Phitsanulok

Phitsanulok is a province in northern central Thailand, bordered by mountains in the north and east. The capital city, also called Phitsanulok, is in the southwest and is home to the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat temple with its much-revered Phra Buddha Chinnarat statue. Southeast, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park encompasses grassland and mountains, plus the tiered Namtok Kaeng Song waterfall on its northern edge.Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. Phitsanulok was also a provincial center of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian period.

Phitsanulok was originally named “Song Khwae” (lit. “Two Rivers”) as it used to situate between the Nan and Khwae Noi Rivers, although the Khwae Noi River now drains into Nan River at ten kilometers to the north of Phitsanulok. The Northern Chronicles credited the foundation of Song Khwae to “King Srithampidok” or King Thammaracha I of Sukhothai, on the east bank of Nan River. King Thammaracha I also constructed the Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat and casted famous Buddha images of Phra Buddha Chinnarat and Phra Buddha Chinnasri.