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Phitsanulok ( th, พิษณุโลก, ) is an important, historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province. Phitsanulok is home to Naresuan University and
Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University (PSRU.) is a university in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. The institute was upgraded to a university on 14 June 2004. History The university was first established in 1926 as a teacher training school under the R ...
, as well as to a major
Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA ( th, กองทัพบกไทย; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's ...
base. As of 2019, the population of the city was 66,106.


Toponymy

*Song Khwae: The first element, ''song'', means the number 'two'. The second element, ''khwae'', means 'tributary', hence 'two rivers'. *Phitsanulok: The first element, ''Phitsanu'' (Thai: พิษณุ;
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
: viṣṇu विष्णु "
Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
"), is a cognate of '
Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
', a Hindu god (see, e.g., Witnu, Thai: วิษณุ). Lack of a v sound in the Thai language accounts for the two forms. The second element, ''lok'' (Thai: โลก;
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
: loka लोक 'world') means 'globe' or 'world'. A loose translation of the entire name would be 'Vishnu's heaven'.


History

Phitsanulok is one of the oldest
cities A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. Phitsanulok was also a provincial center of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian period. Phitsanulok was originally named "Song Khwae" (lit. "Two Rivers") as it used to situate between the
Nan Nan or NAN may refer to: Places China * Nan County, Yiyang, Hunan, China * Nan Commandery, historical commandery in Hubei, China Thailand * Nan Province ** Nan, Thailand, the administrative capital of Nan Province * Nan River People Given name ...
and Khwae Noi Rivers, although the Khwae Noi River now drains into Nan River at ten kilometers to the north of Phitsanulok. The ''Northern Chronicles'' credited the foundation of Song Khwae to "King Srithampidok" or King Thammaracha I of Sukhothai, on the east bank of Nan River. King Thammaracha I also constructed the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat and cast famous Buddha images of
Phra Buddha Chinnarat Phra () is a Thai term that may refer to: *''Phra'', a Thai-language term for Buddhist monk *''Phra'', a Thai-language term for priest *''Phra'', a Thai-language word used as a prefix denoting holy or royal status, including in Thai royal ranks ...
and Phra Buddha Chinnasri. Song Khwae eclipsed Sukhothai in importance, becoming the royal seat of Sukhothai Kingdom in 1378. After the demise of the last King of Sukhothai at Song Khwae in 1438, Prince Ramesuan of Ayutthaya came to rule Song Khwae. When Prince Ramesuan was crowned as King Trailokanat of Ayutthaya in 1448, Song Khwae and the Sukhothai Kingdom were incorporated into the Ayutthaya Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya-Lanna War, King Trailokanat moved his residence to Song Khwae in 1464 and renamed the city "Phitsanulok" (from
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
''
Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
'' and ''Loka'' "world"). He expanded the city westward to the west bank of Nan River. In the sixteenth century, Phitsanulok was the seat of ''
Uparaja Uparaja or Ouparath, also Ouparaja ( my, ဥပရာဇာ ; km, ឧបរាជ, ; th, อุปราช, ; lo, ອຸປຮາດ, ''Oupahat''), was a royal title reserved for the viceroy in the Buddhist dynasties in Burma, Cambodia, and ...
'' or
heir presumptive An heir presumptive is the person entitled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir apparent or a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question. ...
to Ayutthaya throne who took residence in the Chantana Palace on the west bank. In 1548, King Maha Chakkraphat appointed his supporter Phra Pirenthorathep as "King Thammaracha" of Phitsanulok as a tributary ruler. During the Burmese-Siamese Wars, Phitsanulok and the Sukhothai region became battlegrounds between Burma and Siam. When King
Bayinnaung , image = File:Bayinnaung.JPG , caption = Statue of Bayinnaung in front of the National Museum of Myanmar , reign = 30 April 1550 – 10 October 1581 , coronation = 11 January 1551 at Toung ...
