Phitsanulok Attractions and Travel Guide

Attractions

Phra Si Mahathat Temple (Wat Phra Si Mahathat)
 
Locally dubbed as "Wat Yai", the complex is considered the most important temple in Phitsanulok. Housing Thailand's famous Phra Phutthachinnarat, Wat Yai is located at the foot of Naresuan Bridge on the city side of the river. The temple was built during the reign of Phra Maha Thamma Racha I (Phraya Lithai) in 1357.

Phra Phutthachinnarat is considered the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. The large Sukhothai-style bronze statue was cast in 1357 by the order of King Maha Thamma Racha I of Sukhothai. The statues unique feature is the flame-like halo a symbol of spiritual radiance. In 1931, King Ekatotsarot (King Naresuan's younger brother) commanded a gold coating of the image, making it outstanding against the dark backdrop.

Today, thousands of visitors, both Thais and foreigners, flock to Wat Yai just to get a glimpse of Phra Phutthachinnarat. Most of contemporary Buddha images are cast using Phra Phutthachinnarat as a model. There is even a saying that, your trip to Phitsanulok is not complete without visiting Wat Yai to pay respect to Phra Phutthachinnarat. Only the Emerald Buddha situated in the Grand Palace, Bangkok, is more highly respected by Thais. A celebration to honour the statue is held annually in late January.

Other outstanding features of the temple (vihan in Thai) include the large pearl-inlaid wooden doors, the gateway to see Phra Phutthachinnarat. The doors were completed in 1756 by Ayutthaya's royal craftsmen. Inside the vihan are the Italian marble floor, two painted pulpits (thammas) placed to one side, and murals illustrating the life of the Lord Buddha.

Apart from Phra Buddha Chinnarat, there are other Buddha images worth seeing. Phra Attharot, a standing Buddha statue cast in same period as Phra Phutthachinnarat, is situated in front of the large Phra Prang (pagoda) behind the Viharn.

A 36-metre high Phra Prang was built in the early Ayutthaya style. There are staircases leading up to the place where relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined.

There is also a small museum, which exhibits a good collection of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya-era Buddha images and related religious items that is worth visiting. Visitors are advised to dress conservatively.
   
Wat Phra Si Mahathat Woramahawihan is open daily between 6.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. The Phra Phutthachinnarat National Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. The museum is closed on public holidays, for more information, click www.thailandmuseum.com.

Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park
 
Phu Hin Rong Kla is a distinctive national park with a unique mixture of scenic attractions and historical sites. It was once the stage of armed conflicts between two extreme political ideologies. The Park covers a total area of 191,875 rai of land (76,750 acres) and is approximately 130 kilometers from Phitsanulok city. It can be reached by taking Highway No. 12 and turning left at Km.68 marker into Highway No. 2013, a road leading to Nakhon Thai District.

The park area is mainly covered with lush green forests, several awesome waterfalls, and a vast plain of rocks with cracks scattered all around. The highest point of the park is 1,617 meters above sea level. Here, rock formations are naturally formed into different shapes beyond your wildest imagination. Some rocky grounds have deep splits (Lan Hin Taek), while others have uneven formations.

Apart from natural attractions, the park offers opportunities to explore many of its historical sites that tell the story of national political conflicts.

Because Phu Hin Rong Kla was the strategic headquarters of the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT) during 1967 to 1982, the area was declared as a red area by the Thai government. For nearly two decades, the site had become a strategic battlefield between the Royal Thai Army and the CPT. Phu Hin Rong Kla was the perfect location for the CPT to fight the military. Its remote, closed mountainous area was superb for an elusive defense. It was not until 1982 that the conflict was overcome when the government granted amnesty to all the students who had joined the CPT. In 1984, Phu Hin Rong Kla was declared a National Park.

During the CPT’s golden era, a hospital, a school of political and political tactics, living quarters, an air-raid shelter and other necessary facilities were set up. Today, visitors to Phu Hin Rong Kla can travel along the parks main road to witness the remains of a rustic meeting hall, the political school, and the administration building.

