The highly revered Phra Phut Maha
Thammaracha is considered to be the city’s
protector and housed at Wat Traiphum, near the heart
of the city. The locals found
the
ornamental Lopburi-style Buddha image in the Pasak
River in front of the temple and conducted a religious
ceremony to invite the image to reside at the temple.
Later, it disappeared but was eventually found at
the bottom of the Pasak River at the original site,
resulting in an annual celebration.
The city’s principal and oldest temple is
Wat Mahathat. Believed to date from the Sukhothai
era, it contains a 14th century, Sukhothai-style
chedi. When the Fine Arts Department renovated the
chedi in 1967, they discovered numerous Buddha images
from many eras. Also housed within the temple grounds
are 2 Buddha images from the U-Thong period.
Srithep City was once a prosperous city during
the Khmer era 1,000 years ago.
Nowadays,
many ruin structures are all that is left as evidence
of the great city
Once the nation’s most famous orange orchard,
the Chun Mai Thai Company altered
their business direction to growing mulberry trees
for silk production and raising thoroughbred racehorses.
The Huay Pa Daeng Reservoir, known locally as Phetchabun
Lake, is a beautiful and peaceful place for relaxing,
especially at dusk and sunset.
The renowned BN Plantation grows fruits, vegetables
and flowers suitable for chilly climate and is open
for public visits to see the agricultural process
and for purchase of agricultural products.
The Nam Nao (Cold Water) National Park features
spectacular waterfalls, caves, various flora and
faunas and is a haven for bird watchers. It was
originally called ‘Pa Muang Nao’ (Chilly
Forest) because of its consistently cool temperature.
Within the Nam Nao National Park, the Haew Sai
Waterfall (Sandy Chasm Fall)
originated
from a sandy stream that is the natural boundary
between the province’s Lomkao District and
Konsan District in Chaiyaphum Province. The 20-m
tall fall cascades into a pool suitable for swimming
with both banks covered by large, shady trees.
The rolling green hills, similar to those in Switzerland,
of Khao Kor was once a major clashing point between
the Thai military and the Communist forces that
hid and resided among the densely forested hills.
Sites of interest include the different viewing
points, the Jeen Haw Memorial, the Weapon Museum,
a Khao Kor Memorial dedicated to those who sacrificed
their lives fighting here, the Khao Kor Royal Palace,
Sridit Falls, Rattanai Reservoir, Khao Kor open
zoo, and Nern Mahasachan (Amazing Cliff).
Spreading across parts of Phitsanulok, Phetchabun
and Loei provinces, the terrain of scenically beautiful
Phu Hin Rongkla National Park consists largely of
large areas of rocky plateaus in various forms,
such as bumpy plateaus to plateaus crisscrossed
with deep crevices and cracks. Highlights include
an unusual open-air musuem with exhibits of the
Communist camp based here in the 1960s and 70s.
After many years of bombing and raids, the communist
stronghold fell to the Thai government in 1982 and
was opened as a national park 2 years later. The
highest peak, Phu Man Khao, rises to a height of
1,620 m
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