invaded Phitsanulok in 1563, King Thammaracha of Phitsanulok submitted to the Burmese. King Thammaracha, now reigned at Ayutthaya, appointed his son Prince
Naresuan King Naresuan the Great (( th, สมเด็จพระนเรศวรมหาราช, , ) or Sanphet II ( th, สรรเพชญ์ที่ ๒), ( my , နရဲစွမ် (သို့) ဗြနရာဇ်); 1555/1556 – ...
as the ''Uparaja'' of Phitsanulok in 1570. In 1584, Prince Naresuan ordered the evacuation of all cities in the Sukhothai region including Phitsanulok down south in preparations against Burmese invasions. Phitsanulok was abandoned until it was later restored in 1593 not as a ''Uparaja'' seat but as a ''Muang Ek'' or first-level city held by a governor, becoming the center of Siamese administrations in northern regions. The governors of Phitsanulok held the title "''Chao Phraya'' Surasi". After the Second Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Phitsanulok came under the rule of Chao Phra Fang, a monk who declared himself a local lord based on the town of Fang (modern
Uttaradit The original name of Mueang district, Uttaradit, was Bang Pho. This district was under the control of Phi Chai District. Later, it was established as Uttaradit Province and Bang Pho District became the capital district. It was changed to Mueang ...
). King Taksin of Thonburi sent forces to capture Phitsanulok in 1768 and appointed Boonma (later Prince
Maha Sura Singhanat Somdet Phra Bawornrajchao Maha Sura Singhanat ( th, สมเด็จพระบวรราชเจ้ามหาสุรสิงหนาท; , lit: ''His Royal Highness, Maharurasinghanat, Prince of Front Palace'') (1 November 1744 – ...
) as ''Chao Phraya'' Surasi the governor of Phitsanulok. The Burmese General
Maha Thiha Thura Maha Thiha Thura ( my, မဟာသီဟသူရ ; also spelled Maha Thihathura; died 1782) was commander-in-chief of the Royal Burmese Army, Burmese military from 1768 to 1776. Regarded as a brilliant military strategist, the general is best k ...
laid siege on Phitsanulok in 1775. ''Chao Phraya'' Chakri (future
King Rama I Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok Maharaj (, 20 March 1737 – 7 September 1809), personal name Thongduang (), also known as Rama I, was the founder of the Rattanakosin Kingdom and the first monarch of the reigning Chakri dynasty of Siam (now Tha ...
) and his brother ''Chao Phraya'' Surasi Boonma held the city for four months until the city finally fell to the Burmese. Phitsanulok was utterly destroyed on this occasion. The Burmese invaded again in 1785 and Phitsanulok was abandoned temporarily because the manpower shortage left the city defenseless. After the series of warfare, Phitsanulok was in ruins and depopulated through the nineteenth century. The Phra Buddha Chinnasri image was moved to Wat Baworn Niwet in Bangkok in 1829. In 1834, the Phuan people were deported from
Muang Phuan Meuang Phuan ( Lao: ເມືອງພວນ; Country of Phuan) or Xieng Khouang (Lao: ຊຽງຂວາງ), also known historically to the Vietnamese as Trấn Ninh ( Hán Việt: 鎮寧; lit. "securement of peace"), was a historical principal ...
in Laos to re-populate Phitsanulok and surrounding cities. Phitsanulok slowly recovered to be an urban center. As a part of reforms of King Chulalongkorn, Phitsanulok became the administrative seat of the monthon Phitsanulok in 1894. When the monthons were abolished in 1932, Phitsanulok became the capital of Phitsanulok Province. *The Phitsanulok fire of 1957 destroyed much of the older portion of the city, which at the time consisted mostly of wooden buildings. *On 28 November 1961, the King Naresuan Shrine was completed at Chandra Palace. *On 25 January 1967, the Phitsanulok campus of what is now Naresuan University was established as the northern branch of the degree level College of Education. In 1974, the College of Education was upgraded as
Srinakharinwirot University Srinakharinwirot University (abbr: SWU; th, มหาวิทยาลัยศรีนครินทรวิโรฒ; abbr: มศว) is a public university in Bangkok, Thailand. Founded in 1949, the university was the first upper-educati ...
, with Phitsanulok as one of the six campuses. In 1990, the regional campuses became independent universities, and the Phitsanuloke campus was named after Phitsanulok-born King Naresuan the Great. * Naresuan Dam was constructed from 1976 to 1985 on the
Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...
as part of the Phitsanulok Irrigation Project.Phitsanulok Irrigation Project
The dam was designed to help prevent flooding of the city. *On 8 March 1999 Phitsanulok was upgraded to city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'').


