Pichit Province

Pichit Province

General Information
Situated in the Lower North some 345 kilometres from Bangkok, Pichit 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 in 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 II which tells of Chalawa
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, Bueng Na Rang and Wachirabarami
How To Get There
By Car
1. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to Nakhon Sawan, and then proceed to Phichit via Highway No. 1118 (passing Chum Saeng, Bang Mun Nak and Taphan Hin), a total distance of 345 kilometres.

2. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 32 to In Buri, and then use Highway No. 11 to Phichit via Tak Fa, Nong Bua, Khao Sai and Sak Lek, a total distance of 344 kilometres.

3. From Bangkok, take the same route as (2). When arriving Khao Sai, turn into Highway No. 113 to Phichit via Thap Khro and Taphan Hin.

By Bus
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses depart from Bangkok's Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal to Phichit every day. Call 0 2936 2852-66 or visit www.transport.co.th for more information.
By Rail
Regular Trains departs from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Railway Station to Phichit many times daily. Call 1690 or visit www.railway.co.th for more information.
Festivals
Boat Race
Boat racing is a traditional event of long standing. It is usually held after the homage-paying rights to the province's principal Buddha statue during September each year on the Nan River in front of Wat Tha Luang.
Local Products

Fruit
Fruit-growing is one of Phichit's major occupations. Among its more well-known produce are pomelo, jack-fruit, Krathon and Maprang. Fruits are also use 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 snack.
Hand-woven Fabric
A popular handicraft of the province is the colourful hand-woven fabric. Reasonably prices, it is a widely available at Ban Pa Daeng in Taphan Hin district.
Makham Kaeo
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.

Attractions

Bueng Si Fai
Bueng 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 delightfully 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 could be used for meetings.
Utthayan Mueang Kao Pichit
About 7 kilometres from town on the Phichit-Wang Chick road (no. 1068) is Utthayan Mueang Kao Pichit. The park features an ancient town dating back to 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 changes 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 Vihan. There are score of small Chedis scattered around the site.
Wat Khao Rup Chang
Wat Khao Rup Chang is located along the Phichit-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 away. The Mondop house a bronze Holy Relic.

Wat Nakhon Chum
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, the temple 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 walls, 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 Tha Luang
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.

Wat Pho Prathap Chang
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 Sua, 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 Vihan 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 years old.
Wat Bang Khlan
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 earthen-wares for display. It is open only on Saturday-Sunday.
Taphan Hin
Taphan Hin is the most commercially advanced district of Phichit. 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 railways. 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

Continue reading here: Samut Prakan Province

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