travel magazine, but it’s hiding some seriously huge surprises.

It's a land of fertile rivers, legendary monks, and... Asia's largest bird park! Nestled right on the Chao Phraya River, Chai Nat is a fantastic and easy-to-explore stopover for anyone looking for an authentic slice of central Thailand, just a couple of hours from Bangkok.

What’s the Vibe in Chai Nat?

Chai Nat is relaxed, authentic, and surprisingly grand.

An outdoor daytime shot of the Chai Nat Bird Park in Thailand, showing visitors relaxing by a lake under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. In the foreground, a group of people sits at a white table on a wooden deck next to the water, shaded by a large tree on the left. Lush green plants frame the bottom of the image. In the middle ground, the lake stretches across the scene, with a massive, prominent statue of a bald eagle, wings partially spread, perched on a rock near the center. A small blue and yellow pedal boat is visible on the water. In the background, a forested green hillside rises up, with a multi-tiered, ornate Thai-style building with a red and gold roof visible among the trees on the left side of the hill.

The Chai Nat Bucket List: Birds, Blessings & Big Water

Get your camera ready for some unique attractions you won't find anywhere else.

Walk Through Asia's Largest Aviary (Chai Nat Bird Park)

This is the #1 reason to visit, and it is truly impressive. The Chai Nat Bird Park (Suan Nok Chai Nat) is a massive complex, and its highlight is a gigantic walk-through aviary, the largest in Asia. You can wander along paths under a vast canopy, surrounded by hundreds of species of birds flying freely in a natural-style habitat. It's an incredible experience for nature lovers and photographers. The park also has a great freshwater aquarium (see all the fish from the Chao Phraya!) and even a small water park to cool off. 🐦

Visit a Legendary Monk's Temple (Wat Pak Khlong Makham Thao)

This is one of the most important and revered temples in the region, all thanks to the legend of Luang Pu Suk. This monk from the late 19th century was famous for his magical powers and deep wisdom. His amulets are some of the most sought-after in Thailand.

His most famous disciple? Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, the "Father of the Royal Thai Navy," who was so devoted that he came to study here. You can see the original, traditional Thai-style residence of Luang Pu Suk and even murals said to have been painted by the prince himself.

See "Thailand's First" Dam (Chao Phraya Dam)

This is the OG! Built in 1957, this was Thailand's very first large-scale dam and a massive feat of engineering for its time. It’s the reason the central plains are so fertile for farming. The dam itself is an impressive sight, and the park around it is a lovely place for a local-style picnic. In the cool season (around Jan-Feb), thousands of waterfowl gather here, making it another great bird-watching spot.

Shop for Wickerwork at Ban Bang Chao Cha Village

Want an authentic, beautiful souvenir? Skip the tourist shops and head to this charming village. The locals here are masters of basketry and wickerwork, weaving intricate and durable baskets, bags, and furniture from bamboo and other natural materials. It's a fantastic place to see true artisans at work and buy something unique.

How to Get There

Chai Nat is a perfect stopover on the way north. It's about 190 km from Bangkok, right on the main Asia Highway.

The easiest way to get there is by car from Bangkok (a 2-3 hour drive). This gives you the flexibility to explore all the sights. You can also take a bus or van from Bangkok's Mo Chit Bus Terminal.

The Provinces of Central & Western Thailand...

Wat Muang is located in Hua Taphan sub-district, Wiset Chai Chan district. It is presumed that the temple was constructed in the late Ayutthaya Era

Ang Thong

View of the Chao Phraya River looking south from Bang Rak

Bangkok

An ancient temple.

Kamphaeng Phet

A serene, hazy view of the long, wooden Mon Bridge in Kanchanaburi, spanning a calm lake where a small boat is cruising. Layers of forest-covered mountains are visible in the background under a soft, warm light.

Kanchanaburi

Macaque monkeys play on the green entrance sign for the ancient stone temple of Phra Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi, Thailand.

Lopburi

A high-angle, scenic view looking along the crest of the massive Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, with its reservoir on one side and a lush green valley and forested hills on the other, under a partly cloudy sky.