Symbols

* (photo left) From left to right: three figures symbolize Wat Yai: Phra Attharot, a 9 meter high standing Buddha image, the 36 meter high prang and the entrance gate of Vihara Luang, which enshrines Buddha Chinnarat; a nature park with a waterfall; for houseboats on the Nan river; King Naresuan riding his war elephant; hat-shaped tower. * (photo right) above: Seal of Phitsanulok City depicts King Naresuan, shown riding his war elephant (yellow), bottom: Phitsanulok City (Thai: '' thesaban nakhon Phitsanulok'') (green).


Geography


Location

Phitsanulok is in the north of Thailand. Phitsanulok is about 377 kilometres north of Bangkok by road. Phitsanulok covers some 10,815 square kilometres, or 6.4% of area in the north of Thailand and 2.1% of the area of Thailand. Phitsanulok borders on the north and the north-east of Thailand. The north is adjacent to
Uttaradit The original name of Mueang district, Uttaradit, was Bang Pho. This district was under the control of Phi Chai District. Later, it was established as Uttaradit Province and Bang Pho District became the capital district. It was changed to Mueang ...
and Laos. The south is adjacent to Phichit. The east is adjacent to Loei and Phetchabun. The west is adjacent to
Kamphaeng Phet Province Kamphaeng Phet ( th, กำแพงเพชร, ) is a province in upper central Thailand. It borders the provinces of Sukhothai to the north; Phitsanulok to the northeast; Phichit to the east; Nakhon sawan to the south; and Tak to the west a ...
and Sukhothai. Phitsanulok has many waterfalls, forests and caves. In the north is central area. In the north-west is a highland. It's the important recreational area such as Kaeng Sopha waterfall, Phu Hin Rong Kla and Phu Soi Dow. In the south plains along the Yom River and the Nan River is the most important agricultural district of Phitsanulok.


Topography

Phitsanulok lies primarily on flatland with some hills.ThaiTambon.com
The eastern portion of the city has some wooded area. The city is in the Nan Basin, which is part of the Chao Phraya watershed.Basins in Thailand
Phitsanulok is sometimes called ''Song Kwae'', the city of two rivers, a name dating to a time centuries ago when the
Nan Nan or NAN may refer to: Places China * Nan County, Yiyang, Hunan, China * Nan Commandery, historical commandery in Hubei, China Thailand * Nan Province ** Nan, Thailand, the administrative capital of Nan Province * Nan River People Given name ...
and Khwae Noi Rivers met near the city. Today, only the
Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...
flows through Phitsanulok.


Climate

Phitsanulok has a
tropical savanna climate Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry winter) and ''As'' (for a dry summer). The driest month has less than of p ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
''Aw''). Winters are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is very hot with the average daily maximum at . The
monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal osci ...
season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.


Administration

The administration of Phitsanulok City Municipality is responsible for an area that covers approximately and consists of only tambon Nai Mueang, 64 municipal communities (
chumchon Muban ( th, หมู่บ้าน; , ) is the lowest administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74,944 administrative mu ...
), and 36,626 households. According to Municipal Act B.E. 2496 (1953, reviewed in 2003), the duties of the municipality include: clean water supply, waste and sewage disposal, communicable disease control, public training and education, public hospitals and electricity. The mayor, or the highest executive, is directly elected by the eligible voters in the municipal area. The mayor serves a four-year term and is assisted by no more than four deputy mayors appointed directly by the mayor. The Municipal Council is the legislative body of the municipality. It has the power to issue ordinances by laws, that do not contradict the laws of the country. The municipal council's jurisdiction applies to all people living in the municipal area.


