Talk:Phichit/Listings

Amphoe Mueang Phichit
Built on the west bank of the Nan River within town limit in 1845, Wat Tha Luang (วัดท่าหลวง) today houses Luang Pho Phet (หลวงพ่อเพชร), a Chiang Saen-style Buddhist statue cast in bronze. Bung Si Fai (บึงสีไฟ) 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. About 7 kilometres from town on the Phichit-Wang Chick road (highway no. 1068) is Utthayan Mueang Kao Pichit (อุทยานเมืองเก่าพิจิตร). 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 (วัดพระศรีรัตนมหาธาตุ) 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 Viharn. There are score of small Chedis scattered around the site. Wat Nakhon Chum (วัดนครชุม) is some 9 kilometres from town on the Phichit - Wang Chik road. Built in the Sukhothai period about 800 hundred years ago, it 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 Khao Rup Chang (วัดเขารูปช้าง) 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.

Amphoe Pho Prathap Chang
An old temple in Pho Prathap Chang district is Wat Pho Prathap Chang (วัดโพธิ์ประทับช้าง), 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 Viharn 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.

Amphoe Taphan Hin
Tapan 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.

Amphoe Pho Thale
About 12 kilometres from the district town of Pho Thale, or 60 kilometres south of Phichit town, is Wat Bang Khlan (วัดบางคลาน). It was the resident temple of the highly revered monk, the late Luang Pho Ngoen (หลวงพ่อเงิน). People highly pay homage to a statue of the Luang Pho Ngoen. The Chai Bowon Museum inside the temple collects ancient items such as votive tablets, Buddha statues and earthenwares for display. It is open only on Saturday-Sunday.

Buy
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) (ส้มโอ) 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. Makham Kaeo (มะขามแก้ว) 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. A popular handicraft of the province is the colourful hand-woven fabric (ผ้าทอมือ). Reasonably prices, it is a widely available at Ban Pa Dang in Taphan Hin district.

A popular handicraft of the province is the colourful hand-woven fabric (ผ้าทอมือ). Reasonably prices, it is a widely available at Ban Pa Dang in Taphan Hin district.

Festival
Boat racing (งานแข่งเรือประเพณี) is a traditional event of long standing. It is usually held after the homage-paying rites to the province's principal Buddha statue during September each year on the Nan River in front of Wat Tha Luang.

Interest
Phichit's Phra Khruang (พระเครื่องเมืองพิจิตร) Phra Kruang (Buddhist Votive tablet) is regarded as lucky charm to ward off danger and to give good fortune. Those found in Phichit are highly regarded and in great demand by collectors and believers. The making of such votive tablets in Phichit is an art handed down through the centuries. As Phichit was strategically situated and an assembly point for forces from Ayutthaya to move up north to conquer the North, and local manpower was constantly mobilised to join the army, the practice of making such talismans to ward off harm became prevalent. Genuine Phichit's Phra Kruangs today are hard to find. Replicas are therefore made instead.

Amphoe Mueang

 * Chit Wilai (จิตรวิไล) 514-516 Butsaba Road (Tel: 0 5661 1398), 13 rooms: 120 baht
 * Okha Nakhon (โอฆะนคร) 2/91 Simala Road (Tel: 0 5661 1206, 0 5661 1321, 0 5661 1654 Fax: 0 5661 1694), 90 rooms: 800-2,000 baht
 * Phichit Plaza Hotel (โรงแรมพิจิตรพลาซ่า) 9 Sa Luang Road (Tel: 0 5661 3502-9 Fax. 0 5661 3501), 96 rooms: 660-990 baht
 * Simala 2 (ศรีมาลา 2) 2/84 Simala Road (Tel: 0 5661 1322), 20 rooms: 100-200 baht

Taphan Hin

 * Rose Inn (โรสอินน์) 57-59 Chomthirawet Road	 (Tel: 0 5662 1044, 0 5662 1237, 0 5662 2036 Fax. 0 5661 2808), 82 rooms: 300-1,500 baht
 * Loet Dilok (เลิศดิลก) 27/33 Saphanrotfai Road (Tel: 0 5662 1012), 20 rooms: 150-350 baht
 * New Hua Hin (นิวหัว���ิน) 2/1-10 Saphanrotfat Road (Tel: 0 5662 1286), 51 rooms: 200-350 baht
 * Taphan Hin (ตะพานหิน) 7/14 Udomsi Road (Tel: 0 5662 1124), 20 rooms: 150-350 baht

Amphoe Bang Mun Nak

 * Rim Nan (ริมน่าน) 01/37 Chu Choet Nan Road (Tel: 0 5663 1084), 12 rooms: 150-350 baht
 * Thep Suni (เทพสุนี) 27/1 Prawet Nua Road (Tel: 0 5663 1182), 11 rooms: 120-250 baht

--(WT-en) globe-trotter 12:56, 5 February 2010 (EST)