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Overview of Phitsanulok

Phitsanulok, or "Pi - lok" as it's also known, served as the Thai capital for 25 years in the mid-15th century under the reign of King Borom Trailokanant. Most see it as a jumping off point for Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Kampeng Phet and other parts further north, but if you hang around for a while you will discover its charm and find lots of things to do.

The town, located 55km southwest of Sukhothai on the Nan River is also called Song Kwai (Two Tributaries) because it’s located near a junction of the Mae Nam Kwai and Mae Nam Nan Rivers. It's the only place in Thailand where you can legally reside on a houseboat within municipal boundaries - although the law says you can't build new houseboats. Nonetheless river life in Phitsanulok is fascinating, with the annual.

Phitsanulok also has a reputation for "good eats" as it's said to have more restaurants per capita than any other city in the country. Floating restaurants of note include Phae Tong and Phae Fa Thai. And the popular night market, located along the riverside, also provides a wide array of local delicacies.

In town, there are plenty of temples to visit, but the most noteworthy are Wat Chulamani and Wat Phra Si Mahatat, housing the revered Buddha image Phra Buddha Jinaraj, probably second only in importance to Emerald Buddha, housed in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew. There’s also a folk museum and a Buddha A casting foundry.

Also close by are the Phu Hin Rong Kla and the Thung Salaeng Luang, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, the former also being the former headquarters for the Communist Party of Thailand (CPD and its tactical arm, the People's Liberation Army of Thailand (PLAT) from 1967 — 1982. Laos is only 50 kilometers away from Phu Hin Rong Kla and 300 kilometers away from Yunnan, China, so party ideologues could count on a steady supply of goods, and support during the Cold War years, Many Bangkok students also fled here for sanctuary after the bloody uprising in 1976 (the government later granted them amnesty in 1982).

Getting There

Phitsanulok is about six hours away by bus from both Chiang Mai and Bangkok, but as always, if you have the time, train is the most enjoyable way to travel there. THAI airways also flies to Phitsanulok from Chiang Mai, Bangkok (55 min) and other destinations. Motorcycles and songtaews (pickup truck modified to carry more passengers) can whisk you around town once you are there, and there's also a municipal bus service.