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Sri Dit Waterfall at Thung Salaeng Luang National Park
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thailand_421.jpg
Martin Püschel
Phitsanulok Province จังหวัดพิษณุโลก
is a province in Northern Thailand. Located on the southern part of the northern region, it is bordered by Uttaradit Province to the north, Loei Province to the northeast, Phetchaburi Province to the southeast, Phichit Province to the south, Kamphaeng Phet Province to the southwest and Sukhothai Province to the west. It also borders over a short distance with Xaignabouli in Laos on the northeast.Phitsanulok Province covers 10,815 square kilometers and has a population of 852,000 people (2012 estimate). The provincial capital is Phitsanulok Town. The name Phitsanulok comes from the cognate of Vishnu, which is Witsanu in Thai, and lok, which is Thai for world. Hence Phitsanulok can roughly mean "Vishnu's world".
Phra Buddha Jinarajhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phra_Buddha_Jinaraj_-_Phitsanulok.jpgJJ HarrisonThe Phitsanulok area has seen human habitation going back to the stone age, though these early inhabitants are not related to modern Thai people. The present city came into being in the 11th century, when it was established as a Khmer frontier town. In the next two centuries, homegrown kingdoms sprouted up in the vicinity, with the Singhanavati Kingdom being established nearby in 1188, with its capital at Nakhon Thai, which is at the heart of Phitsanulok Province. This was followed by the Kingdom of Sukhothai, which grew to include Phitsanulok as one of its major settlements.
The most important temple in Phitsanulok is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, located on the bank of the Nan River near Naresuan Bridge. The temple enshrines the golden Buddha known as Phra Buddha Chinnarat, regarded as the most beautiful Buddha portrait in the kingdom. The statue is believed to have been made during the Sukhothai period by King Mahathamaracha Lithai, some seven hundred years ago.
Phitsanulok came under the rule of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and even served as a capital city for 25 years. The city was also the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great, one of the great rulers in Ayutthaya history.
Today Phitsanulok Town is a provincial capital that sees a continuous stream of visitors on account of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat. There is also a small number of foreign visitors here, as the city is close to the Sukhothai Historical Park.
Namtok Kaeng Sophahttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thailand_376_kaeng_sopha.jpgSpreesprotte
Tourist Attractions of Phitsanulok Province
- King Naresuan the Great's Shrine is a modern pavilion that houses a life-size statue of the king.
- Life Museum provides a glimpse into the daily life in rural Thailand.
- Namtok Kaeng Sopha is a large waterfall in Phitsanulok. The three-tier fall is 40 meters tall.
- Phitsanulok City Pillar Shrine is a spire-shaped building that houses the foundation pillar of the city.
- Phitsanulok Town Wall is the remains of the medieval wall built during the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat of the Ayutthaya period. Parts of it can be seen in the vicinity of Wat Phothiyan, Wat Noi and the police station. The moat beside the wall is also visible along Phra Ruang Road.
- Phu Soi Dao National Park is a forested park with viewpoint and waterfalls.
- Textile Museum is a museum showcasing local as well as foreign textiles.
- Thai Bird Garden is a conservation centre showcasing various types of indigenous birds.
- Tham Naresuan is a cave that got its name from a stalactite formation that looks like King Naresuan the Great.
- Tham Pha Daeng is a cave named after the red cliff at its entrance.
- Tham Ruea is a severely eroded cave with a ceiling that looks like an upside down boat.
- Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is a major national park that spreads between Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provinces, with a number of waterfalls.
Phitsanulok City Pillar Shrinehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lakmueang_PHS1.jpgMichael Brueckner
Getting there
There are flights to Phitsanulok from Bangkok Don Mueang offered by Nokair. Flight takes about 50 minutes. Phitsanulok is also connected to Bangkok and Chiang Mai by train, a journey of some 6-7 hours either way. On arrival, the most practical form of transport is the tuk tuk.
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