Phitsanulok province
Centrally located between the Central, Northern and Northeast regions of Thailand, Phitsanulok has played an important role in Thailand's history. The city itself was founded over 600 years ago, and Ayutthaya's royal government was based here for 25 years in the 1400s. Phitsanulok is also known as the birthplace of Ayutthaya's King Naresuan the Great in 1555. Throughout the Ayutthaya period, this provincial capital was used as both a training ground and recruitment area for military forays into Burma.
Although marred by conflict between Thai government forces and communist rebels during the 1970s and early 80s, today Phitsanulok is a pleasant place to visit. There are a range of sights to see, from historic national parks to what many Thai people consider to be Thailand's most beautiful Buddha image. Phitsanulok lies around halfway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai and is near the World Heritage Park in Sukothai making it a convenient stop for tourists.
The south and west of the province are mainly used for rice cultivation, while the east and north are covered in low mountain ranges which are home to two national parks, Phu Hin Rong Kla, a mountainous area where much of the fighting between the Thai government and the communists took place and Thuang Salaeng Luang. In addition to the interesting history of Phu Hin Rong Kla, the park has several unique geological formations that are worth a visit. On the other hand, Thuang Saleang Luang is known for its expansive prairie grasslands.