Demographics


Ethnic diversity

The majority ethnicity in the city is Thai. Others in the city consider themselves of Mon descent.


Language

The majority of residents of Phitsanulok speak central Thai.


Religion

The people of Phitsanulok are predominantly
Theravada ''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...
Buddhists (as are 95% of the Thai population as a whole), with a small Christian community and a few Muslim families.


Education


Educational institutions

Naresuan University (abbreviated ''Mor Nor'' for ''Mahawithayalai Naresuan'') is an educational center of the lower northern region of Thailand. Now in
Tha Pho Tha Pho ( th, ท่าทอง) is a subdistrict in the Mueang Phitsanulok District of Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. In this subdistrict is Naresuan University with more than 22,000 students. Geography The topography of Tha Thong subdistrict ...
, near the city of Phitsanulok, the university was named after King
Naresuan King Naresuan the Great (( th, สมเด็จพระนเรศวรมหาราช, , ) or Sanphet II ( th, สรรเพชญ์ที่ ๒), ( my , နရဲစွမ် (သို့) ဗြနရာဇ်); 1555/1556 – ...
the Great, and the campus features a large statue of him. Other universities and colleges in or around the city include Phitsanulok University (private), Sirindhorn College of Public Health, Rajabhat Pibulsongkram University (formerly a teacher training college), and the Phitsanulok campus of the Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna.


Vocational institutions

There are three vocational colleges in the city: * Phitsanulok Technical Colleg

* Phitsanulok Vocational Colleg

* Songkwae Technical College


Secondary (Mathayom) institutions

Phitsanulok City is home to three secondary institutions: * Chalermkwansatree schoo

* Janokrong schoo

* Puttha Chinnarat Pitthaya schoo


Healthcare

There is one government hospital in Phitsanulok City: Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital with 1,000 beds.
There are also five private hospitals with 400 beds total: * Bangkok Hospital Phitsanulo

* Phitsanulok Hospita

* Pitsanuvej Hospita

* Ruamphaet Hospital * Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Hospital


Infrastructure


Airport

Close to the city center (Aranyik), Phitsanulok Airport receives up to six flights a day from Bangkok (flight time approximately 60 minutes), which are operated by three airlines: Nok Air, Thai Air Asia and Thai Lion Air.


Roads

Road 126, a multi-lane by-pass enables through-traffic to avoid the city of Phitsanulok, and connects to Highway 11 (Thailand), highway 11 to
Uttaradit The original name of Mueang district, Uttaradit, was Bang Pho. This district was under the control of Phi Chai District. Later, it was established as Uttaradit Province and Bang Pho District became the capital district. It was changed to Mueang ...
and
Lampang Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang ( th, นครลำปาง, ) to differentiate from Lampang province, is the third largest city in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang province and the Mueang Lampang district. Traditional names for L ...
in the north, and to highway 12 to
Phetchabun Phetchabun is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in Thailand, capital of Phetchabun Province. It covers the ''tambon'' Nai Mueang of the Phetchabun District, along the Pa Sak River. As of 2005, it had a population of 23,823. Phetchabun lies north o ...
in the east, and to highway 11 to
Sing Buri Sing Buri () is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in Thailand, capital of the Sing Buri Province. It lies 141 km north of Bangkok. The town covers the whole ''tambon ''Tambon'' ( th, ตำบล, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Be ...
in the south, and to highway 117 to Nakhon Sawan in the south, and to highway 12 to Sukhothai, Tak and
Mae Sot Mae Sot ( th, แม่สอด, ; my, မဲဆောက်, ; shn, , ) is a city in western Thailand that shares a border with Myanmar to the west. It is notable as a trade hub and for its substantial population of Burmese migrants and refug ...
in the west.


Buses

Phitsanulok Terminal 1 (Saen Phon Phai) and Terminal 2 ( Samo Khae) provide the mass transport throughout Phitsanulok Province by some eight bus companies. Four minibus lines provide transportation around the city. Yanyon tour operates its own private bus station (Sua Thim) with only a busline to Bangkok.


