Phitsanulok is the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great and his equally brave and able brother, Prince Ekatosarot. As the cross-road between the Northern and Central regions of the country, Phitsanulok has long been an important center both of political and strategical reason. It was a recruiting place when Ayutthaya had war with Myamnar. It was a training ground for many kings of Ayutthaya. And 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 fo 10,815.8 square kilometers, the province is divided into 9 Amphoes; Muang, Bang Krathum, Bang Rakam, Chat Trakan, Nakhon Thai, Noen Maprang, Phrom Phiram, Wang Thong and Wat Bot.

ATTRACTIONS

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, year 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 the many other beautiful and noteworthy items in the monastery compund. 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. Behing the Vihara, there is a large prang 36 meters high, whith a staincase leading up to the niche containing the Buddha relics. In front of the prand, there is Phra Attharos, and on the 9-Room Vihara slope, there remains only the newly-renovated Buddha image.

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.