Phitsanulok is a city overlooked by guidebooks and tourist circuits. In a way, that’s a good thing. Yet it’s a city that’s certainly not without its charms. Shall I take you there?
Phitsanulok is a city in northern Thailand, in Phitsanulok Province, 343 kilometres from Bangkok. It is one of Thailand’s largest cities (21st), rebuilt after being ravaged by fire in 1960.
A former capital of the Kingdom of Siam, it is the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great (1555–1605).
Phitsanulok on Wikipedia
Why is this city never mentioned among the places to visit in Thailand? It’s a mystery. It is a large city with a population of around 110,000 and is very easily accessible from Bangkok as it has a railway station. You can get there by taking the late-evening night train that connects Bangkok to Chiang Mai. That’s what we did on our first visit. We slept for about four hours from Bangkok and, arriving in Phitsanulok around midnight, we easily found a tuk-tuk to take us to the hotel to finish the night.
No need to worry about missing your stop. On night trains in Thailand, the on-board staff wake you up a few minutes before your destination.
For our first stay in Phitsanulok, we spent five days in a hotel with old-fashioned charm: the Topland, a large building with rather surprising interior décor and a lovely swimming pool where we were all alone.
Why should you spend a few days in Phitsanulok?
For at least two reasons:
- Although largely destroyed by fire in 1960, Phitsanulok still boasts the remains of ancient temples, some of which are every bit as impressive as those in Ayutthaya or Sukhothai
- Phitsanulok is a foodie’s paradise, offering numerous markets and restaurants at very reasonable prices.
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