Bueng Kra Chap

Kra Chap (Kra Chap Lake) is located at Moo 4, Nong Kob Sub-district, 10 kilometers from Bang Pong District. It stands in the area of 215 Rai and covers the areas of Ban Pong District and Potharam District. It is an old freshwater lake which is the biggest in the Western region of Thailand. The place has been developed according to the Royal Project of Queen Sirikit to become a freshwater fish breeding center. The reason why the place was named Bueng Kra Chap is because there used to be many Kra Chap trees in the area. But, there is none left nowadays. Apart from being a freshwater fish breeding center, Bueng Kra Chap is also a spot for water sports such as jet skiing and canoeing. Around the area of Bueng Kra Chap, near Wat Bueng Kra Chap, there are many restaurants to service tourists or local people that visit the place for relaxation or for exercise such as jogging. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, there would be especially many people dining at the lakeside restaurants to enjoy the sunset view. Near the lake is the location of Wat Bueng Kra Chap which is a Maha Nikai temple with Dhamma School and normal school for students like Wat Bueng Kra Chap (Ratpracha Tantithanon) School.Opening HoursThe place is a public space that opens daily from 8.00 a.m. to 17.00 p.m. The recommended time to visit the place is in the afternoon. Parking lots are provided around the lake. Recommended DishesRim Bueng Kra Chap restaurant is located on the East of Bueng Kra Chap. It has a terrace extending into the lake. It costs about 100-200 baht per person. Recommended dishes are Sao Noi Tok Nam, Gaeng Liang (spicy vegetable soup), and fish dishes because fishes here are fresh and delicious. How to Get ThereFrom Bangkok, take highway no. 4 (Phetkasem Road) passing Nakhon Pathom Province for about 9 kilometers. Then, you will meet a bridge to Kanchanaburi. Go on highway no.323 for 2 kilometers, you will meet Kra Chap intersection (6 kilometers until Ban Pong District.) Make a u-turn and go on for about 0.3 kilometer. You will see the entrance of Wat Bueng Kra Chap. Turn left and go on for 2 kilometers. Then, you will reach Bueng Kra Chap. Another way is to go to Ban Pong District in the Burk Prai-Khao Ngoo route and then turn left to go along irrigation canal. Bueng Kra Chap is located 10 kilometers far from the district.