Phra Buddha Chinnarat.
It is located at the foot of Naresuan Bridge on the city side
of the river. The monastry was built
in the reign of Phra Maha Thamma Racha I (Phraya Lithai) in
1357 A.D. It houses the Phra Buddha Chinnarat regarded as
the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand.
It is cast in
the attitude of subduing evil. Later, in 1631, King Ekatosarot
graciously bestowed some of his gold regalia to be beaten
into gold-plate and applied them to the image with his own
hands, creating this most beautiful Buddha image. There are many other
beautiful and noteworthy items in the monastery compound.
The mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden doors of Vihara are especially
splendid, and were built by King Boromkot in 1756 as a dedication
to Phra Buddha Chinnarat.
Behind the Vihara, there is a large
prang 36 meters high, with a staircase leading up to the niche
containing the Buddha relics. In front of the prang, there
is Phra Attharos, and on the 9-Room Vihara slope. there remains
only the newly renovated Buddha image.
Wat Ratchaburana
and Wat Nang Phya
is located on the eastern
bank of the Nan River, near Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat to
the south. These two monasteries, assumed to be built when
Phitsanulok City was ruled by Somdet Phraboromtrai Lokkanat,
have linking compounds. Wat Nang Phya has no temple or bot
but it is known for the so-called "Phra Nang Phya"
votive tablets found within the pagoda's repository. Both
the bot of Wat Ratchaburana and the vihara of Wat Nang Phya
share a special fine form of the 3-head nagas decorated on
their eaves.
Wat Chulamani
The Prang, a corncob-shaped
tower at Wat Chulamani is well-known and studied by students
of archaeology and history. The Wat is the oldest historical
site in Phitsanulok. Of a highly individual style and pattern,
it boasts extremely ornate and elaborate plaster design of
immense interest and value found nowhere else in the Kingdom
.
Shrine of King Naresuan
the Great
This shrine is located
opposite to the township area in the compound of the Phisanulok
Phittayakom School. It consists of a seated figure of King
Naresuan the Great pouring lustral water from a golden container
and ceremoniously declaring Ayutthaya's independence from
Myanmar. The shrine is built on the site of Chandra Palace,
where he was born in the year 1555 A.D. The present shrine's
building was cmpleted on Nov. 28,1961 A.D.
Sergeant-Major Dr.Thawi-Pim
Buranaket Folklore Museum
Located opposite the
Buranathai Buddha Image foundry, Wisutkasat road, Amphoe Muang.
This Museum is well known for its collections of all folk-arts,
crafts, basketry, pottery and ancient kitchen utensils. In
addition to these, there also are instruments for agriculture
occupation and household living displayed.
Houseboats along
Maenam Nan
Phitsanulok has other
name so-called Song Kwae, Song Kwae means the town
of two rivers. Maenam Nan is the main and the most important
river of the province. It is 127.5 kms. long running across
the province. Kwae Noi River, the name similar to that in
Kanchanaburi in the West, also comes from the North and joins
up with Maenam Nan near the down twon area. This joint river
is the main artery that divides Phitsanulok into two parts,
the East and the West Bank. As it is a main transportation
route of the province, people gather together to stay on house
boats and house rafts along both sides of the river.
Along Phitsanulok-Lomsak
Road Sakunothayan
Arboretum
This Park is situated at Km.33 of the above
Highway where a right turn leas to the 500 meters access road. The park name was graciously
bestowed by H.M. the King during his tour of the North in
1958. Within the park area, 'Namtok Wang Nok Aen',
a 10 meters high waterfall, cascades among the rocks to create
a beautiful and scenic locale. The erosive action of the currents
have stacked and shaped the stones in a most unique and uniform
manner.
Namtok Kaeng Song
This waterfall is situated
on the road side at Km.45 and is clearly visible from the
road.
Namtok Poi
At Km. 60 there is
a sign reading 'Suan Pa Khao Krayang', where a 2 kms. access
road leads to Namtok Poi. Before reaching the waterfall, however,
one can see a spacious lawn filled with many species of flowering
trees. It is the largest of the falls along this road, and
is distinguished by its greater flow and profusion of rocky
outcroppings.
Thung
Salaeng Lunag National Park
is one of Thailand's
largest forest with a total area of 789,000 rais (315,600
acres) in the provinces, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun. It is
located in Tambon Chomphu and Ban Thung of Amphoe Wang Thong,
and in Tambon Nam Chun of Amphoe Lomsak. The park office is
located at Km.80 on Phitsanulok-Lomsak Highway, along which
one can see beautiful lush green forests, high mountains with
scenic winding roads. Main attraction in the park is'Namtok
Kaeng Sopha', at Km.71-72, regarded the most beautiful one
in the area. For accommodation, contact the National Park
Division, Forestry Department, Tel. 5790529,5794842
Chat
Trakan National Park
It is located in Khao
Ya Puk occupying a total area of 339,375 rais (135,750 acres)
where a 7-levelled medium sized waterfall is the source of
the Kwae Noi rivulet. To reach the park, proceed along Phitsanulok-Lomsak
Highway to Km. 67-68. Take Highway No.2013 for a further distance
to 29 kms. turn left, continuing 38 kms. to Amphoe Chat Trakan
and turn right to Highway No.1237 for another 10 kms. to Amphoe
Chat Trakan and turn right to Highway No.1237 for another
10 kms., a total distance of 145 kms. For accommodations,
contact the National Park Division, Forestry Department, Tel.579052+,5794842
Phu Hin Rongkla
National Park
This national park
covers the total area of 191,875 rais (76,750 acres) and is
about 123 kms. from Phitsanulok provincial city. To reach
the park is by taking Highway No.12 (Phitsanulok-Lomsak),
at about Km. 68 turn left at Ban Yaeng for a further distance
of 24 kms. then turn right along the elevated road another
31 kms. The park area mainly covers with evergreen forest
with beautiful waterfalls and a vast plain of rock with cracks
scattered all around. Further-more the place used to be a
bloody battle field due to the conflict in political idealism.
Scars of fighting still can be seen from place to place. Tourists
or visitors who want to stay over night are advised to make
a prior reservation through the National Park Division, Forestry
Department by Tel.579482,5790529
