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Phitsanulok พิษณุโลก Song Khwae • สองแคว | |
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| Phitsanulok City Municipality เทศบาลนครพิษณุโลก | |
 .jpg)  _%25E0%25B8%25A7%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%2594%25E0%25B8%25AD%25E0%25B8%25A3%25E0%25B8%25B1%25E0%25B8%258D%25E0%25B8%258D%25E0%25B8%25B4%25E0%25B8%2581_%25E0%25B8%259E%25E0%25B8%25B4%25E0%25B8%25A9%25E0%25B8%2593%25E0%25B8%25B8%25E0%25B9%2582%25E0%25B8%25A5%25E0%25B8%2581_-_IMG_03.jpg)  .jpg) Clockwise from top: The route 12, Chan Royal Palace Historical Center,Wat Aranyik,Rama I Equestrian Statue, Phitsanulok Clock Tower,Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat | |
 Flag  Seal | |
  Phitsanulok Location within Thailand Show map of Thailand Phitsanulok Location within the Asia Show map of Asia.svg) Phitsanulok Location within Earth Show map of Earth | |
| Coordinates:16°48′57″N100°15′49″E / 16.81583°N 100.26361°E /16.81583; 100.26361 | |
| Country |  Thailand |
| Province |  Phitsanulok |
| District | Mueang Phitsanulok District |
| Government | |
| • Type | City municipality |
| • Mayor | Sirichin Hanphithakphong |
| Area | |
| 18.26 km2 (7.05 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 777 km2 (300 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 51 m (167 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
| 62,584[1] | |
| • Rank | 10th (Urban) |
| • Density | 3,427/km2 (8,877/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 281,929 |
| Time zone | UTC+7:00 (ICT) |
| Postal code | 65000 |
| Calling code | (+66) 55 |
| Geocode | 650101 |
| Chief roadway | Route 12 |
| Chief watercourse | Nan River |
| Chief airport | Phitsanulok Airport |
| Website | www |
Phitsanulok (Thai:พิษณุโลก,pronounced[pʰít.sā.nú.lôːk]) is acity municipality innorthern Thailand and the capital ofPhitsanulok province. It had a city population of 60,827 and an urban population of approximately 200,000 in 2024, making it Thailand's 19th-most populous city proper and one of the major urban centers in the northern region. Located in the geographic center of the province, it occupies the fertile plains along the banks of theNan River, which flows south to join theChao Phraya River.
Phitsanulok was founded in the 11th century as a small Khmer outpost calledSong Khwae (lit. 'two rivers'). The city served as the second capital of various kingdoms on several occasions; during the lateSukhothai Kingdom, and during theAyutthaya Kingdom under KingBorommatrailokanat, who resided in the city to defend against theLanna Kingdom. He unified the western and eastern Song Khwae settlements and renamed them "Phitsanulok". Due to its strategic importance as Ayutthaya's northern outpost, the city frequently facedBurmese attacks. Whenwar with the Konbaung dynasty led to Ayutthaya's collapse in 1767,Chaophraya Phitsanulok declared himself king and briefly established Phitsanulok as a capital before it was incorporated into theThonburi Kingdom. The city maintained its significance throughout the subsequentRattanakosin period.
Phitsanulok is considered one of the country's oldest cities and is home toWat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, which housesPhra Phuttha Chinnarat, one of the most famous and copied Buddha images in Thailand. The city serves as an educational hub, withNaresuan University being the main higher education institution in the lower northern Thailand. The city's location has made it a transportation hub, with comprehensive public transport services including city buses, a railway station on the Northern Line connectingBangkok toChiang Mai, andPhitsanulok Airport offering flights to Bangkok and serving surrounding provinces.
Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, the site of "Muang Yommarat" (เมืองยมราช), a circular-moatedDvaravati settlement dating from the 6th to 10th centuries with a diameter of approximately 1 kilometer, founded 8 kilometers northwest of the present-day city center.[3]: 89 The new city named "Song Khwae" was later founded over 600 years ago, located 5 kilometers south of the present-day Phitsanulok.[4] According to the retrospective chronology derived from the textual evidence presented in theAyutthaya Testimonies, the city of Phitsanulok was established in 937[a] by a monarch ofSankhaburi namedSudhammaraja.[6]: 37 It then became under theAngkor influence around the 11th – 12th centuries.[7]
Phitsanulok was originally named "Song Khwae" (lit. "Two Rivers") as it used to be situated between theNan andKhwae Noi Rivers, although the Khwae Noi River now drains into the Nan River ten kilometers to the north of Phitsanulok. TheNorthern Chronicles credited the foundation of Song Khwae to "King Srithampidok" or KingThammaracha I of Sukhothai, on the east bank of Nan River. King Thammaracha I also constructed theWat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat and cast famous Buddha images ofPhra Buddha Chinnarat and Phra Buddha Chinnasri. Song Khwae eclipsedSukhothai in importance, becoming the royal seat ofSukhothai Kingdom in 1378. After the demise of the last King of Sukhothai at Song Khwae in 1438, Prince Ramesuan of Ayutthaya came to rule Song Khwae. When Prince Ramesuan was crowned as KingTrailokanat of Ayutthaya in 1448, Song Khwae and the Sukhothai Kingdom were incorporated into theAyutthaya Kingdom.
During theAyutthaya-Lanna War, King Trailokanat moved his residence to Song Khwae in 1464 and renamed the city "Phitsanulok" (fromSanskritVishnu andLoka "world"). He expanded the city westward[8] to the west bank of Nan River. In the sixteenth century, Phitsanulok was the seat ofUparaja orheir presumptive to Ayutthaya throne who took residence in the Chantana Palace on the west bank. In 1548, KingMaha Chakkraphat appointed his supporter Phra Pirenthorathep as "King Thammaracha" of Phitsanulok as atributary ruler. During theBurmese-Siamese Wars, Phitsanulok and the Sukhothai region became battlegrounds between Burma and Siam. When KingBayinnaunginvaded Phitsanulok in 1563, King Thammaracha of Phitsanulok submitted to the Burmese.
KingThammaracha, now reigned at Ayutthaya, appointed his son PrinceNaresuan as theUparaja of Phitsanulok in 1570. In 1584, Prince Naresuan ordered the evacuation of all cities in the Sukhothai region including Phitsanulok down south in preparations against Burmese invasions. Phitsanulok was abandoned until it was later restored in 1593 not as aUparaja seat but as aMuang Ek or first-level city held by a governor, becoming the center of Siamese administrations in northern regions. The governors of Phitsanulok held the title "Chao Phraya Surasi". After theSecond Fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, Phitsanulok came under the rule of Chao Phra Fang, a monk who declared himself a local lord based on the town of Fang (modernUttaradit).King Taksin ofThonburi sent forces to capture Phitsanulok in 1768 and appointed Boonma (later PrinceMaha Sura Singhanat) asChao Phraya Surasi the governor of Phitsanulok.
The Burmese GeneralMaha Thiha Thuralaid siege on Phitsanulok in 1775.Chao Phraya Chakri (futureKing Rama I) and his brotherChao Phraya Surasi Boonma held the city for four months until the city finally fell to the Burmese. Phitsanulok was utterly destroyed on this occasion. The Burmeseinvaded again in 1785 and Phitsanulok was abandoned temporarily because the manpower shortage left the city defenseless. After the series of warfare, Phitsanulok was in ruins and depopulated through the nineteenth century. The Phra Buddha Chinnasri image was moved toWat Baworn Niwet in Bangkok in 1829. In 1834, thePhuan people were deported fromMuang Phuan in Laos[9] to re-populate Phitsanulok and surrounding cities. Phitsanulok slowly recovered to be an urban center.
As a part of reforms of King Chulalongkorn, Phitsanulok became the administrative seat of the monthon Phitsanulok in 1894. When the monthons were abolished in 1932, Phitsanulok became the capital ofPhitsanulok Province.
