Phitsanulok is the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great and his equally brave and able brother, Prince Ekatosarot. At the cross - road between the Northern and Central regions of the country, Phitsanulok has long been an important center both for political and strategical reason. It was a recruiting place when Ayutthaya had war with Myanmar. It was a capital of Thailand for 25 years during the reign of King Boromtrailokkanat of Ayutthaya.
The climate of Phitsanulok is generally hot and humid. It borders with Uttaradit in the North, Pichit in the South, Loei and Phetchabun in the East, Kamphaeng Phet and Sukhothai in the West. Covering an area of 10,815.8 square kilometers, the province is divided into 9
parts / regions : Amphoes Muang, Bang Krathum, Bang Rakam, Chat Trakan, Nakhon Thai, Noen Maprang, Phrom Priram, Wang Thong and Wat Bot.
Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat This monastery commonly called by the inhabitants as "Wat Yai", is the most important monastery of Phitsanulok, the home of the famous Phra Buddha Chinnarat. It is located at the foot of Naresuan Bridge on the city side of the river.
The monastery was built in the reign of Phra Maha Thamma Racha I (Phraya Lithai) in 1357 A.D. It houses the Phra Buddha Chinnarat regarded as the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. It is cast in the attitude of subduing evil. Later, in 1631, King Ekatosarot graciously bestowed some of his gold regalia to be beaten into gold - plate and applied them to the image with his own hands, creating this most beautiful Buddha image.
There are many other beautiful and noteworthy items in the monastery compound. The mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden doors of Vihara are especially splendid, and were built by King Boromkot in 1756 as a dedication to Phra Buddha Chinnarat. Behind the Vihara, there is a large prang 36 meters high, with a staircase leading up to the niche containing the Buddha relics. In front of the prang, there is Phra Attharos, and on the 9 - Room Vihara slope, there remains only the newly renovated Buddha image.
Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Nang Phya is located on the eastern bank of the Nan River, near Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat to the south. These two monasteries, assumed to be built when Phitsanulok City was ruled by Somdet Phraboromtrai Lokkanat, have linking compounds. Wat Nang Phya has no temple or bot but it is known for the so-called "Phra Nang Phya" votive tablets found within the pagoda's repository. Both the hot of Wat Ratchaburana and the vihara of Wat Nang Phya share a special fine form of the 3-head nagas decorated on their eaves.
Wat Chulamani The Prang, a corncob-shaped tower at Wat Chulamani is well-known and studied by students of archaeology and history. The Wat is the oldest historical site in Phitsanulok. Of a highly individual style and pattern, it boasts extremely ornate and elaborate plaster design of immense interest and value found nowhere else in the Kingdom.
Shrine of King Naresuan the Great This shrine is located opposite to the township area in the compound of the Phitsanulok Phittayakom School. It consists of a seated figure of King Naresuan the Great pouring lustral water from a golden container and ceremoniously declaring Ayutthaya's independence from Myanmar. The shrine is built on the site of Chandra Palace, where he was born in the year 15>5 A.D. The present shrine's building was completed on Nov. 28,1961 A.D.
Sergeant - Major Dr. Thawi - Pim Buranaket Folklore Museum Located opposite the Buranathai Buddha Image foundry, Wisutkasat road, Amphoe Muang. This museum is well known for its collections of all folk-arts, crafts, basketry, pottery and ancient kitchen utensils. In addition to these, there also are instruments for agriculture occupation and household living displayed.
Houseboats along Maenam Nan Phitsanulok has other name so-called Song Kwae , Song Kwae means the town of two rivers. Maenam Nan is the main and the most important river of the province. It is 127.5 kms. long running across the province. Kwae Noi River, the name similar to that in Kanchanaburi in the West, also comes from the North and joins up with Maenam Nan near the downtown area. This joint river is the main artery that divides Phitsanulok into two parts,the East and the West Bank. As it is a main transportation route of the province, people gather together to stay on house boats and house rafts along both sides of the river.
