Uttaradit Uttaradit Uttaradit
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Uttaradit Uttaradit Uttaradit Namtok Sai Thip CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 7 ATTRACTIONS 8 Amphoe Mueang Uttaradit 8 Amphoe Laplae 11 Amphoe Tha Pla 16 Amphoe Thong Saen Khan 18 Amphoe Nam Pat 19 EVENTS & FESTIVALS 23 LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SOUVENIRS 25 INTERESTING ACTIVITIES 27 Agro-tourism 27 Golf Course 27 EXAMPLES OF TOUR PROGRAMMES 27 FACILITIES IN UTTARADIT 28 Accommodations 28 Restaurants 30 USEFUL CALLS 32 Wat Chedi Khiri Wihan Uttaradit Uttaradit has a long history, proven by discovery South : borders with Phitsanulok. of artefacts, dating back to pre-historic times, West : borders with Sukhothai. down to the Ayutthaya and Thonburi periods. Mueang Phichai and Sawangkhaburi were HOW TO GET THERE Ayutthaya’s most strategic outposts. The site By Car: Uttaradit is located 491 kilometres of the original town, then called Bang Pho Tha from Bangkok. Two routes are available: It, which was Mueang Phichai’s dependency, 1. From Bangkok, take Highway No. 1 and No. 32 was located on the right bank of the Nan River. to Nakhon Sawan via Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, It flourished as a port for goods transportation. Ang Thong, Sing Buri, and Chai Nat. Then, use As a result, King Rama V elevated its status Highway No. 117 and No. 11 to Uttaradit via from Tambon or sub-district into Mueang or Phitsanulok. town but was still under Mueang Phichai. King 2. From Bangkok, drive to Amphoe In Buri via Rama V re-named it Uttaradit, literally the Port the Bangkok–Sing Buri route (Highway No. of the North. Later Uttaradit became more 311). Switch to Highway No. 11 (In Buri-Tak Fa prosperous, and its status was elevated once route) onto Highway No. 12 (Phitsanulok-Lom again into a province. The town of Phichai Sak route). Turn left and proceed 8 kilometres became just a district under Uttaradit. further. Take a right turn onto Highway No. 11 Uttaradit, cover an area of 7,838 square for Uttaradit. kilometres, is a province in the lower North of By Bus: The Transport Company Limited Thailand. Prominent landmarks include Sila provides air-conditioned and non air- Asna bedstead, the mystical legend of Mueang conditioned buses from the Northern Bus Laplae, sweet langsat, and birthplace of the Terminal (Chatuchak) on Kamphaeng Phet 2 valiant and patriotic hero Phraya Phichai Dap Road to Uttaradit daily. For more information, Hak, who fought alongside King Taksin the Tel: 1490, 0 2793 8111 www.transport.co.th Great. or Uttaradit transport Co., Ltd. Tel. 1584, 0 5581 6796 In addition, private bus companies ADMINISTRATION operating daily bus services to Uttaradit are Uttaradit is administratively divided into 9 Cherdchai Tour Tel. 0 2936 0199, 0 5541 2354) districts; namely, Amphore Mueang Uttaradit, and Win Tour Tel. 0 2936 3753-4, 0 5541 3592 Amphoe Tron, Amphoe Tha Pla, Amphoe Nam Uttaradit Bus Station Tel. 0 5540 3829 Pat, Amphoe Fak Tha, Amphoe Ban Khok, By Train: Trains depart the Bangkok Railway Amphoe Phichai, Amphoe Laplae, and Amphoe Station (Hua Lamphong) to Uttaradit every Thong Saen Khan. day. Contact the Bangkok Railway Station at Tel. 1690, 0 2220 4444 www.thairailticket.com BOUNDARIES Uttaradit Railway Station Tel. 0 5541 1023 North : borders with Phrae and Nan. East : borders with Phitsanulok, Loei, and Lao PDR. Uttaradit 7 Local Transportation located on Kasem Rat Road, Tambon Tha It. Wat There are various modes of local transportation Tha Thanon today houses the provincial Buddha for visitors to choose from: image of Luangpho Phet, a Chiang Saen-style - Song Thaeo, a local form of transport running Buddhist statue cast in bronze in the so-called around the provincial town, available at diamond posture. According to records, in 1893, community areas like Uttaradit Terminal. on his way back from performing a religious - Motor tricycle and taxi motorcycle running ritual in Wat Sawang Arom, Tambon Phai Lom, within downtown Uttaradit, with starting points Amphoe Laplae, the abbot Luangpho Duang at the Uttaradit Bus Terminal. The fare can be of Wat Mon Mai passed a deserted temple, either agreed by distance or chartered. Wat Sakae, and noticed a Buddha’s head finial emerged from an anthill. He unearthed a Distances from Amphoe Mueang beautiful bronze Buddha image and enshrined Uttaradit to other districts it at Wat Tha Thanon. However, Luangpho Uttaradit is administratively divided into the Phet was later brought and enshrined at Wat following 9 districts or Amphoe: Benchamabophit in Bangkok for 10 years Laplae 8 kilometres at the request of King Rama V. Then, Luang Tron 25 kilometres Naruenatseni (Phan) took it back to Wat Tha Tha Pla 40 kilometres Thanon under the king’s permission. Thong Saen Khan 42 kilometres Phichai 47 kilometres Wat Thammathipatai (วัดธรรมาธิปไตย) Nam Pat 72 kilometres centrally located in the city, at the In Chai Mi- Fak Tha 115 kilometres Samran Ruen Intersection, Wat