Phitsanulok is in the north of Thailand. Phitsanulok is about 377 kilometres north of Bangkok by road. Phitsanulok covers some 777 square kilometres and bordersUttaradit andLaos to the north, and Loei and Phetchabun to the northeast. The south is adjacent to Phichit while the west is adjacent toKamphaeng Phet Province and Sukhothai.Phitsanulok has many waterfalls, forests and caves. In the north is central area. In the north-west is a highland. It's the important recreational area such as Kaeng Sopha waterfall, Phu Hin Rong Kla and Phu Soi Dow. In the south plains along the Yom River and the Nan River is the most important agricultural district of Phitsanulok.
Phitsanulok lies primarily on flatland with some hills.[12] The eastern portion of the city has some wooded area. The city is in theNan Basin, which is part of theChao Phraya watershed.[13] Phitsanulok is sometimes calledSong Kwae, the city of two rivers, a name dating to a time centuries ago when theNan andKhwae Noi Rivers met near the city. Today, only theNan River flows through Phitsanulok.
Phitsanulok has atropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classificationAw). Winters are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is very hot with the average daily maximum at 37.4 °C (99.3 °F). Themonsoon season runs from May through October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm.
| Climate data for Phitsanulok (1991–2020, extremes 1951-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 36.3 (97.3) | 38.4 (101.1) | 40.5 (104.9) | 42.8 (109.0) | 42.7 (108.9) | 39.4 (102.9) | 37.6 (99.7) | 36.7 (98.1) | 35.7 (96.3) | 35.7 (96.3) | 36.4 (97.5) | 35.7 (96.3) | 42.8 (109.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.5 (88.7) | 33.5 (92.3) | 35.7 (96.3) | 37.2 (99.0) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.3 (93.7) | 33.2 (91.8) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.3 (90.1) | 31.0 (87.8) | 33.5 (92.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 29.1 (84.4) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.3 (84.7) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.2 (82.8) | 28.0 (82.4) | 26.9 (80.4) | 24.9 (76.8) | 28.0 (82.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.2 (66.6) | 20.8 (69.4) | 23.7 (74.7) | 25.4 (77.7) | 25.4 (77.7) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.8 (76.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.7 (76.5) | 24.1 (75.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 23.3 (73.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) | 10.0 (50.0) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 20.4 (68.7) | 21.0 (69.8) | 21.5 (70.7) | 21.4 (70.5) | 21.7 (71.1) | 17.1 (62.8) | 12.1 (53.8) | 8.9 (48.0) | 7.5 (45.5) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 7.0 (0.28) | 16.6 (0.65) | 28.9 (1.14) | 59.2 (2.33) | 165.6 (6.52) | 161.1 (6.34) | 187.9 (7.40) | 240.7 (9.48) | 268.4 (10.57) | 139.1 (5.48) | 31.7 (1.25) | 12.9 (0.51) | 1,319.1 (51.93) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 14.4 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 9.4 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 87.9 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 69.1 | 66.1 | 64.4 | 63.6 | 71.3 | 76.1 | 78.6 | 80.7 | 81.6 | 78.7 | 72.6 | 69.0 | 72.7 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 258.7 | 252.2 | 265.6 | 271.9 | 243.3 | 186.5 | 150.8 | 141.1 | 160.7 | 209.4 | 246.3 | 257.7 | 2,644.2 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 8.3 | 8.6 | 8.9 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 5.8 | 7.3 | 8.3 | 6.6 |
| Source 1:World Meteorological Organization,[14] (extremes)[15] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Office of Water Management and Hydrology, Royal Irrigation Department (sun 1981–2010)[16] | |||||||||||||
The administration of Phitsanulok City Municipality is responsible for an area that covers approximately 18.26 km2 (7.05 sq mi) and consists of only tambon Nai Mueang with 62,584 people and 37,507 households.[1]
According to Municipal Act B.E. 2496 (1953, reviewed in 2003), the duties of the municipality include: clean water supply, waste and sewage disposal, communicable disease control, public training and education, public hospitals and electricity. The mayor, or the highest executive, is directly elected by the eligible voters in the municipal area. The mayor serves a four-year term and is assisted by no more than four deputy mayors appointed directly by the mayor. The Municipal Council is the legislative body of the municipality. It has the power to issue ordinances by laws, that do not contradict the laws of the country. The municipal council's jurisdiction applies to all people living in the municipal area.