There is also a trail leading to Lan Hin Pum, an area of jutting rocks that the CPT used as an air-raid shelter. From the spot, it is possible to see the remains of the CPT headquarters with a small museum displaying some CPT weapons and medical instruments. Follow another trail to Pha Chu Thong, the cliff where a red flag was raise when the CPT gained a victory.

Tourists or visitors wishing to stay overnight are advised to make advance reservations at the National Park Division, Forestry Department tel. 0 5523 3527 or 0 2561 4292, or email: rongkla-00@thaimail.com,  Website : www.dnp.go.th.  Accommodations and tents are available.

Thung Salaeng Luang National Park 
 
Against a backdrop of high mountain ranges is the Savannah-type grassland of Thung Salaeng Luang. Covering an area of 16 square kilometres, the park is naturally endowed with pine trees and wild flowers which blossom in virgin jungles. The parks mountain ranges are watersheds of several streams which are a source of the famous Maenam Nan. Its area spreads across Phitsanulok and Phetchabun provinces.

The park headquarters located at Km. 80 on Highway No. 12 is where information on the park and accommodations can be obtained. Most of the park’s attractions are superb for trekking. The route starts from the sub-office at Ban Nong Mae Na (off Highway No.12 at Km. 100 marker) to Khao Kho.

The route allows visitors to enjoy the marvelous scenery of Thung Salaeng Luang and Thung Phaya grassland hemmed in by pine trees and lush forests. Another attraction along the way is Thung Non Son, a flatland located on top of the mountain, at the heart of the park. It is famous for its wild flowers which are in their full bloom from October through December. The flatland is accessible through a 16 kilometers clay road and a walking route of 15 kilometers from Ban Nong Mae Na. There is also a study trail at the Mae Na park station which is superb for exploring the entire ecological system of the park.

Wat Ratchakhiri Hiranyaram

Located on Khao Samo Khlaeng, Ban Samo Khlaeng, approximately 14 kilometres from Phitsanulok on Highway 12 and 3 kilometres before reaching Amphoe Wang Thong. The hilltop temple houses two Buddha’s footprints, one is a replica and the other is on the face of a western cliff. A celebration is held annually in February. The temple also houses a thousand-handed Guan Yin statue, three tons in weight, from Hangzhou, China, which was carved out of white jade and sent here in 1992. On the mountain, there is a pond that never runs dry since ancient time. Uphill from the Guan Yin statue, there is a shrine of Heng Jia, the monkey hero, which is frequented by Thai Chinese visitors. The topmost viewpoint of the mountain is the location of Phra Mahathat Chedi Si Bowon Chinarat where the Buddha’s forehead bone relic is enshrined. The Chedi has a lotus-shaped spire, with a walking Buddha image on each side of its square base.

Textile Museum and Life Museum

Located on the second floor of the multi-purpose building of Naresuan University, the Textile Museum displays textiles and garments from different sources domestically and internationally. The museum houses documents and research studies regarding textiles and royal suits of Their Majesties the King and Queen that were conferred to the university. Nearby is a Life Museum that displays the Thai way of cotton weaving, from cotton growing to high-class techniques in weaving. A weaving demonstration is available every weekend. Both museums are open daily from 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. A guide is available. For more information, Tel: 0 5526 1000 - 4 ext. 1218, 1149 or www.thaiextilemuseum.com. Naresuan University (Thung Nong O) is located between Kilometre 118-119 of Highway 117.

Thai Bird Garden

Located opposite to the folk museum, it is a bird conservation centre that displays endangered as well as extinct birds of Thailand such as jambu fruit-dove, helmeted hornbill, and birds mentioned in Thai literature; namely, oriole, barbet, common koel, green magpie, blue magpie, etc. The park entertains visitors with some birds that can imitate human’s voice greeting both in Thai and English such as parrot as well as those singing beautifully like black-throated laughing thrush, white-crested laughing thrush, and white rumped shama. The garden is open daily from 8.30 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. Admission is 50 baht for adults and 20 baht for children. For more information, call Tel: 0 5521 2540 or www.geocities.com/thaibirdgarden.

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