Three cultural topics offer different perspectives: a local account of how Ban Tha Kasem got its name, the Lak Mueang Sa Kaeo city shrine, and the annual Wan Lai Chao Pho Phra Prong festival. The story leads to the Yang Canal; the shrine combines architectural form with communal significance; and the festival marks a recurring date on the calendar. Together, they offer different ways to focus a trip on local history, symbolism or a specific date.

A local account of Ban Tha Kasem

A local administrative account says that about 800 years ago, Chao Phraya Abhayabhubet came to the area around the landing on the Yang Canal. The landing area is said to lie in what is now Tambon Tha Kasem. Abhayabhubet found abundant water there and encouraged people to settle and make a living. According to the account, the village was named Ban Tha Kasem. The story thus links a historic visit with an account of early settlement and the origin of the village’s name. The sequence of arrival, abundant water and encouragement to settle is revealing: the story is not only about one person, but also about how a village began in local history.

Lak Mueang Sa Kaeo City Shrine

The Lak Mueang Sa Kaeo city shrine ศาลหลักเมืองสระแก้ว is located in Kanchanaphisek Park in Tambon Tha Kasem. It features a four-sided prang; its base measures 6.60 metres across and it stands 19.10 metres tall. Its height is just under three times the width of its base, giving a concrete sense of the structure’s proportions. The shrine was built collectively as the city shrine of Sa Kaeo Province. It was intended to express loyalty to King Rama IX and to serve the people of Sa Kaeo as a spiritual centre and a symbol of unity and solidarity. The architectural details and the shrine’s intended purpose offer two perspectives on the same place: the prang represents its form, while its significance highlights its communal role. Visitors interested in culture and architecture can consider both aspects together.

The festival on 19 April

According to the municipality, the Wan Lai Chao Pho Phra Prong festival is held every year on 19 April. The municipality names the public park of Tha Kasem Municipality as the venue. Alongside the local account and the city shrine, the festival offers a cultural point of reference that returns each year.

Cultural highlights for your trip

The three topics point to different choices. If you are mainly looking for a historical connection, you can start with the account of the village’s name and settlement. If you are more interested in architectural forms and symbolism, the city shrine offers a different focus: a four-sided prang with two specific measurements and a significance tied to unity and solidarity. The festival, in turn, is a date-specific occasion, with 19 April as a guide for planning your trip. If you are travelling specifically for the celebration, check the exact festival dates in advance. You can choose your focus based on what interests you most: the local origin story, the shrine’s form and significance, or the community festival?

Discover more destinations: Sap Makrut, Watthana Nakhon, Nong Mak Fai.

Return to the main travel guide: Sa Kaeo.