Nakhon Nayok

The magnificent golden stupa of Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, glows against a deep blue twilight sky, with a Buddhist monk in orange robes standing in the foreground courtyard.

Nakhon Pathom

A panoramic view from a high vantage point in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, looking out over a dramatic, forest-covered limestone peak and a vast plain of green and yellow patchwork agricultural fields stretching to the horizon under a blue, cloudy sky.

Nakhon Sawan

A modern cable-stayed bridge with a distinctive pylon topped by a golden, traditional Thai spire, spanning a wide river in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The foreground is filled with green water hyacinths under a clear blue sky.

Nonthaburi

A traditional Thai temple with an orange-tiled roof sits in the middle of a tranquil pond in Pathum Thani, Thailand. A large, ornate Naga serpent statue encircles the structure, its body forming a walkway leading to the entrance. The building and a blue sky are reflected in the water, and the scene is framed by dark green leaves in the foreground.

Pathum Thani

A scenic view of the Wat Pha Sorn Kaew temple complex in the mountains of Phetchabun, Thailand. A massive, white seated Buddha statue and an ornate, golden pagoda are nestled in the lush green hills, with layers of distant mountains visible in the background.

Phetchabun

A white pickup truck with a boat trailer parked on the dirt shore of a large, calm lake in Phetchaburi, Thailand. In the distance, mountains line the horizon under an overcast sky, with dramatic sunbeams breaking through the clouds and shining onto the water.

Phetchaburi

The ancient brick ruins of a temple in Phichit, Thailand, are illuminated by the warm, golden light of sunset, with surrounding trees and a clear sky.

Phichit

A scenic, high-angle view of the patchwork rice paddies in Phitsanulok province, Thailand. The fields, some flooded with water and others a vibrant green, stretch towards a line of dense trees with rolling hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Phitsanulok

The red brick ruins of the ancient temples at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Thailand, with crumbling walls in the foreground and several towering prangs against a blue sky with clouds.

Pra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

An elevated, panoramic view of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand at sunset. A red-roofed temple is nestled in the foreground, overlooking a vast landscape of winding rivers, aquaculture farms, and a small town, with dramatic limestone mountains rising in the hazy, golden-lit background.

Prachuap Khiri Khan

A long-exposure photograph of a river with milky, flowing water cascading over smooth, dark boulders, surrounded by the lush green trees of a forest in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

Ratchaburi

A riverside view of Phra Samut Chedi in Samut Prakan, Thailand, at sunset. The chedi is brightly illuminated in pink and white, reflecting on the calm water next to a traditional temple and docked boats under a colourful sky.

Samut Prakan

A large, golden statue of a mythical bird stands before an ornate Thai temple in Samut Sakhon, featuring a multi-tiered red and gold roof, all set against a clear blue sky.

Samut Sakhon

A red and yellow train approaches on a track running directly through the center of a bustling market in Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Crowds of tourists stand inches from the track, holding up their phones to photograph the train as it passes the colourful market stalls.

Samut Songkhram

A wide stone staircase with ornate Naga serpent railings leads up to the magnificent golden Mondop of Wat Phra Phutthabat temple in Saraburi, Thailand, under a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Saraburi

A white Thai temple in Sing Buri with an ornate, multi-tiered red and gold roof. In the foreground, on a manicured green lawn, are several colourful and whimsical statues, including two large pink rabbits, a rooster, and a black elephant.

Sing Buri

An aerial view of the sprawling temple ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand, showing numerous ancient brick stupas and pillars set amongst green lawns, trees, and ponds, with mountains visible in the distance under a warm, hazy sky.

Sukothai

A massive, golden dragon statue at the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri, Thailand. The dragon is coiled over stylized clouds with its mouth wide open, spouting a cascade of water onto a structure below. Visitors walk on the paved plaza in front of the immense statue under a clear blue sky.

Suphan Buri

An aerial view of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province, Thailand, a large, curved concrete structure surrounded by lush green mountains and a vast reservoir under a cloudy sky.

Tak

An ornate, multi-tiered golden temple in Uthai Thani, Thailand, featuring intricate gables and numerous pointed spires set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. In the foreground is a manicured garden with red flowers and green hedges.

Uthai Thani