Introduction
377km (234 miles) N of Bangkok; 93km (58 miles) SE of Sukhothai
Phitsanulok is a bustling agricultural, transportation, and military center, with a population of over 100,000, nestled on the banks of the Nan River. It is the crossroads of Thailand, located in the center of the country and roughly equidistant from Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Like most transportation hubs, it's hectic, noisy, and just a stopover for most people on their way to the more charming Sukhothai.
Outside of town, the terrain is flat and the rice paddies endless -- they turn a vivid green in the late spring. In winter, white-flowering tobacco and pink-flowering soybeans are planted in rotation. Rice barges, houseboats, and long-tail boats ply the Nan and Song Kwai rivers, which eventually connect to the Chao Phraya River and feed into the Gulf of Thailand.
For 25 years, Phitsanulok served as the capital and is the birthplace of King Naresuan (the Great), the Ayutthayan king who, on elephant-back, defended...
more local info
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The Sgt. Maj. Thavee Folk Museum
This small campus of low-slung pavilions houses a private collection of antique items from Thai rural life. Farming and trapping equipment, household...
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- Museums
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Wat Yai
This temple's full name is Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat, and it's one of the most highly important temples in the country. The Phra Buddha Chinarat...
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Wat Chulamanee
The oldest temple in the area and the site of the original city, Wat Chulamanee is still an active monastery. The temple was restored in the 1950s...
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