Phetchabun hotels resorts. All Phetchabun accommodation and travel information. Phetchabun maps and photos. North Thailand

Phetchabun located in the lower northern part of Thailand, 346 kms. from Bangkok. It has a total area of 12,668.416 sq.kms. or about, 7,917,760 rai. Phetchabun, an ancient city with several interesting and important places such as Wat Mahathat and Si Thep Historical Park, has always proposed throughout her history.

Phetchabun National Park

At present, it is famous for the fertile land for cultivation. The renowned fruit is sweet tamarind. Besides, there are various historical and natural attractions as we know from the motto of the province: Sweet Tamarind City, Nam Nao National Park, Si Thep Ancient City, Khao Kho Commemoration, Poh Khun Pha Muang City.

Geographical
The area is a plain surrounded by the hills. The main river passing through the province is Pasak River.

Climate
Phetchabun has 3 seasons: hot season, rainy season and cold season.

History:
The name "Phetchabun", as appears in the historical evidence found by the Department of Fine Art, originates from the word "Phuechapura" which means plenty of crops. However, the name was changed into "Phetchabun" which means plenty of diamonds.

This province is considered to be the ancient city which was built in two different periods in the same area. Wat Mahathat including other ancient temples indicate that the first period of Phetchabun was found during Phetchabun Kingdom. T The Department of Fine Arts declared the wall and the forts as the archaeological sites on 8 March B.E. 2478.

Attractions:
Wat Mahathat on Nikon Bamrung Road in town houses a number of ancient chedis of Phetchabun style. The Phetchabun City Pillar Shrine has been brought over from the ancient town of Si Thep and is considered the oldest such structure in Thailand.

Wat Trai Phum on Phetcharat Road features a Buddha statue clothed in the Lop Buri style. It is the principal statue used in the traditional Um Phra Dam Nam ceremony during September each year.

The Huai Pa Dang Reservoir was created by the dam constructed to block the waterway to the west of town for irrigation purposes. Some 8 kilometres from town on Highway No. 2006, it is a pleasant place for recreation and picnic with scenic natural views in the background, particularly in the morning and late afternoon.

Nam Tok Tat Mok is a waterfall fed by streams flowing down cracks and crevices of the mountains creating a beautiful 12-level fall. On both sides of the trails leading up to it are large, shady trees providing a pleasant surrounding. To reach it, take off from town past the town hall to the east for some 15 kilometres to Ban Chaliang Lap. Then take a right turn onto Highway No. 2275. After just 300 metres is a left fork leading to an access on to a steep slope for a distance of 20 kilometres. From here another 1.8 kilometres on foot to arrive at the waterfall.

The Pho Khun Pha Muang Memorial at Lom Sak district in the north of Phetchabun commemorates this former ruler or the area, which was a contemporary of Phetchabun.

Lom Sak District is the starting point to go to Phu Hin Rong Kla to the west. As the route is quite steep, extreme care should be exercised in driving. Phu Hin Rong Kla is a popular destination located along the Phitsanulok and Phetchabun borders and offers exotic scenery. It was once the base of communists fighting against the government some twenty years ago.

Some 130 kilometres South of Phetchabun on Highway No.21, and with another 9 kilometres after a left turn, is the Si Thep Historical Park. Si Thep is an ancient town where many architectural structures still remain indicative of its past prosperity during the 11th-18th Buddhist Centuries. It was once the centre of contact between the Dvaravati kingdom in the Central Plain basin and the Khmer kingdom in the Northeast. A twin-city, there were over one hundred ancient sites all built with bricks and laterite, most of which have crumbled. There are also remains of several ponds spread out all over the area. Most of the ancient relics recovered are parts of architectural nature such as elaborate lintels, plastered designs and Sema stone (used to mark out limits of Buddhist temples) and human skeletons still adorned with ornamental pieces

Khao Kho is made up of mountain ranges to the northwest of town about 1174 metres above mean sea level covered in the main by deciduous plants. Very cold during November-February, it once was the base from which communist insurgents conducted their struggles against the authorities during 1968-1982. Today it is accessible via two routes; off Highway No.12 (Phitsanulok-Lom Sak) at Ban Camp Son with a further distance of 30 kilometres of off highway No.21 at Ban Na Ngua, about 13 kilometres from town with a further distance of 30 kilometres. Both routes wind through considerably steep terrain. Interesting places include various viewing points, remains of communist bases and buildings, containing Holy Relic and the Si Dit waterfall.

Rai B.N. is a private agriculture plantation growing cold-climate crops, including various flowers which alternately bloom throughout the year. It is situated on the route to Khao Kho 3 kilometres from Ban Camp Son and fruit based items for sale.
The Nam Nao National Park is an immense tract of forest still in perfect condition. With pineries, grasslands and virgin jungles, it is habitat to large number of animals and more than 100 species of birds. During December- January, the mercury can drop to as low as 2-5 degrees Celsius. The park headquarters is about 50 kilometres to the west of Lom Sak district on Highway No. 12. Points of interest are spread out. Attractions reached by taking Highway No. 12 (Lom Sak Chum Phae) include :

Tham Pha Hong, 300 metres off the main road at Km. 39 to the north. Within the caves are formations of stalactites and stalagmites. It is also a point from which to view the scenery at sunset.

Ban Paek Pinery, 5 kilometres by foot off the main road at Km. 49.

Phu Kum Khao Pinery, 15 kilometres off the main road at Km. 53. Dense rows of pine trees cover an area of about 10 square kilometres.

Heo Sai & Sai Thong Waterfalls are both located on the same route and can be reached on foot for a distance of 1 kilometre and 1.5 kilometres respectively off the main road at Km. 67.

There are also attractions on Highway No. 2216 (Lom Kao - Huai Sanam Sai) such as Pha Lom - Pha Kong Cliffs which are 5 kilometres from the main road at Km. 40 and the Tham Yai Nam Nao cave near Km. 60.

Makham Wan, sweet tamarinds, are an agro crop which earn good income for the local growers. A fair to publicise this fruit is held annually during January - February.

Khanom Cheen, 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.

How to get there:
Car
From Bangkok, drive along Highway No. 1 passing Saraburi to Phu Khae (Km. 125), turn right into Highway No. 21 and proceed to Phetchabun via Chai Badan, Si Thep and Wichian Buri, a total distance of 346 kilometres.

Bus
Transport Co. Ltd. operates both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned bus services along the Bangkok-Phetchabun-Lom Sak route. Buses depart from Bangkok’s Mochit 2 Bus Terminal daily. Call 0 2936 2852-66 for more information. Private bus companies are such as Phet Tour, Tel: 0 2936 3230 and Thin Siam Tour, Tel: 0 2936 0500.

Air
Thai Airways flies from Bangkok to Phetchabun on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at
tel. 0-2280-0060, 0-2628-2000

PBAir provides flight services from Bangkok to Phetchabun every Fridays and Sundays. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 0 2261 0220-5.

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