Phitsanulok is a laid-back riverside city at the heart of the lower north, best known for Phra Buddha Chinnarat, often called the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. It is also the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great, who governed the city as crown prince before leading Ayutthaya to independence. Beyond town, the green highlands to the east hold Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, with strange rock formations and a dramatic modern history, along with waterfalls and rafting on the Khek River. Phitsanulok suits history lovers, pilgrims and nature travellers, and makes a convenient base for Sukhothai. It lies about 380 km north of Bangkok: around an hour by air, 5\u20136 hours by car or a comfortable rail journey on the northern line.<\/p>\n
Several daily flights connect Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport with Phitsanulok, and the airport is only a short ride from the city centre. Northern-line trains stop at Phitsanulok station near the old town, and buses run frequently from Bangkok’s Mo Chit terminal. In town, use ride-hailing apps, tuk-tuks or samlors; the main temples and the riverside are close together. For Phu Hin Rong Kla, the Khek River and Sukhothai, hire a car or driver, or join a tour.<\/p>\n
The province’s spiritual heart enshrines Phra Buddha Chinnarat, a gilded bronze seated Buddha framed by a flame-like arch, cast in the Sukhothai style. The temple is busy with worshippers from morning to night; dress modestly and move quietly. Map<\/a><\/p>\n The site of the palace where King Naresuan was born and lived as crown prince, now with excavated foundations, exhibits and a shrine to the king that locals visit with offerings. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Beside the river, this temple has an Ayutthaya-era chedi and an old hall with murals of the Ramakien. It is quieter than Wat Yai and pleasant in the evening. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Famous as the origin of the Phra Nang Phaya amulets, one of the most sought-after amulet types in Thailand, this temple sits next to Wat Ratchaburana. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A private museum displaying traditional tools, traps and household items from rural northern Thailand. Across the road, a foundry shows how bronze Buddha images are cast. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Riverside promenades, floating restaurants and houseboats make the Nan River the city’s evening playground. Stroll at sunset and join the crowds at the night bazaar along the bank. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Just south of the city, this old temple has a Khmer-style prang and ties to King Borommatrailokkanat of Ayutthaya, who once lived in Phitsanulok. Map<\/a><\/p>\n A former stronghold of the Communist Party of Thailand, this cool highland park preserves the old camp sites alongside natural wonders: Lan Hin Pum’s mushroom-shaped rocks, the cracked stone field of Lan Hin Taek and the sunrise viewpoint at Pha Chu Thong. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Route 12 toward Lom Sak follows the Khek River past waterfalls such as Kaeng Sopha, with resorts and rafting operators along the way. White-water rafting is best in the rainy season; always use licensed operators and life jackets. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Wide pine savannahs and grasslands turn green in the rains and golden in the cool season, with flowers and wildlife viewing in a landscape unlike most of Thailand. Map<\/a><\/p>\n Day 1:<\/strong> Visit Wat Yai early to see Phra Buddha Chinnarat before the crowds, then walk to Chan Palace, the Naresuan shrine, Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Nang Phaya. After lunch, explore the folk museum and Buddha foundry, then spend the evening on the Nan River waterfront and at the night bazaar.<\/p>\n Day 2:<\/strong> Drive east into the hills for Phu Hin Rong Kla’s rock fields and viewpoints, then return along the Khek River with a stop at Kaeng Sopha. Alternatively, take a day trip to Sukhothai, about an hour away.<\/p>\n Dates change each year, so check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand before you travel.<\/p>\n In 1584 King Naresuan, then crown prince and governor of Phitsanulok, marched out of this city toward Mon country, a campaign that ended with his declaration of independence from Hanthawaddy. Trace the route and the story on the declaration of independence page at naresuan.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It is admired for its graceful proportions and the flame-like halo around it, and is widely considered one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Thailand. Many Thais travel to Phitsanulok to pay respect.<\/p>\n One day covers the city sights. Add a day for Phu Hin Rong Kla or the Khek River, and another for Sukhothai.<\/p>\n Yes. Buses and cars take about an hour. See our Sukhothai travel guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n November to February is cool and comfortable; the rainy season is best for rafting and waterfalls.<\/p>\n King Taksin’s campaigns passed through this province: The campaign against Chao Phra Fang<\/a> \u00b7 Azae Wungyi’s siege of Phitsanulok<\/a>. The full story with maps is on our King Taksin trail site (in Thai).<\/p>\n Cover photo: Phra Buddha Jinaraj – Phitsanulok.jpg<\/a> \u00b7 JJ Harrison (https:\/\/www.jjharrison.com.au\/) \u00b7 CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> \u00b7 Wikimedia Commons<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The best things to do in Phitsanulok, from Phra Buddha Chinnarat and King Naresuan’s birthplace to Phu Hin Rong Kla, with a two-day route and tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5316,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[172],"tags":[],"province":[205],"class_list":["post-5315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions-en","province-phitsanulok-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5315"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5366,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5315\/revisions\/5366"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5315"},{"taxonomy":"province","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province?post=5315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Chan Palace (Wang Chan) and King Naresuan Shrine<\/h3>\n
3. Wat Ratchaburana<\/h3>\n
4. Wat Nang Phaya<\/h3>\n
5. Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum and Buddha foundry<\/h3>\n
6. The Nan River waterfront<\/h3>\n
7. Wat Chulamanee<\/h3>\n
8. Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park<\/h3>\n
9. Khek River rafting and waterfalls<\/h3>\n
10. Thung Salaeng Luang National Park<\/h3>\n
A two-day Phitsanulok route<\/h2>\n
Festivals and events in Phitsanulok<\/h2>\n
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On King Naresuan’s trail<\/h3>\n
Practical tips<\/h2>\n
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Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n
Why is Phra Buddha Chinnarat so famous?<\/h3>\n
How many days do I need in Phitsanulok?<\/h3>\n
Can I visit Sukhothai from Phitsanulok?<\/h3>\n
When is the best time to visit?<\/h3>\n
On King Taksin’s trail<\/h2>\n
More Phitsanulok and northern Thailand guides<\/h2>\n
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