Phetchabun

Phetchabun (เพชรบูรณ์) is a city in a province of the same name in Lower Northern Thailand.

Understand
346 kilometres from Bangkok, Phetchabun borders on three regions, the North, the Central and the Northeast. The central part of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors. Because of the fertility of the land, Phetchabun has always been an agriculturally productive area. The very name of the province means the "land of crops and foods".

Today, Phetchabun is a province with rich tourism potential. Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous and forested areas and it has a history of richness and prosperity for more than 1,400 years. However, there is not a lot here for tourists because it is off the beaten track. Effectively, it is a "branch line" off the normal bus routes.

Buses from Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, etc., stop at Lom Sak some 40 km distant so few people come here. Regrettably also, the bus terminal is in the middle of nowhere, although there are tuk-tuks.



By bus
Quite a few buses stop at this town on the way to Lom Sak. Here are some services you can find from Bangkok's Mo Chit Terminal:


 * The Transport Company, Ltd., +66 2 9362852-66
 * Phetprasert (Phet Tour), +66 2 9363230
 * Thin Siam Tour +66 2 9360500

2-3 buses per hour. First-class service from Phetprasert costs 263 baht and takes 4 hours.

Get around
Motorbike taxis and motor trishaws are available at the market, hotels, and the bus station.

Better to bring your own vehicle, if you are planning to go to Khao Kho. Also, you might want to find some gas stations.

See








Festivals








Buy

 * Sweet Tamarind
 * Sweet Tamarind

Eat

 * Khanom chin — Khanom Chin, popular food of Lom Kao district, is a noodle-like dish made from flour. It is served with gravy and side dish of various fresh local vegetables.
 * Sweet Tamarind — Makham Wan

Go next
The bus terminal is a very local one, and if you want to go to (say) Khon Kaen or Phitsanulok, then you will need to get a local bus from the terminal to Lom Sak, some 40 km distant, where there is a bus terminal at the edge of that city (some 8 km out) at the main road going to these places.


 * Khao Kho (40–65 km northwest) – Mountain ranges to the northwest of town about 1,174 m above sea level covered in the main by deciduous plants. Very cold during November–February, it once was the base camp from which communist insurgents conducted their struggles against the authorities during 1968–1982. Attractions include to so-called cloud sea as well as unusual Buddhist temples and statues of Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaeo.
 * Lom Sak (55 km north)
 * Si Thep (130 km south) – ruins of an ancient city from the 5th to 13th centuries; Si Thep Historical Park contains the ruins of ancient Phetchabun, encompassing Si Thep ancient town, originally called Mueang Aphai Sali. It is believed to have been built during the boom years of the ancient Khmer empire, 1,000 years old. The historic town is surrounded by a moat and a mound; inside, ponds and swamps dot the compound.
 * Si Thep (130 km south) – ruins of an ancient city from the 5th to 13th centuries; Si Thep Historical Park contains the ruins of ancient Phetchabun, encompassing Si Thep ancient town, originally called Mueang Aphai Sali. It is believed to have been built during the boom years of the ancient Khmer empire, 1,000 years old. The historic town is surrounded by a moat and a mound; inside, ponds and swamps dot the compound.