Phetchaburi is a very old town and used to be an important royal for a along period of time. There were so many names by which to call this town in the old days, such as, Phripphri, Phripphli  or Phetchaphli. Some historians have said that the name Phetchaburi could be the original name because it is found on Stone Scrip-true No.1. It could have been named after the Indian style, according to Indian influence during those day, like some other towns in Thailand, such as, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Suwannaphum. In addition, it is also believed that the name Phetchaburi might have originated from the Phetch River which is an important river of this town.

Phetchaburi is a central region province, situated on the west shore of the Gulf of Thailand having an overall area of 6,225.138 square kilometers. Its geographical characteristics are mountainous thick jungles throughout the border in the west where Tanaosi Range is the border line between Thailand and the Socialist Republic of the Union of Myanmar. There is a plain all along the seashore in the east of Changwat Samut Songkhram and Amphoe Pak Tho of Changwat Ratchaburi to the north Amphoe Hua Hin of Changwat Prachuap Khirikhan to the South and the sea-shore of the west side of the Gulf to Thailand to the east. The total length of the Phetchaburi seashore from the northern-most spot to southern-most spot is approximately 80 kilometers while the total length of the border line in Phetchaburi dividing Thailand and Myanmar is approximately 120 Kilometers.

Phetchaburi is administratively divided into 7 Amphoes and 1 King Amphoe, they are : Muang, Cha-Am, Khao Yoi, Tha Yang, Ban Lat, Ban Laem, Nong Ya Plong, and King Amphoe Kaeng Krachan.

The majority of the Phetchaburi population has for its principal occupation agriculture, I.e., rice farming, upland crop farming, fruit growing, palm sugar production animal raising, and fisheries for both sea water and fresh water.

There are three important rivers in Phetchaburi they are : "Phetchaburi River", having and overall length of 44 kilometers and "Bang Tabun River", having an overall length of 18 kilometers.

The average temperature of Phetchaburi ranges from 16-38 degrees Celsius. There are most rains from July to October. 

How to get there

Phetchaburi is accessible by car through two routes. One is to leave Bangkok passing Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi to Phetchaburi totaling a distance of 166 kilometers the other route is to leave Bangkok by Highway No. 35, the Thonburi-Pak Tho Highway passing Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Amphoe Pak Tho of Changwat Ratchaburi, then making a left turn to join Highway No.4 on to Phetchaburi, totaling a distance of 121 kilometers.

The Transport Company Limited (Bo Kho So) operates a daily Bangkok Phetchaburi service. Detailed information can be obtained from Tel. (02)435-1199 (air-conditioned coach) and Tel. (02)434-5557-8 (non air-conditioned bus). The travel time is approximately two hours. Moreover, one can travel via several southern route buses, such as, Bangkok-Chumphon, Bangkok-Prachuap Khirikhan and Bangkok-Hua Hin which also drop passengers in Phetchaburi.

There are several trains daily leaving Bangkok (from Hua Lamphong Railway Station) for Phetchaburi and Cha-Am. Detailed information can be obtained from Travel Service Section, Tel. (02)223-7010, 223-7020. From Tel.(02)441-3102 one can obtain information from Thonburi Railway Station (Bangkok Noi) where there are trains leaving for Phetchaburi every day too.