Ratchaburi is only 100 km from Bangkok with its history dating back to the early Dvaravati period. The city lies on the banks of the Mae Klong River and is connected to the rest of Central Thailand by canals. It was an important commercial centre, and it has remained so until today despite the silting. Wat Mahathat, the most important Wat in Ratchaburi was founded in the Dvaravati period and altered into a Khmer-style temple in the 13^th century and was restored again during the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods. The temple is located in the centre of the town.

The Ratchaburi National Museum is housed in the former town hall which was built in the 1920s. Prehistoric and later artefacts from the area are on display, including stucco fragments from the Dvaravati site of Muang Khu Bua. The corner of a stupa from the site has also been recreated. Among the Khmer objects is a magnificent 13^th-century sandstone torso of Avalokiteshvara. In other rooms, there are examples of art objects from later period, a collection of textiles, basketry, some water jars found from the river bed, and information on the ethnic minorities who live in the province. According to the Ramkhamhaeng Stele, in the last decade of the 13^th century, Ratchaburi was incorporated by King Ram Khamhang into Sukhothai Kingdom. It later came under the rule of Ayutthaya.

The most important surviving monument of the 7^th-century to 8^th-century Dvaravati site of Muang Khu Bua is the large raised base of a Wihan at Wat Khlong Suwankhiri, located 7 km away from the town centre to the south. There is a flight of steps at the east leading up to the platform. Among the other over 50 monuments found scattered across the 3 square km of the site, little still remains there except stupa bases. The stucco decoration and artefacts from the site are now in the Ratchaburi National Museum.

Wat Khongkharam in Photharam district. Inside the ubosot, there are exceptionally fine murals that date back to the reign of King Rama III. The land on which the temple stands was bestowed on the Mon people by King Rama I and became a centre for Mon culture in the Ratchaburi area. In the temple, there are many large old, teak raised kutis with carved shutters and architraves known as the “seven-room kuti”. Beside it to the left is the “nine-room kuti”. The temple is also located on the bank of the Mae Klong River.

Wat Muang Folk Museum is a small museum, located in Wat Muang. Established in 1993, it contains very interesting exhibits relating to the Mon people, who historically made up a substantial minority of the area’s population. Some most important artefacts include fragile manuscripts, hand-painted wall hangings, and pottery recovered from the area and the river bed. The information about the Mon people and their customs is also being displayed.