Railway

In the city center, Phitsanulok railway station mainly receives intercity trains on the
Northern Line The Northern line is a London Underground line that runs from North London to South London. It is printed in black on the Tube map. The Northern line is unique on the Underground network in having two different routes through central London, tw ...
, operated by State Railway of Thailand, more than a dozen trains running in each direction each day.


Media

The main channels for communication in the city are television and radio. The following public television and radio stationsRadio Stations in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand
/ref> are broadcast from Phitsanulok: *Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Thahaan Aakaat (
Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
Radio Station), 954 AM and 95.75, in the City of Phitsanulok *Witthayu Kong Phon Thahaan Raap Thii Sii ( 4th Infantry Division), 1377 AM, at Fort Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat *Sathaanii Witthayu Phitaksantiraat (Communications Division,
Royal Thai Police The Royal Thai Police (RTP) ( th, สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ; ) is the national police force of Thailand. The RTP employs between 210,700 and 230,000 officers, roughly 17 percent of all civil servants (excludi ...
), 1422 AM, in Phitsanulok City *ARMY-5 (television channel 5, owned and operated by the
Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA ( th, กองทัพบกไทย; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's ...
)Thai TV: Television Stations in Thailand on VHF and UHF
/ref> *PRD-11 (television channel 11, owned and operated by the Government Public Relations Department)


Royal Thai Army

Phitsanulok is home to the Third Army Region of the Royal Thai Army, responsible for the northern and north-western parts of the kingdom.


Temples


Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat

Phitsanulok's main tourist attraction is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, known locally simply as Wat Yai ( th, วัดใหญ่) (the big temple). This famous temple, built in 1357, is home to the
Phra Buddha Chinnarat Phra () is a Thai term that may refer to: *''Phra'', a Thai-language term for Buddhist monk *''Phra'', a Thai-language term for priest *''Phra'', a Thai-language word used as a prefix denoting holy or royal status, including in Thai royal ranks ...
, which is one of the most revered Buddha figures in Thailand, and the official symbol of Phitsanulok Province. The beautiful mother-of-pearl inlaid doors were built in 1756 by order of King Boromakot of Ayutthaya. The Buddha Chinnarat National Museum, on the temple grounds, houses a sizeable collection of Sukhothai period art.


Other temples

The city is also home to the following temples where
Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...
is practiced by city residents (from north clockwise): * Wat Tammachak ( th, วัดธรรมจักร) * Wat Chedi Yod Thong ( th, วัดเจดีย์ยอดทอง) * Wat Aranyik ( th, วัดอรัญญิก) * Wat Nang Phaya ( th, วัดนางพญา), not a temple but a monastery * Wat Ratcha Burana ( th, วัดราชบูรณะ) * Wat Mai Opai Yaram ( th, วัดใหม่อภัยาราม) * Wat Si Wisut Tharam ( th, วัดศรีวิสุทธาราม) * Wat Nong Bua Mai ( th, วัดหนองบัวหม่อ) * Wat Tha Maprang ( th, วัดท่ามะปราง) * Wat Sa Kaew Phatum Thong ( th, วัดสระแก้วปทุมทอง) * Wat Chan Tawan Ook ( th, วัดจันทร์ตะวันออก) * Wat Chan Tawan Tok ( th, วัดจันทร์ตะวันตก) * Wat Phan Pee ( th, วัดพันปี) * Wat Kuha Sawan ( th, วัดคูหาสวรรค์)


Sports

Dragon boat A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft originating from the Pearl River Delta region of China's southern Guangdong Province. These were made of teak, but in other parts of China, different kinds of wood are used. It is one of a family ...
racing has historically been an important element of Phitsanulok culture. In recent times, football (soccer) has become increasingly popular. In 2005, Phitsanulok won the 2nd Northern Youth Football Championship in the U12 and U15 age groups.Phitsanulok wins the 2nd Northern Youth Football Championship
/ref> Traditional
Thai boxing Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...
is also a major sport in the city.


