City Attractions
Bung Si Fai is a large fresh-water lake to the
south of town. It is a Fishery Department's facility
to breed fresh-water. Along the banks is a delightfully
landscaped park suitable for rest and recreation.
The scenery is at its most scenic in the early
morning
and late afternoon. On the other side of the park
is an aquarium exhibiting species of native fish
and local fishing equipment. An eye-catching sight
is a gigantic, crocodile-shaped structure within
which is a space which could be used for meetings.
Built on the west bank of the Nan River within
town limit in 1845, Wat Tha Luang today houses Luang
Pho Phet, a Chiang Saen-style Buddhist statue cast
in bronze.
About 7 kilometres from town on the Phichit-Wang
Chick road (no. 1068) is Utthayan Muang Kao Pichit
. The park features an ancient town dating back
to more than 900 years. Most of the structures discovered
were built during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods.
The old town is surrounded by city walls and moats.
During the Sukhothai period it was called Muang
Sa Luang situated on the original bank of the Nan
River before the river changes its course, which
was the reason the town itself was moved to the
new bank in circa 1881 during the reign of king
Rama V. In the town centre is Wat Phra Si Rattana
Mahathat with its large bell-shaped Chedi inside
of which have been found hundreds of votive tablets.
In front of the Chedi are remains of a Vihan. There
are score of small Chedis scattered around the site.
Wat Nakhon Chum is some 9 kilometres from town
on the Phichit - Wang Chik road.
Built
in the Sukhothai period about 800 hundred years
ago, it features an old Ubosot built with brick
and mortar with the upper parts in wood. Instead
of windows, there are narrow openings for ventilation
throughout the walls, similar to temples of the
Ayutthaya period. In the Ubosot is a large Sukhothai-style
Buddha statue once used as the principal statue
in oath-taking ceremony pledging allegiance to the
monarch.
Wat Khao Rup Chang is located along the Phichit-Taphan
Hin road some 15 kilometres from town. On the hilltop
is an old, Ayutthaya-style Chedi built of bricks
but with its top part now broken. There is also
a Mondop, the wall murals of which have largely
faded away. The Mondop house a bronze Holy Relic.
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