Phitsanulok
Thai Term GlossaryAmphoe: DistrictBan: VillageChedi: Stupa or PagodaDoi or Phu or Khao: MountainKhlong: CanalKo: IslandMaenam: RiverMueang: Town or CityNamtok: WaterfallTambon: Sub-districtTham: CaveThanon: RoadUbosot or Bot: Ordination hall in a templeWihan: Image hall in a templeWat: TempleNote: English spelling here given tries to approximate Thai pronunciation. Posted signs may bespelled differently. When seeking help from a Thaifor directions, point to the Thai spellings givenafter each place.PhitsanulokA city in the lower part of Northern Thailandrich in historical, cultural and natural attractions,Phitsanulok is some 377 kilometres fromBangkok. The province covers an area of 10,815square kilometres, featuring mountains, plainsand forest in the east and river basin. The NanRiver, lifeline of the province runs through theheart of the city. Phitsanulok comprises 9d i s t r i c t s i n c l u d i n g A m p h o e M u e a n gPhitsanulok, Amphoe Wang Thong, AmphoePhrom Phiram, Amphoe Bang Rakam, AmphoeBang Krathum, Amphoe Nakhon Thai, AmphoeWat Bot, Amphoe Chat Trakan, and AmphoeNoen Maprang.HistoryThe city dates back to the 10th century whenthe Khmer ruled this region. Formerly, the citywas named Song Khwae, meaning two rivers,as it was located between the Nan and KhwaeNoi River. The original location of Song Khwaecity is at Wat Chulamani. Around the year 1357,king of Sukhothai, Phra Maha ThammarachaLithai, decided to move the town to its presentlocation. Since then, Phitsanulok served as astrategic border town ruled by members of theroyal family.During the Ayutthaya period, the town playeda larger role as a buffer town betweenAyutthaya, the capital city, and the northernkingdom. Following an administrative reformby King Borommatrailokkanat, it had served asthe capital city for 25 years. After that, the townwas downgraded to a strategic border town. Ithas played a major role in blocking the invasionof Burmese troops. King Naresuan the Great,who ruled the town in a capacity as CrownPrince, mobilized troops from Phitsanulokto fight against the Burmese who then ruledover the Siamese Kingdom, and reclaimedindependence in 1584.Phitsanulok became a strategic town in curbingBurmese invasion again in 1775 in the Thon Buriperiod. During a tough battle, the Burmesearmy’s commander requested an appearanceof a Thai commander, Chaophraya Chakri, andpredicted that he would become a king. Chaophraya Chakri was later crowned the first monarch of the Rattanakosin period, King Rama Ithe Great of the Royal House of Chakri. Phitsanulok was upgraded to be a circle called Monthon Phitsanulok in 1894 in the reign of KingRama V. Now, Phitsanulok is a provinceBOUNDARIESNorth : Uttaradit and Lao PDR,South : Phichit.East : Phetchabun and LoeiWest : Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet.HOW TO GET THEREBy car: From Bangkok, motorist can travelthrough Highway No. 1 up north to Wang Noiof Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, then use HighwayNo. 32, through Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat,and Nakhon Sawan. Then get on Highway No.117 bound for Phitsanulok. This route, which isthe most convenient way, is 377 kilometreslong from Bangkok.From Sing Buri, motorist can use Highway No.11, the In Buri-Tak Fa route, and turn intoHighway No. 12 to Amphoe Wang Thong ofPhitsanulok, and turn left to Phitsanulok whichis 17 kilometres away. This route is a total of 450kilometres from Bangkok.Travellers can also travel through Phetchabunand Lom Sak before getting on Highway No. 12.A distance of 100 kilometres, this route is richof attractions.By bus: Regular buses and coaches leave theNorthern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit 2) in Bangkokall day long. For more information, call thestate-owned Transport Co., Ltd. at Tel. 1490www.transport.co.th or Phitsanulok BusTerminal Tel. 0 5524 2430. Air-conditionedcoach services are available at PhitsanulokYanyon Tour Co., Ltd. (Tel. 0 2936 2924-5 or0 5525 8647), Cherdchai Tour Co., Ltd. (Tel.0 2936 0199 or 0 5521 1922), and Win Tour (Tel.0 2936 3753-4 or 0 5525 2617).Daily services to Phitsanulok are available fromnearby provinces such as Uttaradit, Phrae,Lampang, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Mae Sot ofTak, Phichit, Phetchabun and Khon Kaen. Fordetails, contact Phitsanulok Bus terminal Tel. 05530 2716By train: Sprinter trains, rapid trains andordinary trains leave Bangkok Railway Station(Hua Lamphong) for Phitsanulok daily. For moreinformation, call 1690, 0 2220 4444, orPhitsanulok Railway Station at Tel. 0 5525 8005www.railway.co.thBy air: There are daily flights between Bangkokand Phitsanulok, contact Thai Air Asia Tel. 0 25159999 www.airasia.com, Nok Air Tel. 1318 www.nokair.co.th, daily flights between Chiang Maiand Phitsanulok contact Kan Air Tel. 0 2551 6111www.kanairlines.com, Phitsanulok Airport Tel.0 5530 1010Distances from Amphoe MueangPhitsanulok to other districts.Amphoe Bang Rakam 17 kilometresAmphoe Wang Thong 17 kilometresAmphoe Wat Bot 30 kilometresAmphoe Bang Krathum 35 kilometresAmphoe Phrom Phiram 40 kilometresAmphoe Noen Maprang 75 kilometresAmphoe Nakhon Thai 97 kilometresAmphoe Chat Trakan 136 kilometres
