Things to do in Phitsanulok

Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat

Also known as Wat Yai, this famous wat is home to Phra Buddha Chinnarat, regarded as one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand, cast in 1357. The beautiful mother-of-pearl inlaid doors were added by King Bornkot in 1756. Behind the wat is a 36m prang with a staircase leading to the niche surrounded by cloisters containing numerous other Buddha images, all copies of Phra Buddha Chinnarat. Also interesting to note in the main temple is the statue of King Naresuan and the obvious deity status conferred upon the man. This is a highly revered site and those not wearing proper clothing will be refused entry. It's also very popular, home to a complex housing food, souvenir and clothes stalls, an ATM machine and even a tourist police booth. Often over-run by both western and Thai tour groups.

Admission is 30B for westerners, free for Thais.

Sgt. Maj. Thawee Folk Museum

This fascinating museum is a must-see. Set in several buildings, it has a huge range of displays covering everything from Thai traditional culture, to a massive collection of animal and fish traps, thorough to photos of the great Phitsanulok fire and skin-crawling photos detailing the castration of a buffalo. The museum is walking distance from the youth hostel, but a good 15-minute walk from the centre of Phitsanulok. There is a small souvenir shop and cafe on the site.

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Wisutkaset Road
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 08:30-16:30

Buddha Casting Factory

Across the road from the folk museum and under the same management, is an area where a huge range of bronze Buddha images are cast using the 'lost wax method' which visitors can observe. There is a small shop on the premises which sells a range Buddha products. Admission is by donation and opening hours are the same as the museum. It's only really worth a look if you're already in the area. A small bird sanctuary is also on site.

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26/43 Wisutkaset Rd, Phitsanulok
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 08:00 – 17:00

Wat Chula Mani

Wat Chula Mani is the oldest temple in Phitsanulok province. It was originally located at the city centre of Phitsanulok, but now it is located about four km outside of town. King Borom Trailokanat was ordained as a monk here in 1416. Unfortunately, there isn't much left of the temple now other than a small Khmer-style prang and Buddha's footprint.

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4km outside Phitsanulok

King Naresuan Shrine and Wang Chan Palace Ruin

The King Naresuan Shrine and Wang Chan Palace Ruin is located across the Nan River from Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, on what used to be the grounds of a large school. The school has been closed and is being demolished so that the foundations of the old Wang Chan Palace can be slowly uncovered and studied.

King Naresuan was born in the Palace in 1555, and the grounds now have a small shrine which contains a life-sized statue of the King pouring water out of a cup to symbolise a declaration of independence from Burma. This shrine is very popular with the locals, who burn incense and leave offerings at the foot of the statue. There is also a small museum here with pictures and legends of the King's life. Some English captions are available, so it's definitely worth a browse.

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Across Nan river from Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat

Phu Hin Rong Kla national park

Phu Hin Rong Kla became a national park in 1984. For the decade before it became a park, it served as the headquarters of the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT). These headquarters became a battlefield in the early 1980s, as the Thai military attacked and eventually succeeded in dismantling the CPT.

The visitor's centre is a great place to start an exploration of the park. There is a small museum that showcases artefacts from the communist era, including medical instruments, Chinese anatomy charts, and paintings of Communist heroes Mao Tse Tung and Joseph Stalin. Some of the captions are in English, so it's well worth a visit.

Near the museum is a pleasant 3.5km trail that takes visitors to some of the park's historical sites. Included in this hike are the Communist Party Headquarters and air raid shelter, and the Flag Pole Cliff where red flags were flown after military victories against the Thai government. (The tri-coloured Thai flag flies there now, of course.) Close to the Flag Pole Cliff is Lan Hin Pum, a cliff whose top is made of nodulated stone. The CPT brought medical patients here to relax, as there is often a cool breeze that flows over the area.

Another location in the park houses what is left of the Communist military school. Originally, the school was comprised of about 30 wooden buildings, but the air here is quite damp and the houses are slowly rotting away. A very short hike (300m) will bring you to a small waterfall and a water wheel that was built by engineering students who fled from Bangkok to join the CPT after the military cracked down on their anti-government protests.

There are several other waterfalls in the park as well. Some are only a few hundred metres off the main road, while others require a more strenuous four to five km hike through the mountainous forest.

A variety of overnight accommodations are available near the Visitor's Centre in very well maintained bungalows. Small wooden bungalows that sleep three people are 300B, while larger concrete buildings are priced from 800-2000B depending on the size and number of beds and bedrooms. The largest bungalow is the size of a small house with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and sleeps eight people.

There are several small, simple outdoor restaurants serving Thai food near the Visitor's Centre and bungalows. Even if you are not staying the night, these eateries are a great place to grab a snack before heading back to Phitsanulok.

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130km from Phitsanulok town
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style2/default.asp?npid=86&lg=2
How to get there: The easiest way to reach Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park is by private car. The park is located 130km east of Phitsanulok city. Follow Highway 12 from the capital to the turn-off to Nakorn Thai at the 68km marker. From here, follow the signs to the park. (You will turn off to the park before reaching Nakorn Thai.)

It is also possible to reach the park by motorcycle. The road from Phitsanulok is mostly flat, but the last 10km are very steep, so a powerful engine and steel nerves are required.

The park can also be reached by bus. Take one of the hourly buses to Nakorn Thai. Songtaews make the remaining 30km trip from Nakorn Thai to the park at 09.30, 10.30, 14.00 and 15.00.

Tung Sulang Luang

Tung Sulang Luang National Park, just south of Phu Hin Rong Kla, shares some of the common recent history involving the Communist Party of Thailand (CPT). However, the topographies of the two parks are quite different from each other. Tung Sulang Luang Park is known for its grasslands and meadows and is also the home of Phitsanulok's largest waterfall: Kaeng Sopha Waterfall.

Many of the main features of the park are only accessible with a 4-wheel drive in the dry season. But the main visitors centre at the 79km marker on Highway 12 and the Kaeng Sopha Waterfall at the 72km marker provide easily accessible and therefore popular recreation spots for Phitsanulok residents.

There are several types of accommodation available near the Visitor's Centre on Highway 12. There is a campground on the Kek River, as well as many sizes and types of bungalows, from small one-bedroom bungalows that sleep four and cost 1000B per night to small 4-bedroom houses sleeping 10 and costing 5,000B per night.

There is no food for sale in the park, however, so if you are staying over night, be sure to bring your own.

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Around 130km from Phitsanulok
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style2/default.asp?npid=20&lg=2
How to get there: The easiest way to reach the main visitor's centre of Tung Sulang Luang is by private car. However, local busses run from Phitsanulok to Lom Sak every hour and are easily flagged down from any location along Highway 12.