Thammathipatai Ban Khok 160 kilometres or formerly called Wat Ton Makham is where door panels of the large and ancient wihan Distances from Uttaradit to Nearby (image hall) of Wat Phra Fang are kept-within Provinces the Dhammasapha building. The panels, made Phre 74 kilometre of Alangium wood, measure 1.1 metres width Sukhothai 100 kilometre x 5.3 metres height x 0.16 metres depth. The Phitsanulok 118 kilometre carved traditional design is of the graceful style Nan 191 kilometre of the Ayutthaya period. The mazy Kanok Kan Loei 387 kilometre Khot design comprises the Phum Khao Bin and Kanok Bai Thet patterns. These intricately carved ATTRACTIONS ancient door panels are rated second only to Amphoe Mueang Uttaradit those of Wat Suthat in Bangkok. Wat Tha Thanon (วัดท่าถนน) built on the bank of the Nan River and just Wat Yai Tha Sao (วัดใหญ่ท่าเสา) opposite the Uttaradit Railway Station, Wat Tha located on Samran Ruen Road and adjacent Thanon or formerly called Wat Wang Tao Mor is to Tha Sao Railway Station, Tambon Tha Sao, 8 Uttaradit Wat Tha Thanon is Wat Yai Tha Sao. The ordination hall features beautiful wood-carved door panels. In addition, there is the unconventionally colourful ancient scripture hall where the Tripitaka is kept. Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Monument (อนุสาวรีย์พระยาพิชัยดาบหัก) This is located in front of the City Hall in honour of Phraya Phichai for his bravery, patriotism and self sacrifice. As governor of Mueang Phichai during the Thonburi Period, he valiantly fought with Burmese invaders until one of his swords broke in two in 1773. But he prevailed over them. Hence the sobriquet “Phraya Phichai Dap Hak” or “Phichai the Broken Sword”. This monument was built by the Fine Arts Department and inaugurated on 20 February, 1969. Within the Wat Yai Tha Sao Uttaradit 9 Ban Kae, is an old temple with beautiful plaster bas-reliefs over the ubosot or ordination hall, built in the Ayutthaya period. However, the name of the builder is unknown. The ubosot enshrines the principle stucco Buddha image primed with lacquer and gold inlay. The image is a mixture of the early Rattanakosin period and Laotian style (Luang Prabang). In addition, the temple features rare mural paintings of the early Rattanakosin period depicting the Jataka and congregation of angels. For more information please contact Tel: 08 9566 9419 Wat Phra Fang Sawangkhaburi Muninat (วัดพระฝางสวางคบุรีมุนีนาถ) located on the bank of the Nan River, Mu 3 Ban Phra Fang, Tambon Pha Chuk, was the venue where Chao Phra Fang, the ruler of Mueang Sawangkhaburi, who was in monkhood but dressed in an unconventional Buddhist robe, Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Monument used to stay. Chao Phra Fang led a liberation group, who gathered in his city after the second fall of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. The layout monument area features the Museum of the of Wat Phra Fang includes the ordination hall World’s Largest Lek Nam Phi Steel Sword, which or bot with intricate carved door panels. It is weighs 557.8 kilogrammes. It has a sheath and located at the back. Also, there is the circular a handle of Burmese ebony wood embedded stupa enshrining the relics of Lord Buddha, with mother-of-pearl designs and girdled which was restored in the reign of King Rama with incised silver casings. In addition, there IV. In addition, tourists will find the main is the Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Museum, which image hall, which faces east. This was where a displays his biography, models of the battlefield, Chiang Saen-style Buddha image was formerly the locals’ way of life during the Ayutthaya enshrined. The magnificent and intricately period, as well as, a collection of ancient tools. carved door panels of this image hall are now Open: 8.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. kept at Wat Thammathipatai. To get there: It is about 25 kilometres from the Wat Klang (วัดกลาง) provincial city of Uttaradit by Highway No. 1045 three kilometres from Amphoe Mueang onto Highway No. 11. Turn right for about 2 Uttaradit on Thanon Charoen Tham, Tambon kilometres toward Phitsanulok province and 10 Uttaradit Wat Phra Fang Sawangkhaburi Muninat turn left at the T-junction about 14 kilometres contact Khun Payao Keawthong, Chairperson, further. Tel. 0 5544 5372 or Khumnan Praiwan, Village headman Tel. 08 7200 1247. Water Hyacinth Woven Product Group To get there: follow the Wang Kaphi route (กลุ่มหัตถกรรมผลิตภัณฑ์ผักตบชวา) (Highway No. 1040) and turn left towards located at Ban Tha, Mu 5, Tambon Hat Kruat, Amphoe Tron. Go straight and cross the bridge. which is 12 kilometres from the provincial city Proceed until the T-junction and turn right for of Uttaradit. Supported by the cooperation some 2.5 kilometres (Highway No. 1204), where of the Northern Industrial Promotion Centre the entrance sign of the industrial community of Phitsanulok province and the Office of is visible on the left-hand side.