Thai Term GlossaryAmphoe DistrictBan VillageChedi Stupa or PagodaDoi or Phu or Khao MountainKhlong CanalKo IslandMaenam RiverMueang Town or CityNamtok WaterfallTambon Sub-districtTham CaveThanon RoadUbosot or Bot Ordination hall in templeWihan Image hall in templeWat TempleNote English spelling here given tries to approximate Thai pronunciation Posted signs may bespelled differently When seeking help from Thaifor directions point to the Thai spellings givenafter each place .PhitsanulokA city in the lower part of Northern Thailandrich in historical cultural and natural attractions ,Phitsanulok is some 377 kilometres fromBangkok The province covers an area of 10,815 square kilometres featuring mountains plainsand forest in the east and river basin The NanRiver lifeline of the province runs through theheart of the city Phitsanulok comprises gPhitsanulok Amphoe Wang Thong AmphoePhrom Phiram Amphoe Bang Rakam AmphoeBang Krathum Amphoe Nakhon Thai AmphoeWat Bot Amphoe Chat Trakan and AmphoeNoen Maprang .HistoryThe city dates back to the 10 th century whenthe Khmer ruled this region Formerly the citywas named Song Khwae meaning two rivers ,as it was located between the Nan and KhwaeNoi River The original location of Song Khwaecity is at Wat Chulamani Around the year 1357 ,king of Sukhothai Phra Maha ThammarachaLithai decided to move the town to its presentlocation Since then Phitsanulok served as astrategic border town ruled by members of theroyal family .During the Ayutthaya period the town playeda larger role as buffer town betweenAyutthaya the capital city and the northernkingdom Following an administrative reformby King Borommatrailokkanat it had served asthe capital city for 25 years After that the townwas downgraded to strategic border town Ithas played major role in blocking the invasionof Burmese troops King Naresuan the Great ,who ruled the town in capacity as CrownPrince mobilized troops from Phitsanulokto fight against the Burmese who then ruledover the Siamese Kingdom and reclaimedindependence in 1584 .Phitsanulok became strategic town in curbingBurmese invasion again in 1775 in the Thon Buriperiod During tough battle the Burmesearmy ’s commander requested an appearanceof Thai commander Chaophraya Chakri andpredicted that he would become king Chaophraya Chakri was later crowned the first monarch of the Rattanakosin period King Rama Ithe Great of the Royal House of Chakri Phitsanulok was upgraded to be a circle called Monthon Phitsanulok in 1894 in the reign of KingRama Now Phitsanulok is provinceBOUNDARIESNorth Uttaradit and Lao PDR ,South Phichit .East Phetchabun and LoeiWest Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet .HOW TO GET THEREBy car From Bangkok motorist can travelthrough Highway No up north to Wang Noiof Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya then use HighwayNo 32 through Ang Thong Sing Buri Chai Nat ,and Nakhon Sawan Then get on Highway No .117 bound for Phitsanulok This route which isthe most convenient way is 377 kilometreslong from Bangkok .From Sing Buri motorist can use Highway No .11, the In Buri-Tak Fa route and turn intoHighway No 12 to Amphoe Wang Thong ofPhitsanulok and turn left to Phitsanulok whichis 17 kilometres away This route is total of 450 kilometres from Bangkok .Travellers can also travel through Phetchabunand Lom Sak before getting on Highway No 12 .A distance of 100 kilometres this route is richof attractions .By bus Regular buses and coaches leave theNorthern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit in Bangkokall day long For more information call thestate-owned Transport Co ., Ltd at Tel 1490 www .transport.co.th or Phitsanulok BusTerminal Tel 5524 2430 Air-conditionedcoach services are available at PhitsanulokYanyon Tour Co ., Ltd (Tel. 2936 2924 or 5525 8647 ), Cherdchai Tour Co ., Ltd (Tel.0 2936 0199 or 5521 1922 ), and Win Tour (Tel.0 2936 3753 or 5525 2617 ).Daily services to Phitsanulok are available fromnearby provinces such as Uttaradit Phrae ,Lampang, Chiang Mai Sukhothai Mae Sot ofTak Phichit Phetchabun and Khon Kaen Fordetails contact Phitsanulok Bus terminal Tel 05530 2716 By train Sprinter trains rapid trains andordinary trains leave Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong for Phitsanulok daily For moreinformation call 1690 2220 4444 orPhitsanulok Railway Station at Tel 5525 8005 www .railway.co.thBy air There are daily flights between Bangkokand Phitsanulok contact Thai Air Asia Tel 25159999 www .airasia.com, Nok Air Tel 1318 www .nokair.co.th, daily flights between Chiang Maiand Phitsanulok contact Kan Air Tel 2551 6111 www .kanairlines.com, Phitsanulok Airport Tel .0 5530 1010 Distances from Amphoe MueangPhitsanulok to other districts .Amphoe Bang Rakam 17 kilometresAmphoe Wang Thong 17 kilometresAmphoe Wat Bot 30 kilometresAmphoe Bang Krathum 35 kilometresAmphoe Phrom Phiram 40 kilometresAmphoe Noen Maprang 75 kilometresAmphoe Nakhon Thai 97 kilometresAmphoe Chat Trakan 136 kilometres