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 Thailand
Guidebook > Provinces > Northern
Thailand > Phichit
Situated
in the Lower North some 345 kilometres from Bangkok, Phichit is accessible
by both road and rail. Nurtured by two rivers, the Yom and the Nan running
parallel to one another north to south, the land is agriculturally fertile.
Once the site of an ancient town dating back almost a thousand years
ago, Phichit has played a major role in the history of both Sukhothai
and Ayutthaya.
Known as the land
of the crocodiles, it has been home to this ferocious reptile which
has thrived in its waters.There are today several fresh-water crocodile
farms. Phichit features in the Thai epic Krai Thong composed by King
Rama ll which tells of Chalawan, a powerful crocodile king.
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Phichit
is administratively divided into the following districts: Muang,
Pho Prathap Chang, Taphan Hin, Bang Mun Nak, Pho Thale, Sam Ngam,
Wang Sai Phun, Thap Khlo, Sak Lek, Dong Charoen, Bung Na Rang
and Wachira Barami.
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visited this northern province, please share your highlights
with other visitors to Thailand Guidebook. |
Built on the west bank of the Nan River within town limit
in 1845, Wat Tha Luang today houses Luang Pho
Phet, a Chiang Saen-style Buddhist statue cast in bronze.
Bung Si Fai is a large fresh-water lake to the south
of town. It is a Fishery Department's facility to breed
fresh-water. Along the banks is a delight-fully landscaped
park suitable for rest and recreation. The scenery is at
its most scenic in the early morning and late afternoon.
On the other side of the park is an aquarium exhibiting
species of native fish and local fishing equipment. An eye
catching sight is a gigantic, crocodile shaped structure
within which is a space which can be used for meetings.
About 7 kilometres from town on the Phichit-Wang Chick
road (no. 1068) is Utthayan Muang Kao Pichit The
park features an ancient town dating back more than 900
years. Most of the structures discovered were built during
the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. The old town is surrounded
by city walls and moats. During the Sukhothai period it
was called Muang Sa Luang situated on the original bank
of the Nan River before the river changed its course, which
was the reason the town itself was moved to the new bank
in circa 1881 during the reign of king Rama V. In the town
centre is Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat with its large bell-shaped
Chedi inside of which have been found hundreds of votive
tablets. In front of the Chedi are remains of a Wihan. There
are score of small Chedis scattered around the site.
Wat Nakhon Chum is some 9 kilometres from town on
the Phichit Wang Chik road . Built in the Sukhothai period
about 800 hundred years ago, it features an old Ubosot built
with brick and mortar with the upper parts in wood. Instead
of windows, there are narrow openings for ventilation throughout
the wall, similar to temples of the Ayutthaya period. In
the Ubosot is a large Sukhothai-style Buddha statue once
used as the principal statue in oath-taking ceremony pledging
allegiance to the monarch.
Wat Khao Rup Chang is located along the Phic-Taphan
Hin road some 15 kilometres from town. On the hilltop is
an old, Ayutthaya-style Chedi built of bricks but with its
top part now broken. There is also a Mondop, the wall murals
of which have largely faded faded away. The Mondop houses
a bronze Holy Relic. |
An
old temple in Pho Prathap Chang district is Wat Pho Prathap
Chang located about 27 kilometres from town on route
#1068 to the south. It was built by Phra Chao Sun, an Ayutthaya
king, in 1701 at a site reputed to be his own birth-place.
Although abandoned for almost 300 years the remaining traces
are indicative of past splendors such as a huge Wihan with
its walls still standing but now roofless and small Chedis
scattered over the site. The entire site is surrounded by
double walls and huge trees some of which are over 200 year
old.
Tapan Hin
is the most commercially advanced district of the Nan River
located on the bank of the Nan River some 30 kilometres
south of the provincial seat on Highway No .113 it can also
be reached via train. The most prominent sight of the district
is the 34 metre-tall golden Buddha statue the Luang Pho
To, at Wat Thewaprasat on the Nan river bank opposite the
Tapan Hin market. There are ferry services across the river.
About 12 kilometres
from the district town of Pho Tha-le, or 60 kilometres south
of Phichit town, is Wat Bang Khlan. It was the resident
temple of the highly revered monk, the late Luang Pho Ngoen.
A statue of the Luang Pho Ngoen continues to receive
homage from the public. The Chai Bowon Museum inside the
temple collects ancient items such as votive tablets, Buddha
statues and earthenware for display. lt is open only Saturday
and Sunday.
Phichit's
Phra Kruang, Phra Kruang (Buddhist Votive tablet) is
regarded as lucky charm to ward off danger and to give good
fortune. Those found in Phichit are highly regarded and
in great demand by collectors and believers. The making
of such votive tablets in Phichit is an art handed down
through the centuries. As Phichit was strategically situated
and an assembly point for forces from Ayutthaya to move
up north to conquer the North, and local manpower was constantly
mobilised to join the army, the practice of making such
talismans to ward off harm became prevalent. Genuine Phichit
Phra Kruangs today are hard to find. Replicas are therefore
made instead. |

Boat racing
is a traditional event of long standing. It is usually held after
the homage-paying rites to the province principal Buddha statue
during September each year on the Nen River in front of Wat Tha
Luang.

Fruit-growing is one
of Phichit major occupations. Among its more well known produce
are pomelo, jack-fruit, Krathon and Maprang. Fruits are also used
in making several kinds of products.
Som O (pomelo)
is probably Phichit's most well-known and best-selling fruit.
Grown mainly in Pho Prathap Chang district, it has a mixed sweet
and sour taste and has no seeds. The flesh is pinkish. There are
two seasons for pomelo - October and April. The peels of young
pomelo are made into jam-like sweets, highly popular as a snack.
Makham Kaeo
is another highly popular buy. The tamarind fruits are turned
into a kind of candy which has a pleasant taste of sourness, saltiness,
sweetness and slight pungency.
A popular handicraft
of the province is the colourful hand-woven fabric. Reasonably
prices, it is widely available at Ban Pa Dang in Taphan Hin district. |
COPYRIGHT:
Information on this page is used with permission from the Tourist Authority
of Thailand. Additional information from brochures produced locally
and notes made by Nattawud Daoruang and Richard Barrow. All photographs
on this web site are the property of Nattawud Daoruang.

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