Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern
Thailand and is the capital of
Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. It is probably best known as the birthplace of King
Naresuan, who freed the country from Burmese domination in the late 16th Century, and his brother and successor King
Ekathosarot (Sanpet III). As the cross-road between the northern and central regions of the country, it has long been important both for political and strategic reasons, and was fought over many times in centuries past. Phitsanulok was the capital of Thailand for 25 years during the reign of King
Boromma Trailokanat of
Ayutthaya. Located on the banks of the Nan River, the city was originally a small Khmer outpost known as Song Kwae, before the
Khwae Noi River changed its course in the 11th Century A.D. Phitsanulok was also a provincial center of the
Angkorian Empire during the Angkorian period.
[Thailand, A Short Story, David K. Wyatt, ISBN 0300030541] Phitsanulok is home to
Naresuan University and
Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, as well as to a major
Royal Thai Army base.
Etymology
- Song Khwae-The first element song means the number two. The second element khwae means tributary. A loose translation of the entire name would be Two Rivers.
- Phitsanulok-The first element Phitsanu (Thai: พิษณุ) is a cognate of Vishnu, a Hindu god (see, e.g. Witnu, Thai: วิษณุ). Lack of a v sound in the Thai language accounts for the two forms. The second element lok (Thai: โลก) means globe or world. A loose translation of the entire name would be Vishnu's Heaven.
Geography
Phitsanulok is located approximately 377 km north of
Bangkok.
Climate
Phitsanulok has a hot tropical climate with considerable annual rainfall. There is a dry season and a rainy season. The rainy season begins in the spring and ends in a hot, dry summer. It starts again in September and runs to November. The months of December and January tend to be pleasantly cool.
Topography
Phitsanulok is primarily flat lands with some hills.
The eastern portion of the city has some wooded area.
The city is situated in the
Nan Basin, which is part of the
Chao Phraya Watershed.
Phitsanulok is sometimes called
Song Kwae, the city of two rivers, an ancient name dating to a time centuries ago when the
Nan and
Khwae Noi Rivers met near the city. Today, only the
Nan River flows through Phitsanulok.
History
Khmer Empire
During the 11th century, the city of Phitsanulok was but a small Khmer outpost called
Song Khwae, meaning
two rivers.
At that time, the
Nan and
Khwae Noi Rivers both flowed through the city, making it a strategic gateway to northern Thailand.
Sukhothai Period
Ayutthaya Period
- Phitsanulok was a major place of recruitment during Ayutthaya's war with Burma.
- Following the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese in 1767, a mad monk seized control of the city from its royal governor. King Taksin the Great was himself wounded during an unsuccessful attempt to capture the city from the monk.
19th Century
King
Mongkut ordered the restoration of
Wat Ratchaburana.
20th Century
- The Phitsanulok fire of 1955 destroyed much of the older portion of the city of Phitsanulok.
- On Nov 28, 1961, the King Naresuan Shrine was completed at Chandra Palace.
- On January 25, 1967, the Phitsanulok campus of what is now Naresuan University was established as the northern branch of the College of Education.
- Naresuan Dam was constructed throughout the span of 1976 to 1985 on the Nan River as part of the Phitsanulok Irrigation Project.
Recent Events
Government
The chief executive of the city is the mayor. During election campaigns, candidates use signs, vehicles with loud speakers, and political parades to obtain voters.
Royal Thai Army
Phitsanulok is home to the
Third Army Region of the Royal Thai Army, responsible for the northern and northwestern parts of the kingdom..
Channels of Public Communication
The main channels for communication in the city are television and radio, although internet use is emerging in Phitsanulok. The following public television and radio stations
are broadcast from Phitsanulok:
- Sathaanii Witthayu Krajaisiang Thahaan Aakaat (Air Force Radio Station), 954 AM and 95.75, in the City of Phitsanulok
- Sathaanii Witthayu Phitaksantiraat (Communications Division, Royal Thai Police), 1422 AM, in Phitsanulok City
- PRD-11 (television channel 11, owned and operated by the Government Public Relations Department)
Demographics
Ethnic Diversity
The majority ethnicity in the city is Thai. Others in the city consider themselves of
Mon decent.
Language
The vast majority of residents of Phitsanulok speak
Central Thai. Some residents speak
English as well.
Religion
The people of Phitsanulok are predominantly
Theravada Buddhists (as are 95% of the Thai population as a whole), although some minority religions are practiced.
Infrastructure
Educational Institutions
Naresuan University (abbreviated as Mor Nor for Mahawithayalai Naresuan) is an educational center of the Lower Northern region of Thailand. Located in Tambon
Tha Pho, near the city of Phitsanulok, the university is named after King
Naresuan the Great, and the campus contains a large statue of him. Other universities and colleges in or around the city include
Phitsanulok College (a private college),
Sirindhorn College of Public Health,
Rajabhat Pibulsongkram University and the Phitsanulok campus of the
Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna. There are also a number of kindergartens, elementary schools, high schools and vocational schools in the province.
Hospitals
There are several hospitals in the city, both public and private. The province's and the city's primary public hospital is
Buddhachinaraj Hospital Phitsanulok and the regional super tertiary care hospital is
Naresuan University Hospital which located inside
Naresuan University, Tambon
Tha Pho, 10 kilometers south of the city center.
