Phitsanulok Province

Phitsanulok was the birthplace of one of the greatest heroes in Thai history - King Naresuan. As a young prince he was taken away by the Burmese, after they had defeated Ayutthaya, to guarantee the good behavior of his father, King Thammarat. On his return to Ayutthaya, aged 16, he was given the principality to govern by his father. He developed his military and political expertise, which helped him immensely when he took to the throne of Ayutthaya in 1590.

During the reign of King Boromtrailokant of Ayutthaya (1448-1488), Phitsanulok became the capital of Siam for a short period of 25 years. Up until the Burmese ransacked Ayutthaya in 1767 it basically functioned as the kingdom's second city.

The modern city doesn't really have anything to offer the traveller compared to the great cities of nearby Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai. However, it does have a good selection of western style hotels and can be a good resting point for those travelling to the north.

Places of Attraction

Wat Phra Sri Ratana Mahathat

The Monastery of the Great Relic. The locals call it simply Wat Yai, 'Big Wat'. The monastery was built on the eastern banks of the River Nan, in 1357, during the reign of King Phra Li Thai. The viharn houses one of Thailand's most revered Buddha images - Phra Buddha Chinarat. The image, cast in bronze, is a perfect example of Sukhothai style and is believed to have been made under the orders of King Li Thai in 1357. The image is housed in a three-tier viharn, built in a mixture of Ayutthayan and Lanna styles. Over the centuries, successive Thai kings have visited Phitsanulok to pay homage to the image.
In a smaller viharn at the front of the main building, lies another significant image - The Remnant Buddha - cast from the remaining bronze after the original image had been cast. Also in the compound is the Buddha Chinarat National Museum which holds a small collection of Sukhothai Buddha images and an assortment of ceramics. 

Wat Chulamani

The oldest historical monument in the region are the remains of this once impressive Khmer-style prang. The remnants indicate that it was once an elegantly constructed temple. Inscriptions on the ruined of the viharn tell the story of King Borom Trailokanat's ordination there as a monk. The prang is situated 5 km south of the city, along Borom Trailokanat Rd

Buddha Casting Foundry

Located on Wisut Kasat Rd, is this small factory where bronze Buddha images are cast. As well as being able to watch the craftsmen at work, there is a detailed photo collection of the processes involved in the lost wax method of casting.

Folk Museum

The museum is located near the foundry, on Wisut Kasat Rd. The museum was established by Dr Thawi, a respected authority on Northern Thai folklore, who also owns the foundry. The collection of various utensils used in daily life, from agricultural implements to cooking utensils and musical instruments, are from Dr Thawi's personal collection. The exhibits are well laid out and information on the pieces is included.