There are a total of 64 communities (chumchon), divided into four groups. Although not directly chosen by the local citizens, they provides advice and recommendations to the local administrative organization.[17]
The majority ethnicity in the city is Thai. Others in the city consider themselves ofMon descent.
The majority of residents of Phitsanulok speakcentral Thai.
The people of Phitsanulok are predominantlyTheravada Buddhists (as are95% of the Thai population as a whole), with a small Christian community and a few Muslim families.
Naresuan University (abbreviatedMor Nor forMahawithayalai Naresuan) is an educational center of the lower northern region of Thailand. Now inTha Pho, near the city of Phitsanulok, the university was named after KingNaresuan the Great, and the campus features a large statue of him. Other universities and colleges in or around the city includePhitsanulok University (private),Sirindhorn College of Public Health,Rajabhat Pibulsongkram University (formerly a teacher training college), and the Phitsanulok campus of theRajamangala University of Technology Lanna.
There are three vocational colleges in the city:
Phitsanulok City is home to three secondary institutions:
There is one government hospital in Phitsanulok City:Buddhachinaraj Phitsanulok Hospital with 1,000 beds.
There are also five private hospitals with 400 beds total:
Close to the city center (Aranyik), Phitsanulok Airport receives up to six flights a day from Bangkok (flight time approximately 60 minutes), which are operated by three airlines: Nok Air, Thai Air Asia and Thai Lion Air.
Road 126, a multi-lane by-pass enables through-traffic to avoid the city of Phitsanulok, and connects tohighway 11 toUttaradit andLampang in thenorth, and tohighway 12 toPhetchabun in theeast, and to highway 11 toSing Buri in thesouth, and to highway 117 toNakhon Sawan in thesouth, and to highway 12 toSukhothai,Tak andMae Sot in thewest.
Phitsanulok Terminal 1 (Saen Phon Phai) and Terminal 2 (Samo Khae) provide the mass transport throughout Phitsanulok Province by some eight bus companies. Four minibus lines provide transportation around the city. Yanyon tour operates its own private bus station (Sua Thim) with only a busline to Bangkok.
In the city center,Phitsanulok railway station mainly receives intercity trains on theNorthern Line, operated byState Railway of Thailand, more than a dozen trains running in each direction each day.
The main channels for communication in the city are television and radio. The following public television and radio stations[18] are broadcast from Phitsanulok:
Phitsanulok is home to theThird Army Region of the Royal Thai Army, responsible for the northern and north-western parts of the kingdom.
Phitsanulok's main tourist attraction is Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, known locally simply as Wat Yai (Thai:วัดใหญ่) (the big temple). This famous temple, built in 1357, is home to thePhra Buddha Chinnarat, which is one of the most revered Buddha figures in Thailand, and the official symbol of Phitsanulok Province. The beautiful mother-of-pearl inlaid doors were built in 1756 by order of KingBoromakot of Ayutthaya. The Buddha Chinnarat National Museum, on the temple grounds, houses a sizeable collection of Sukhothai period art.
The city is also home to the following temples whereTheravada Buddhism is practiced by city residents (from north clockwise):
Dragon boat racing has historically been an important element of Phitsanulok 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.[20]
TraditionalThai boxing is also a major sport in the city.
Phitsanulok is home to a number of historic sculptures of the Buddha and other religious artwork including theBuddha Chinnarat, theBuddha Chinnasi, thePhra Si Satsada.
Examples of important literary works of Phitsanulok include:
The predominant literary language (as well as the predominant spoken language) is the central Thai dialect of theThai language, which is written in theThai alphabet.
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Phitsanulok travel guide from Wikivoyage