Temples
The city is home to the following 12 active temples where
Theravada Buddhism is practiced by city residents:
- Wat Sra Gaew Pratum Thong ()
Transportation
Phitsanulok is a good starting point for a visit to the World Heritage site at nearby
Sukhothai. The city can be reached by both rail and air (
Phitsanulok Airport), and is on the intersection of several major highways linked between Northern, Northeastern and Central region of Thailand: Highway No.11 (Ta Khli - Phitsanulok - Lampang - Chiang Mai), Highway No. 12 (Tak - Phitsanulok - Lom Sak - Khon Kaen) and Highway No. 117 (Phitsanulok - Nakhon Sawan).
Culture
Much of the culture in the city centers around the
Theravada Buddhist traditions of its residents.
Theravada Buddhism
Most residents are active followers of the
Theravada Buddhist religion. Buddhism is practiced at the many temples or
wat located throughout the city.
Art
Phitsanulok is home to a number of historic sculptures of the Buddha and other religious artwork including the
Buddha Chinnarat, the
Buddha Chin Sri, the
Phra Sri Satsada and
Rat Nom Ha Tat Maha Wihan.
Literature
Examples of important literary works of Phitsanulok include:
- Lilit Yuan Pai (Thai: , English: "Tale of the Fall of Lanna")
- Lilit Prá Lô (Thai: , English: "Tale of the Hero Lô")
- Klohng Táwâatsàmàat (Thai: , English: "Poem of the Twelve Months")
- Gam Sŏn Sĕe Bpràat (Thai: กำศรวลศรีปราชญ์, English: "The Legendary Wise Archer's Grip")
The predominant literary language (as well as the predominant spoken language) is the Central Thai dialect of the
Thai language, which is written in the
Thai alphabet.
Sports
Dragon boat racing has historically been an important element of Phitsanulok's culture. In recent times, football (soccer) has become increasingly popular. In 2005, Phitsanulok won the 2nd Northern Youth Football Championship in the U12 and U15 age groups.
Traditional
Thai boxing is also a major sport in the city.
Western Influence
Recently,
western culture has influenced the regional culture, introducing western style dress (although traditional dress is still worn at certain ceremonies and festivals), and western sports such as
soccer. As methods of communication with the western world continue to improve, especially with growing community access to internet technology and mobile phones, the trend is likely to continue.
Temples
Phra Buddha Chinnarat
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat
Phitsanulok's main tourist attraction is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, known locally simply as Wat Yai (the big temple). This famous temple, built in
1357, is home to the
Phra Buddha Chinnarat, which is one of the most revered Buddha figures in Thailand, and the official symbol of the entire Phitsanulok Province. (An exact replica exists in the Marble Temple in Bangkok, and another in
Wat Saranat Thammaram in
Rayong.) The beautiful mother-of-pearl inlaid doors were built in 1756 by order of King
Boromakot of Ayutthaya. The Buddha Chinnarat National Museum, located on the temple grounds, houses a sizeable collection of Sukhothai period art. A large provincial fair is held at the temple every January.
Other Historic Temples
Wat Chula Manee is also located several kilometers outside the city in
Tha Thong.
Other Attractions
Sergeant-Major Dr. Thawee Buranakhet Folklore Museum
The Sergeant-Major Dr. Thawee Buranakhet Folklore Museum hosts a collection of folk arts, crafts, basketry, pottery and ancient kitchen utensils.
The museum also houses a collection of antiaue traps for catching snakes, birds, tigers and porcupines.
City Walls
Unfortunately, most of the older portions of Phitsanulok were destroyed in a disastrous fire which occurred in 1955. Thus little else remains of the old town besides the famous temple, an ancient
chedi across the road from it and a small section of the city wall. The intact portions of the ancient city wall is accessible to visitors.
Buranathai Buddha Foundry
Buranathai Buddha Foundry
The Buranathai Buddha Foundry specializes in casting bronze Buddha images.
It is the only establishment of this kind in the province.
Craftspersons specialize in the reproduction of the
Phra Buddha Chinnarat Buddha image.
Visitors are permitted to walk along the production line.
Nan River Houseboats
Phitsanulok is known throughout Thailand for the
houseboats which still line the
Nan River near Wat Phra Sri Rattana Maharat, though regretably in recent years these are becoming fewer.
A houseboat museum is also open for visitors.
Night Market
Each night, vendors in Phitsanulok gather to form Phitsanulok's night market. Items sold include clothing and food.
Chandra Palace
The Chandra Palace was the birth place of King
Naresuan the Great, and contains a King Naresuan the Great Shrine.
Naresuan University Art and Culture Gallery
The Naresuan University Art and Culture Gallery holds over 100 artistic artworks of culturally significant Thai artists.
Festivals and Annual Events
thumb|right|300px|River houses in PhitsanulokPhra Buddha Chinnarat Fair
The Phra Buddha Chinnarat Fair is held each January at
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan.
Suan Chom Nan Park Festival
The Suan Chom Nan Park festival is held twice a year along the
Nan River. Food and local products are sold to attendees.
Dragon Boat Races
On the first weekend of each October, the Dragon Boat Races are held outside
Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan in the
Nan River. Each dragon boat has a crew of approximately 30 oarsmen.
Issues of Public Concern
Primary issues of public concern within the province are
poverty,
health care,
pollution,
education,
and
,
HIV,
Measures have been taken to address many of these concerns including heightened enforcement of crimes involving women trafficking and implementation of a Solid Waste Management Program for Phitsanulok
Poverty
It is estimated that around 10% of the population in the city of live below the poverty line.
Health Care
Critics of
Thaksin's health care program, however, suggest that prior to the coup, the program was diminishing the quality of health care in rural provinces such as Phitsanulok by bankrupting hospitals and causing doctors to resign from the public sector and relocate to Bangkok.