Culture


Art

Phitsanulok is home to a number of historic sculptures of the Buddha and other religious artwork including the Buddha Chinnarat, the Buddha Chinnasi, the Phra Si Satsada.


Literature

Examples of important literary works of Phitsanulok include: *Lilit Yuan Pai (Thai: ลิลิตยวนพ่าย, English: ''Tale of the Fall of
Lanna The Lan Na Kingdom ( nod, , , "Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields"; th, อาณาจักรล้านนา, , ), also known as Lannathai, and most commonly called Lanna or Lanna Kingdom, was an Indianized state centered in present-day ...
'') *Lilit Prá Lô (Thai: ลิลิตพระลอ, English: ''Tale of the Hero Lô'') *Klohng Táwâatsàmàat (Thai: โคลงทวาทศมาส, English: ''Poem of the Twelve Months'') *Gam Sŏn Sĕe Bpràat (Thai: กำศรวลศรีปราชญ์, English: ''The Legendary Wise Archer's Grip'') The predominant literary language (as well as the predominant spoken language) is the central Thai dialect of the Thai language, which is written in the Thai alphabet.


Other attractions

* Buranathai Buddha Foundry: Specializes in casting bronze Buddha images.Buranathai Buddha Casting Foundry
/ref> It is the only establishment of its kind in the province. Craftspersons specialize in the reproduction of the
Phra Buddha Chinnarat Phra () is a Thai term that may refer to: *''Phra'', a Thai-language term for Buddhist monk *''Phra'', a Thai-language term for priest *''Phra'', a Thai-language word used as a prefix denoting holy or royal status, including in Thai royal ranks ...
Buddha image. Visitors are permitted to walk along the production line. * Sergeant-Major Dr. Thawee Buranakhet Folklore Museum: Hosts a collection of
folk arts Folk and traditional arts are rooted in and reflective of the cultural life of a community. They encompass the body of expressive culture associated with the fields of folklore and cultural heritage. Tangible folk art includes objects which histo ...
, crafts, basketry, pottery and ancient kitchen utensils.Thailand Guidebook-Phitsanulok Province
/ref> The museum also houses a collection of antique traps for catching snakes, birds, tigers and porcupines. * City walls: Most of the older portions of Phitsanulok were destroyed in a 1955 fire. Thus little else remains of the old town besides the famous temple, an ancient chedi across the road from it, and a small section of the city wall. The intact portion of the ancient city wall is accessible to visitors. * Night Market: Each evening, vendors gather to form Phitsanulok's night market. Items sold include clothing and food, usually at reduced prices. * Chan Palace was the birthplace of King
Naresuan King Naresuan the Great (( th, สมเด็จพระนเรศวรมหาราช, , ) or Sanphet II ( th, สรรเพชญ์ที่ ๒), ( my , နရဲစွမ် (သို့) ဗြနရာဇ်); 1555/1556 – ...
the Great, and contains a shrine to him. * Naresuan University Art and Culture Gallery: The gallery holds over 100 artistic artworks of culturally significant Thai artists. * Nan River Houseboats: Phitsanulok is known throughout Thailand for the
houseboats A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home. Most houseboats are not motorized as they are usually moored or kept stationary at a fixed point, and often tethered to land to provide utilities. Ho ...
which still line the
Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...
near Wat Phra Sri Rattana Maharat, though in recent years these are becoming fewer. A houseboat museum is open to visitors.


Festivals and events

* Phra Buddha Chinnarat Fair: Held each January at Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan. * Suan Chom Nan Park Festival: Held twice a year along the
Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...
. Food and local products are on sale. * Dragon Boat Races: On the first weekend of each October, dragon boat races are held outside Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan in the
Nan River The Nan River ( th, แม่น้ำน่าน, , ) is a river in Thailand. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. Geography The Nan River originates in the Luang Prabang Range, Nan Province. The province ...
. Each dragon boat has a crew of approximately 30 oarsmen.


References


External links

* * {{Authority Control Populated places in Phitsanulok province Nan River Cities and towns in Thailand